Network Engineer

Software People, Inc.

Richmond, VA

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Access Control, Analysis Skills, BGP, CCNA - Cisco Certified Network Associate, CCNP - Cisco Certified Network Professional, Change Management, Cisco ASA (Adaptive Security Appliance), Cisco Network Systems, Communication Skills, Computer Security, Corrective Action, Customer Support/Service, DNS (Domain Name System), Documentation, Establish Priorities, Firewall Administration, Firewalls, Government, Hardware Administration, Hybrid Cloud, Identify Issues, Incident Response, Information Technology & Information Systems, Information/Data Security (InfoSec), Intrusion Detection Systems, Intrusion Prevention Systems, Leadership, Local Area Network (LAN), MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching), Microsoft Windows Azure, Multitasking, Network Access Control (NAC), Network Administration/Management, Network Architecture/Engineering, Network Configuration Management, Network Connectivity, Network Design, Network Integration, Network Monitoring, Network Operations Center, Network Performance/Analysis, Network Routing, Network Security, Network Support, Network Switching, Operational Communications, Operational Support, Operations Management, Operations Planning, Operations Processes, Presentation/Verbal Skills, QoS (Quality of Service), Remote Access, Risk Management, Root Cause Analysis, Routing Protocols, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Service Delivery, Software Administration, Systems Administration/Management, TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol), Team Player, Telecommunications, U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Utilization Management, VLAN (Virtual Local Area Network), VPN (Virtual Private Network), Wide Area Network (WAN), Wireless Communications, Writing Skills
LOCATION
Richmond, VA
POSTED
4 days ago

In person interview needed. Onsite from day 1. Only local candidates

Location: Richmond, VA

Duration: 12+ months

The client seeks a Network Engineer to support and maintain a secure, stable, and high-performing enterprise network environment. This role is responsible for administering and troubleshooting core networking infrastructure across multiple office locations, data centers, and remote access environments.

The Network Engineer is a hands-on technical role responsible for routing, switching, firewalls, VPN connectivity, wireless infrastructure, and network resiliency. The position works under the direction of the Director of Infrastructure & Operations and collaborates with Infrastructure, Information Security, End User Services, Application/Data Services, vendors, and service providers.

This role emphasizes operational discipline, secure network design, structured change management, and reliable service delivery within a government environment.

Responsibilities

Network Infrastructure Administration

Administer enterprise routing and switching infrastructure

Configure and maintain LAN, WAN, wireless, and remote access environments

Support hybrid MPLS and SD-WAN connectivity across multiple locations

Maintain network availability, resiliency, and performance

Firewall & Secure Connectivity Management

Administer firewalls, VPN solutions, and secure remote connectivity

Implement and maintain network segmentation and access controls

Support secure connectivity for cloud and hybrid environments

Coordinate firewall rule changes and network security updates

Monitoring & Troubleshooting

Monitor network health, utilization, and performance

Respond to outages, connectivity issues, and infrastructure incidents

Perform network troubleshooting across routing, switching, wireless, and VPN environments

Conduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actions

Security & Compliance Support

Support implementation of network security controls and standards

Collaborate with the Information Security Office on vulnerability remediation and risk reduction

Assist with logging, monitoring, and audit activities

Support secure configuration and hardening practices

Change Management & Operations

Execute network changes through defined change management processes

Validate planned changes and maintain rollback procedures

Participate in maintenance windows and operational planning

Maintain network documentation and diagrams

Vendor & Carrier Coordination

Coordinate with telecommunications providers and vendors

Support circuit provisioning, troubleshooting, and escalations

Assist with hardware lifecycle and support renewals

Cross-Team Collaboration

Partner with Systems Administration on infrastructure dependencies

Coordinate with End User Services regarding user-impacting network issues

Support Application/Data teams with connectivity and performance needs

Communicate operational risks and system impacts to leadership

Required Qualifications

Experience administering enterprise network environments

Strong knowledge of routing and switching concepts

Experience with firewalls, VPNs, and secure remote access

Experience troubleshooting network connectivity and performance issues

Familiarity with wireless networking technologies

Understanding of structured operational and change management processes

Experience with Cisco networking technologies

Experience with SD-WAN and hybrid network environments

Experience in government or regulated environments

Familiarity with network monitoring and logging tools

Knowledge of security frameworks such as NIST

Relevant certifications such as CCNA or CCNP

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills

Ability to manage multiple operational priorities

Effective written and verbal communication skills

Ability to work collaboratively across technical teams

Focus on reliability, security, and operational consistency

Additional Information

This position supports the agency's core network infrastructure and plays a critical role in ensuring secure and reliable connectivity for agency operations. The Network Engineer operates within established governance and operational processes to support stability, resiliency, and risk reduction across the enterprise environment.

Skills Needed

  • Routing and switching Required 5 Years
  • TCP/IP networking Required 5 Years
  • VLAN configuration Required 3 Years
  • VPN administration Required 3 Years
  • Firewall administration Required 4 Years
  • Wireless networking administration Required 3 Years
  • Network troubleshooting Required 5 Years
  • LAN/WAN support Required 4 Years
  • SD-WAN support Required 2 Years
  • Network monitoring tools Required 3 Years
  • DNS fundamentals Required 3 Years
  • Network performance analysis Required 3 Years
  • Cisco networking technologies Required 4 Years
  • Remote access technologies Required 3 Years
  • Circuit troubleshooting Required 3 Years
  • Carrier/vendor coordination Required 2 Years
  • Network resiliency concepts Required 2 Years
  • High availability concepts Required 2 Years
  • Network documentation/diagramming Required 2 Years
  • Network segmentation Required 2 Years
  • Firewall rule management Required 3 Years
  • Secure remote connectivity Required 3 Years
  • Access control concepts Required 2 Years
  • Vulnerability remediation support Required 2 Years
  • Security incident support Required 1 Years
  • Change management execution Required 2 Years
  • Maintenance window coordination Required 2 Years
  • Incident response participation Required 2 Years
  • Root cause analysis Required 2 Years
  • Structured troubleshooting methodology Required 4 Years
  • Communication and collaboration Required 3 Years
  • Operational discipline Required 3 Years
  • Independent work capability Required 3 Years
  • Prioritization under pressure Required 3 Years
  • BGP Desired 2 Years
  • Dynamic routing protocols Desired 3 Years
  • Advanced firewall administration Desired 3 Years
  • Cisco ASA or NGFW experience Desired 2 Years
  • SD-WAN design/optimization Desired 2 Years
  • QoS configuration Desired 2 Years
  • Azure networking Desired 1 Years
  • Hybrid cloud networking Desired 1 Years
  • Zero Trust networking concepts Desired 1 Years
  • SIEM/network logging integration Desired 1 Years
  • IDS/IPS familiarity Desired 1 Years
  • Government IT experience Desired 2 Years
  • Multi-site enterprise experience Desired 3 Years

About the Company

S

Software People, Inc.