Tier 1 Network Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Salary : $87,024.91 - $145,041.94 Annually
Location : FX. CTY. GOVERNMENT CENTER, 12000 GOVERNMENT CENTER PKWY., FAIRFAX (EJ32), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 26-00834
Department: Information Technology
Opening Date: 05/30/2026
Closing Date: 6/19/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: S29
Posting Type: Open to General Public
Job Announcement
This position works within our Technology Infrastructure Division's (TID) Enterprise Network Operations team. The county wide enterprise network is a large complex metropolitan (MAN) and wide area network (WAN) secure network infrastructure with two geo-diverse highly available hyperconverged datacenters servicing 230+ Fairfax County locations.
This is a crucial role in maintaining and optimizing our network infrastructure. The tier 3 network engineer is responsible for handling complex technical issues escalated from tier 1 and tier 2 support teams, ensuring high levels of network availability and reliability. This role requires strong troubleshooting skills, in-depth knowledge of networking technologies, and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to resolve issues promptly.
Duties and Responsibilities
All duties are performed in accordance with DIT standards, policies, Service Level Agreements (SLAs), and maintenance windows.

1. Network Troubleshooting and Support: Provide advanced-level support for network incidents, problems, and change requests escalated from Tier 1 and Tier 2 support teams. Diagnose and resolve complex network issues related to routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, WAN accelerators, wireless devices and other network devices. Conduct thorough root cause analysis for network incidents and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to troubleshoot and resolve network-related issues and outages. Provide technical guidance and mentoring to Tier 1 and Tier 2 support engineers to enhance their troubleshooting skills and knowledge. Collaborate with vendors and service providers to troubleshoot and resolve network-related issues.
2. Network Performance and Management: Perform network performance monitoring and capacity planning to ensure optimal performance and scalability. Design and implement addition of networks, network changes and upgrades in accordance with best practices and change management processes. Stay updated with industry trends and technologies to propose and implement network improvements and enhancements.
3. Documentation: Document network configurations, processes, and procedures to maintain accurate network documentation. Assist Tier 2 with documenting method of procedures (MOP), network configurations, troubleshooting steps, and resolutions in the incident management system.
4. Collaboration, Customer Service: Collaborate with team members and other departments to develop project requirements or to resolve network-related issues. Participate in team meetings and provide updates on ongoing projects and tasks. This position may be assigned to lead or participate in new construction or technology projects.
5. Quality Assurance and Safety Compliance: Perform quality checks on network configurations and standardization. Provide excellent customer service to internal users and stakeholders, communicate effectively and professionally regarding network issues and resolutions. Adhere to safety protocols and ensure compliance with organizational policies, standards and procedures.
6. Network Equipment Installation and Maintenance: Regular inspection and maintenance of network equipment such as routers, switches, firewalls, and wireless access points. Updating firmware and performing necessary configurations as directed. Lifting, mounting, unmounting, configuring, replacing power supplies/batteries/access points, and cleaning air flow intakes.
7. Infrastructure Management: Install, patch, configure, secure, and optimize routers, switches, firewalls, and other network hardware to meet evolving business needs.
8. Wireless Networking Expertise: Design, configure, and optimize 802.11x wireless networking environments to ensure robust connectivity and performance across all enterprise locations.
9. Network Monitoring and Optimization: Utilize advanced network monitoring tools to analyze performance metrics, identify bottlenecks, and recommend or implement improvements.
10. Security and Compliance: Collaborate with security teams to implement network security best practices, such as access controls, encryption, and intrusion detection/prevention systems, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

Employment Standards
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Possession of an associate's degree in computer science, electrical engineering, electronics, or a related field; plus four years' network and/or telecommunications experience; or a bachelor's degree in such fields; plus two years' experience in network or telecommunications system design, analysis, installation, and troubleshooting.
CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:Valid driver's license
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Possess a high degree of knowledge, theory and experience with implementing and troubleshooting OSPF, BGP and MPLS.
• In-depth knowledge and experience with most of the following: VLAN, VRF, VPN, STP, DHCP, Trunk and 802.11 standards. Including servicing MAN / WAN / LAN/Wireless LAN architectures.
• Hands on experience with the major network equipment manufacturers routers, switches and access points.
• Experience with SolarWinds, Splunk, Catalyst Center, ISE or equivalent systems.
• In-depth experience with IP Address Management (IPAM) systems such as InfoBlox.
• Experience with network incident management and related support practices.
• In-depth knowledge and experiences with cable infrastructure ethernet (CAT6), fiber optics and patch panels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, emphasizing superior customer service.
• Automation experience with scripting languages such as Python or other.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Work is equally performed in the field as well as in a normal office environment. Lifting (up to 50lbs) may be required. Ladder climbing may be required. Driving is required. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.
SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.
Fairfax County is home to a highly diverse population, with a significant number of residents speaking languages other than English at home (including ) We encourage candidates who are bilingual in English and another language to apply for this opportunity.
Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.
#LI-JY1
Merit Positions
Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

Please click for a summary of our benefits.
NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:
For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

1. Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.
   • Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
   • Flexible Spending Program
   • Deferred Compensation
2. Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.
   • No benefits

01
What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02
If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03
Please indicate your area(s) of study or major(s)/minor(s) towards a degree. Check all that apply.

• Computer science
• Electrical engineering
• Electronics
• Information technology
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not Applicable

04
If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".
05
Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

06
How many years of full-time equivalent professional experience in network and/or telecommunications experience do you possess?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six years or more

07
How many years of full-time equivalent professional experience in network or telecommunications system design, analysis, installation, and troubleshooting do you possess?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six years or more

08
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have experience with implementing and troubleshooting OSPF, BGP and MPLS?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

09
Please indicate which of the following network standards you have knowledge and experience working with. Check all that apply.

• VLAN
• VRF
• VPN
• STP
• DHCP
• Trunk
• 802.11
• None of the above

10
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have servicing MAN / WAN / LAN/Wireless LAN architectures?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

11
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have with the major network equipment manufacturers routers, switches and access points?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

12
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have with SolarWinds, Splunk, Catalyst Center, ISE or equivalent systems?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

13
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have with IP Address Management (IPAM) systems such as InfoBlox?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

14
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have with network incident management and related support practices?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five or more years

15
How many years of full-time equivalent experience do you have with cable infrastructure ethernet (CAT6), fiber optics and patch panels?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
...