Independent Contractor Network Engineer Jobs in Washington

Location: Washington, DC (Remote)
Work Schedule: Full-Time | 100% Remote (Occasional On-Site Meetings as Required)
Clearance Requirement: U.S. Citizenship Required | Must be Eligible to Obtain and Maintain a Public Trust Clearance
Salary Range: $140,000 - $150,000

Who We Are

At RCG, Inc., we're more than just a federal contracting companywe're a team of innovators, problem-solvers, and collaborators dedicated to delivering exceptional technology solutions that support critical government missions.

We're proud to have been Certified as a Great Place to Work for four consecutive years, a recognition that reflects our commitment to fostering a culture of trust, collaboration, inclusion, and professional growth. We believe our people are our greatest strength, and we're committed to creating an environment where employees can build rewarding careers while making a meaningful impact.

The Opportunity

RCG is seeking a Network Engineer to support a federal government customer in a 100% remote environment. This position is ideal for an experienced network engineer who enjoys designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise network infrastructure while working in a collaborative team environment. The successful candidate will help maintain reliable, secure, and high-performing network environments while supporting infrastructure modernization initiatives and mission-critical government operations. Although this position is fully remote, occasional travel to the customer site in Washington, DC may be required for meetings, planning sessions, or operational support.

What You'll Do

Network Engineering & Infrastructure

• Design, implement, configure, and maintain enterprise network infrastructure supporting mission-critical operations.
• Support LAN, MAN, and WAN environments, including routers, switches, firewalls, and related networking technologies.
• Monitor network performance, availability, and capacity to ensure reliable operations.
• Analyze network traffic and recommend performance improvements and capacity planning solutions.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex network hardware, software, and connectivity issues.
• Perform network upgrades, equipment installations, configuration changes, and system enhancements.

Systems Integration & Operations

• Support systems engineering activities related to network design, integration, implementation, and operational support.
• Assist with the evaluation, testing, and deployment of new networking technologies and software solutions.
• Collaborate with vendors to troubleshoot issues and coordinate problem resolution during outages or degraded performance.
• Support infrastructure modernization projects and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain network documentation, diagrams, standards, and operational procedures.

Operational Support

• Monitor enterprise network environments and respond to operational issues in a timely manner.
• Support day-to-day network operations, including hardware, software, and connectivity troubleshooting.
• Participate in root cause analysis and recommend long-term corrective actions.
• Collaborate with infrastructure, cybersecurity, systems administration, and engineering teams to ensure reliable network services.

What We're Looking For

• U.S. Citizenship.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field. An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.
• Minimum 6 years of experience designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise network infrastructure.
• Experience supporting LAN, MAN, and WAN environments.
• Experience with enterprise routing, switching, firewalls, and network monitoring tools.
• Experience troubleshooting complex network hardware and software issues.
• Strong understanding of TCP/IP, routing protocols, switching, VPNs, DNS, and network security fundamentals.
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a remote engineering team.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting federal government network environments.
• Experience with Cisco enterprise networking technologies.
• Experience with F5 load balancing solutions.
• Experience with AWS networking services.
• Experience with network monitoring and performance management tools.
• Familiarity with ITIL service management practices.

Preferred Certifications

• CCNA
• CCNP
• CCIE
• CCDP
• CCSP
• JNCIP
• F5 Certification
• AWS Networking or Cloud Certification
• ITIL Foundation

Work Environment

• Full-time remote position.
• Standard business hours with occasional after-hours support during maintenance windows or critical incidents.
• Occasional travel to the customer site in Washington, DC may be required.
• Collaborative engineering environment supporting mission-critical federal systems.

Why Join RCG?

• Certified as a Great Place to Work for four consecutive years.
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package.
• Opportunities for professional development, technical training, and career advancement.
• Collaborative, supportive, and inclusive work environment.
• Flexible remote work environment.
• Opportunity to support mission-critical federal government infrastructure.
• Work alongside talented engineers solving complex networking challenges.
• Make a meaningful impact supporting critical government operations.

Equal Opportunity Employer

RCG, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace and providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.