Principal Network Engineer

About Us:

VT-ARC, a technical services and applied research company, has built an organizational culture marked by four primary values: Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence, and Service. Integral to our success is our staff’s enthusiasm for solving tough problems by working together in teams to get the job done. We foster a culture where every employee’s contribution is valued and performed with integrity while maintaining a fun work environment. VT-ARC strives for excellence in all that is done for our clients, and such achievement is recognized through service/merit awards. Moreover, we promote a sense of community larger than VT-ARC alone, where staff and institutional resources can be applied in service to our country.

We are proud to be the recipient of the Best Workplace in Defense Award by Emergent Magazine, an honor that recognizes companies with positive cultures that not only impact their people but also make a meaningful difference in the community.

About You:

You are a senior or principal-level network engineer with deep experience designing and implementing enterprise scale, secure network solutions in mission critical environments. You bring strong technical leadership in network architecture, modernization, and cloud enabled solutions, and you enjoy turning complex requirements into practical, resilient designs.

You collaborate effectively with cross functional and government partners, mentor other engineers, and thrive in high assurance, classified settings. Driven by mission impact, you are motivated to help deliver advanced communications capabilities that directly support national priorities.

Position Overview:

VTARC is seeking a Senior Network Engineer to play a key technical leadership role in the design and implementation of advanced, secure communications networks supporting mission critical programs. In this role, you will architect and deliver enterprise network solutions, support modernization initiatives, and work closely with government and contractor partners to enable reliable, end to end communications.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to transformational engineering efforts within a collaborative, high performing team guided by VTARC’s core values of Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence, and Service. Your work will have a direct and meaningful impact supporting our clients and the broader mission of service to our country.

Active Top Secret/SCI clearance is required

This position is contingent based upon contract award

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Architect, design, and implement advanced network solutions for enterprise environments.
• Lead network transformation initiatives, from on-prem solutions to cloud integration and SD-WAN deployments.
• Understand cutting-edge solutions and how to extend them into network design and implementation approaches.
• Ensure network security, reliability, and compliance with industry and government standards.
• Troubleshoot and resolve advanced network issues throughout the design, implementation, testing and operations as appropriate.
• Develop and maintain network documentation, standards, and best practices.
• Mentor and guide network engineering team members.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity, systems, and application teams to align network strategies.
• Work closely with the onsite government and contractor technical team to develop capabilities to support end-to-end network and end user communication requirements

Required Education, Certifications, Skills and Capabilities:

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 10 years of experience in network engineering, with at least 3 years in a senior or principal role.
• Expert knowledge of routing, switching, firewalls, and network protocols (TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, MPLS).
• Hands-on experience with Cisco, Juniper, or similar enterprise networking platforms.
• Strong understanding of network security principles and technologies (VPN, IDS/IPS, NAC, scanning) and network monitoring
• Experience with cloud networking (AWS, Azure) and SD-WAN solutions.
• Relevant certifications (CCNP, CCIE, or equivalent) highly desirable.
• Proven ability to conceptualize and construct proof-of-concept systems.
• Previous experience working with Federal agencies on critical networks and communications services
• Proven ability to establish objectives, formulate/ follow plans and processes, develop technical documentation and implement solutions.
• Strong interpersonal and teambuilding skills

Desired Education, Certifications, Skills and Capabilities:

• Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Systems Engineering, Computer Science, or related engineering discipline.
• 15 years of experience in network engineering, with at least 3 years in a senior or principal role.
• Experience with network performance monitoring and optimization tools.
• Knowledge of automation and scripting (e.g., Python, Ansible, etc.).
• Familiarity with Zero Trust architecture and advanced security frameworks
• Experience with network simulation tools, as well as systems architecture description documents against key mission threads (DoDAF and Mission Engineering)
• Experience with systems engineering processes and reviews (SRR/SFR, PDR, CDR, TRR, etc.)

Primary Work Location: Work is to be performed fully onsite in Arlington, VA

Security:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance is required

Special Work Conditions:

• Occasional CONUS travel may be required; up to 15%
• Possible travel to OCONUS locations; up to 10%

Competitive Salary: VT-ARC offers competitive pay based on a number of factors including but not limited to conducting comparable salary market research, education, years of experience, and benefits.

Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation: VT-ARC is a 501(c)(3), non-profit R&D organization affiliated with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech or VT). Our mission is to provide superior analytic and technology solutions across multiple domains by leveraging Virginia Tech’s multidisciplinary research and innovation ecosystem. With unique access to the broad and rich research enterprise found at Virginia Tech, VT-ARC forms multi-disciplinary teams to apply innovative solutions to the real-world problems that strain our social, political, industrial, and economic foundations.

To learn more about VT-ARC’s Benefits, Perks, Culture & more visit our Careers page: https://vt-arc.org/careers/

Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.E-Verify.gov.