Principal Network Engineer TS/SCI

Principal Network Engineer

Seeking an experienced Principal Network Engineer to support and enhance a large, complex enterprise network of more than 8,000 devices. This role provides senior-level technical leadership for the Core Transport Network Engineering team, delivering expert guidance in routing, switching, network security, SDN, and performance optimization. The Principal Network Engineer will design and implement network solutions, lead troubleshooting and upgrades, ensure infrastructure security and reliability, and mentor junior engineers. Work is performed both independently and collaboratively within a high-demand DoD environment.

The Principal Network Engineer will provide comprehensive network administration, security enhancements and remediation, and troubleshooting of network devices such as routers, switches, load balancers, VPNs, 802.11 Wireless, and VoIP. This position requires an understanding of best practices pertaining to network security and may require the development, deployment, and integration of network security services. Successful candidates should be able to work both independently and as part of a team.

How our Principal Network Engineer will make an impact:

• Serve as a subject-matter expert for routing, switching, SDN architectures, and network performance.

• Design, implement, and maintain network hardware, services, and configurations aligned with enterprise standards.

• Lead advanced troubleshooting, incident response, root cause analysis, and on-call escalation efforts.

• Conduct daily monitoring to ensure the health, integrity, and availability of critical network infrastructure.

• Evaluate new technologies for compatibility with enterprise architecture and mission requirements.

• Develop and maintain installation, configuration, and operational documentation.

• Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.

• Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and customer-facing support.

• Develop scripts and automation solutions to streamline migration, integration, and administrative tasks.

• Support multiple projects, special initiatives, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Maintain current knowledge of emerging network technologies and best practices.

What you'll need to succeed:

• Active TS/SCI clearance (or Secret depending on role).

• 10+ years of IT/network engineering experience in complex, enterprise environments.

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related technical field.

• DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification.

• One or more active certifications: CCNA, CCNP, ACSA.

• Expertise with Cisco and Juniper networking platforms.

• Strong knowledge of TCP/IP, MPLS, OSPF, BGP, SDN, and 802.1X.

• Experience managing DNS, DHCP, IPAM, and NTP in multi-site environments.

• Familiarity with firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs, and vulnerability remediation.

• Proficiency with monitoring and analysis tools such as SolarWinds, NetScout, NetBrain, IBM NetCool, Infovista, Clearpass, Aruba, and Arista.

• Strong CLI configuration and hardware troubleshooting skills.

• Experience with network automation scripting.

• Strong communication and customer service skills; ability to excel in dynamic environments.

• Onsite at the Pentagon.

Preferred Skills

• Experience supporting DoD, DISA, or JSP enterprise networks.
• Infoblox IPAM/DHCP experience.

• Experience with ServiceNow ITSM.

• Experience administering Linux, Windows, or UNIX systems.

• LDAP/PKI experience.

• Experience with Aruba/Arista network devices.

• Ability to document network topology using Visio.

GDIT IS YOUR PLACE

At GDIT, the mission is our purpose, and our people are at the center of everything we do.

● Growth: AI-powered career tool that identifies career steps and learning opportunities

● Support: An internal mobility team focused on helping you achieve your career goals

● Rewards: Comprehensive benefits and wellness packages, 401K with company match, and competitive pay and paid time off

● Community: Award-winning culture of innovation and a military-friendly workplace OWN YOUR OPPORTUNITY Explore an enterprise IT career at GDIT and you’ll find endless opportunities to grow alongside colleagues who share your desire to drive operations forward.