5G Core Engineer Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Senior Telecom Software Engineer
Herndon, VA | Hybrid (flexible, mission-dependent)

About the Job
Illuminate provides analytic and cyber solutions enabling critical decisions from vast data sources. As a
Senior Telecommunications Software Engineer, your primary focus will be deep telecommunications
network analysis – monitoring, diagnosing, and resolving performance issues across core network
infrastructure spanning 2G through 5G technologies.

You will serve as a critical technical resource for a CONUS-based engineering team that supports
OCONUS deployments, ensuring they have the analysis, data, and remediation guidance they need to

maintain mission-critical systems in the field. This role is CONUS-based and requires someone who can
work independently with deep protocol expertise – including familiarity with telco signaling and at-speed
handling of open flow data streams, and a strong understanding of how signaling presents across
network architectures.

You will work closely with a geographically distributed team, collaborating with operations and
development staff, and may be required to engage directly with government customers on-site or
participate in Program Management Reviews (PMRs) to present and explain technical support activities.

Why Illuminate
At Illuminate, you won’t be a ticket in a queue. This is a small, high-trust team where your expertise has
direct impact on missions that matter – supporting the U.S. national security community and its allies. The
work is technically demanding by design, and we expect senior-level ownership and independent
judgment. If you thrive in an environment that values results over process, and you’re looking for a role
where your telecom depth will be tested and valued daily, this is it. You’ll also be joining at a pivotal
moment – with a Linux infrastructure transition underway and a modernization roadmap ahead, there’s
meaningful work to shape, not just maintain.

What Success Looks Like
At 90 days, a successful hire is fully onboarded and independently handling network analysis, supporting
the CONUS-based engineering team with minimal oversight, and already engaged with the government
customer – including participation in at least one PMR. They are comfortable in the current CentOS 7
environment and contributing to Rocky Linux transition planning.

At 12 months, they own the network analysis function end to end, have driven or contributed meaningfully
to the infrastructure transition, and are the established technical resource the engineering team relies on
without hesitation. They’ve represented Illuminate credibly in customer-facing settings and are a
dependable, collaborative presence the broader team counts on.

Core Requirements
• This position is primarily on-site at our Herndon Va. office. Candidates local to the
Northern Virginia area may be eligible for a flexible hybrid schedule, with remote
availability varying based on project and mission requirements.
• Active TS/SCI required. Illuminate sponsors clearance upgrades for future opportunities
where timelines permit.

Responsibilities
Telecommunications Network Analysis (Primary Function)
Deep expertise in telecommunications protocols and core network operations, with an emphasis on
independent analysis, diagnostics, and performance remediation.
• Advanced understanding of core telecom network protocols, including SS7, SIP, VoIP, TCP/IP,
and Diameter.
• Experience monitoring and analyzing telecommunications systems across 2G, 3G, 4G VoLTE,
and 5G networks.
• Familiarity with telco signaling and at-speed handling of open flow data streams to understand
and interpret inbound data; strong understanding of telco network architecture and how signaling
presents across the network.
• Proficiency with packet capture and analysis tools including Wireshark and tcpdump.
• Ability to diagnose and resolve core network performance issues and apply effective remediation
strategies.
• Familiarity with network configuration and performance metrics to identify bottlenecks and faults.
• Provide technical support to the CONUS-based engineering team supporting OCONUS
deployments, supplying analysis, findings, and remediation guidance.
• Engage directly with government customers in a technical capacity, including on-site lab visits
and participation in Program Management Reviews (PMRs) to present and explain technical
support activities.

Systems Engineering (Supporting)
Ensuring high availability, performance, and reliability for Linux-based systems that support
telecommunications infrastructure.
• Advanced proficiency with RHEL / Rocky Linux / CentOS 7. Current environment operates on
CentOS 7 with contracted patch support, with a planned transition to Rocky Linux within the next
6 months. Candidate will be expected to support both environments through the transition.
• Experience configuring and administering monitoring tools for system and network performance
(e.g., Nagios, Zabbix, or Grafana).
• Proficiency in automating systems administration tasks using tools like Ansible or Puppet.
• Strong understanding of system diagnostics and troubleshooting to identify and remediate
performance bottlenecks.
• Knowledge of secure system configurations and Linux system hardening best practices.
• Experience with Linux firewall and VPN configuration.
• Ability to create installation guides and as-built documentation.

Software & DevOps Support (Supporting)
Supporting software operations and collaborating with development teams to understand and address
software-caused performance or reliability issues.
• Proficiency in Python and C++ for understanding and debugging software.
• Strong familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and their maintenance using Jenkins or similar tools.
• Experience supporting internal development teams using tools like Jira and Confluence.
• Ability to assess and improve application performance monitoring systems.
• Knowledge of software lifecycle processes to assist in issue remediation and internal
development activity.

Qualifications
Core Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Telecommunications, or a related field (or equivalent
experience).
• 5+ years of experience in telecommunications network analysis, systems engineering, or a
related discipline, with demonstrated senior-level expertise in telecom protocols and network
operations.
• Advanced proficiency with RHEL / Rocky Linux / CentOS 7.
• Strong understanding of mobile telecom network architectures, protocols (SS7, SIP, VoIP,
TCP/IP, Diameter), and core network operations across 2G through 5G.
• Familiarity with telco signaling and at-speed handling of open flow data streams; strong
understanding of telco network architecture and how signaling presents across the network.
• Experience using and supporting tools like Jenkins, Jira, Confluence, and Ansible.
• Proven ability to identify root causes of system or network performance issues and remediate
effectively.
• Experience collaborating with geographically distributed teams on mission-critical projects.
• Ability to communicate technical findings clearly to government customers in formal settings (lab
visits, PMRs).

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience working directly with development teams to resolve software and hardware problems
and applying patches.
• Proficiency in Python, Bash, and SQL databases.
• Experience analyzing logs, stack traces, and debug libraries.
• Strong knowledge of networking protocols including TCP/IP, NAT, routing, and switching.

Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $195,000 – $240,000. Final compensation will be determined based on the candidate’s
experience, skills, and qualifications.
Illuminate offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a
401(k) with employer match, and a competitive PTO and leave package.

Our Hiring Process
We respect your time and aim to move efficiently. Our process typically runs 2–4 weeks from application
to offer and includes an initial recruiter screen, a hiring manager interview, a technical assessment, a
panel interview, and reference checks. You’ll know where you stand at each stage.

Equal Employment Opportunity
All employment decisions shall be made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national
origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic
information, marital status, citizenship status or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local
law.
Illuminate is committed to providing veteran employment opportunities to our service men and women.

Illuminate provides government agencies, commercial enterprises, and network operators with the data, services, and technology that helps them protect the information that surrounds us all and extract real value from it. We combine decades of cyber, intelligence and telecommunications expertise with innovative collection and analysis tools to deliver timely, actionable insight that our customers use to make fast, informed decisions.