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Job Title: Principal Network Engineer

Reliable and secure enterprise networks are essential to the Air Force's ability to communicate, collaborate, and execute missions across a globally distributed environment. This position supports the Air Force Intranet Control (AFINC) III program by providing senior-level network engineering and technical infrastructure expertise supporting complex Air Force enterprise network environments.

Working alongside Government personnel and enterprise network teams, you will help design, optimize, secure, and troubleshoot mission-critical network infrastructure while supporting continued modernization of Air Force network capabilities. This position requires deep hands-on networking expertise and the ability to solve complex infrastructure problems across large-scale environments where availability, performance, security, and mission continuity are critical.

In this role, you will provide senior technical leadership supporting enterprise network architecture, engineering, automation, troubleshooting, and infrastructure modernization. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Design, implement, configure, and troubleshoot complex enterprise network architectures and infrastructure.
• Analyze and simulate network traffic to identify performance issues, isolate faults, evaluate proposed solutions, and support problem resolution.
• Develop and test network configurations within virtual and physical laboratory environments prior to enterprise implementation.
• Install, configure, troubleshoot, upgrade, patch, secure, and harden enterprise network devices including routers, switches, serial consoles, load balancers, and associated infrastructure.
• Diagnose complex network connectivity, routing, switching, performance, availability, and interoperability issues.
• Evaluate existing network infrastructure, identify performance or capability gaps, and recommend technical solutions that improve reliability, security, scalability, and mission effectiveness.
• Develop, execute, modify, and maintain scripts used to automate network engineering, administration, configuration, and operational tasks.
• Support network automation initiatives that reduce manual processes, improve configuration consistency, and increase operational efficiency.
• Support enterprise network monitoring and management using automated network management and performance-monitoring solutions.
• Apply cybersecurity principles to network architecture and infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, servers, endpoints, load balancers, and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS).
• Evaluate network configurations and architecture for security vulnerabilities, configuration weaknesses, and compliance with applicable Department of Defense requirements.
• Support Software Defined Networking (SDN) and other network modernization initiatives as required.
• Perform technical analysis supporting network changes, upgrades, technology refreshes, and infrastructure modernization efforts.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity, systems administration, application, infrastructure, and operations teams to resolve complex enterprise-level technical issues.
• Review and document activities associated with incidents, problems, and change requests to maintain configuration awareness, support audits and investigations, and reduce repeat troubleshooting efforts.
• Develop technical documentation, network diagrams, configuration information, procedures, and engineering recommendations.
• Provide senior-level technical guidance and troubleshooting support to Government personnel and other network engineering professionals.
• Communicate complex network issues, technical risks, and recommended solutions clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Required Skills/Education

Education: High School Diploma or GED required.

Years of Experience: Ten (10) or more years of experience in network engineering, network administration, enterprise infrastructure, or a closely related technical discipline.

Required Qualifications:

• United States Citizenship.
• Active Top Secret Security Clearance with SCI access (TS/SCI).
• Current Security+ certification.
• Current Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) certification.
• Extensive experience designing, implementing, administering, and troubleshooting enterprise network architectures.
• Hands-on experience installing, configuring, upgrading, patching, troubleshooting, and hardening routers, switches, serial consoles, load balancers, and related network infrastructure.
• Advanced understanding of enterprise routing, switching, network protocols, and network architecture.
• Ability to assess existing infrastructure, identify technical and performance gaps, and develop recommended solutions.
• Experience with automated network monitoring and management solutions.
• Strong understanding of cybersecurity as it relates to network architecture, firewalls, routers, switches, servers, endpoints, and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS).
• Experience troubleshooting complex enterprise network performance and connectivity issues.
• Ability to develop or modify scripts supporting network automation and administration.
• Strong analytical and technical problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to provide effective customer support while communicating complex technical issues clearly and professionally.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification.
• Experience supporting large-scale Department of Defense or Air Force enterprise networks.
• Knowledge of Software Defined Networking (SDN) technologies and architectures.
• Experience with network automation, Infrastructure as Code, or configuration management technologies.
• Experience developing automation using Python, PowerShell, Ansible, or similar scripting and orchestration technologies.
• Experience with virtualized network laboratory environments and network traffic simulation or analysis.
• Familiarity with DoD network security requirements, DISA Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs), and cybersecurity compliance processes.
• Experience supporting enterprise network modernization, technology refresh, or architecture transformation initiatives.

Travel: Limited travel may be required in support of program objectives.

Security Clearance Required: Active Top Secret Security Clearance with SCI access (TS/SCI).

Position Type: Full Time

Work Location: Maxwell AFB / Gunter Annex, Montgomery, AL (Onsite)

Why Join Sumaria Systems

• Supporting critical Air Force enterprise network and communications missions
• Directly contributing to the availability, security, and modernization of Air Force network infrastructure
• Hands-on work with complex enterprise networking, automation, and emerging network technologies
• Over 40 years supporting the Department of Defense
• Expertise across:
  • Enterprise Network Operations
  • Network Engineering
  • Cybersecurity
  • C5ISR
  • Digital Modernization

Additional Information

• No agency submissions accepted
• Learn more: www.sumaria.com
• Equal Opportunity Employer