Senior Network Security Engineer - (253)

VAE, Inc. is a full service IT Infrastructure Solutions Company focused on building, securing and supporting our clients’ mission critical enterprises. We provide a distinctive array of design, integration and implementation services as well as fully managed service offerings. VAE is at the forefront of leveraging multi-tenant capable technologies and shared IT services to create secure, reliable and cost-effective end-to-end services and solutions. We deliver exceptional infrastructure solutions with extremely talented employees using a client-focused partnering approach.

Job Type

Full-time

Location

Washington, DC, US (Primary)

Job Description

VAE, Inc. designs, deploys, and sustains mission-critical enterprise IT environments supporting federal customers. We’re seeking an experienced Senior Network Engineer who enjoys hands-on technical work, takes ownership of complex environments, and can operate independently while collaborating with a small, high-performing engineering team.

This role is ideal for a seasoned engineer who prefers deep technical responsibility over people management and values long-term stability in a secure environment.

What You’ll Do

• Design, implement, and sustain enterprise network infrastructures supporting high availability and mission operations
• Serve as a senior technical resource for network troubleshooting, outage resolution, and performance optimization
• Perform root-cause analysis on complex network issues and drive permanent fixes
• Configure, maintain, and troubleshoot Cisco and Juniper routing and switching platforms
• Configure, administer, and troubleshoot Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE), including policy sets and authentication/authorization workflows
• Configure and support next-generation firewalls, including Juniper SRX and Cisco Firepower platforms
• Support firewall rule management, policy validation, and traffic-flow troubleshooting across secured boundaries
• Maintain accurate technical documentation, diagrams, and standard operating procedures
• Participate in planning and implementation of network upgrades and architectural improvements
• Ensure compliance with DoD security and configuration standards

Why This Role

• Own and influence a mission-critical enterprise network, not just tickets
• Work in a stable, security-focused environment with long-term programs
• Be part of a small, senior engineering team where expertise is valued
• Opportunity to deepen skills in network security, access control, and boundary protection

Qualifications

• 8 years of hands-on network engineering experience in enterprise or government environments
• Strong understanding of TCP/IP, IPv4, routing, switching, and network troubleshooting
• Proven experience with Cisco and/or Juniper network devices
• Hands-on experience configuring and administering Cisco ISE
• Experience supporting Juniper SRX firewalls and Cisco Firepower (FMC-managed)
• Strong understanding of firewall policies, security zones, and traffic inspection
• Familiarity with DoD STIGs and operating in compliance-driven environments
• CCNA, CCNP, JNCIS, or JNCIP certification (active or previously held)
• Ability to work on-site in Washington, DC (5 days per week)
• Active Top Secret clearance (required to start)
• DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification (Security or equivalent)

Desired (Nice-to-Have) Skills

• Experience integrating Cisco ISE with 802.1X, TACACS , or network access control workflows
• Exposure to advanced firewall features such as IDS/IPS, URL filtering, or application-layer inspection
• Familiarity with vulnerability scanning tools (e.g., Nessus)
• Basic scripting or automation exposure (PowerShell, Ansible, etc.)

Clearance Level

Top Secret

Certifications

CCNA, CCNP, JNCIS, or JNCIP certification (active or previously held) and DoD 8570 IAT Level II

VAE, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.