Network Automation Engineer

Title: Network Automation Engineer
Location: Multiple work locations available in DC, MD, VA and CO
Clearance: TS/SCI with the ability to obtain and maintain a CI polygraph

Job Details:

• Comprehensive understanding of core networking protocols and concepts, including TCP/IP, routing (BGP, OSPF), switching (VLANs), and firewalls.
• Extensive hands-on experience with hardware and operating systems from major vendors, particularly Cisco (IOS, NX-OS) and Juniper (Junos).
• Familiarity with modern data center architectures, including spine-and-leaf designs (CLOS), and related technologies like VxLAN.
• Expert-level proficiency in at least one object-oriented programming (OOP) language, such as Python, for scripting, tool development, and API integration.
• Experience implementing and managing end-to-end network workflows using orchestration platforms like Cisco NSO or Itential, and a deep understanding of the differences between automation and orchestration.
• Direct experience with the network automation suite for service orchestration such as Paragon and Crossworks, closed-loop automation, active assurance, and network optimization in large-scale WAN environments.
• Extensive experience working with REST APIs to interact with network devices and controllers. Knowledge of data formats such as JSON, YAML, and XML.
• Expertise with Git for managing network configurations and automation code, including branching and merging strategies.
• Experience integrating network automation into continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines using tools like Jenkins or GitLab.
• The ability to develop automated tests to validate network changes before deployment and prevent configuration errors. This includes using tools like Cisco PyATS.
• Solid understanding of NetDevOps practices, applying software development principles to network engineering.
• Identify and direct resolution of complex hardware/software interface issues; SME on emerging technologies; direct the development of systems specifications and technical documentation
• Provide technical direction for the development, engineering, interfacing, integration, and testing of all components of complex hardware/software systems to include requirements elicitation, analysis and functional allocation, conducting systems requirements reviews, developing concepts of operation and interface standards, developing system architectures, and performing technical/non-technical assessment and management as well as end-to-end flow analysis
• Conduct and/or approve end-to-end system trade analyses to optimize system operations over its life-cycle through the proper balance of non-functional system performance areas

Requirements:
•    Bachelor's degree from an accredited institute in an area applicable to the position; an additional 4 years of experience be substituted in lieu of a degree
•    Minimum eight (8) years of relevant experience in addition to education level
•    Must possess current DoD 8570 IAT II and professional level technical certification (i.e.- AWS, AZURE, Cisco, Juniper or equivalent) 
•    Experience working in a DoD or IC environment desired
•    Current active TS/SCI clearance, with the ability to obtain and maintain a CI polygraph