Virtual Network Engineer Jobs in Encinitas, CA (NOW HIRING)

Zachary Piper Solutions is currently seeking a Network Engineer, Systems to support the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific) based in San Diego, CA . This position is a full-time, onsite role supporting the physical Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) and SECRET RDT&E (SRDT&E) network environments. This position is critical to maintaining secure, resilient, and high-performing network infrastructure that enables mission success. As a Network Engineer, Systems IV, you will play a pivotal role in network engineering, cloud connectivity, routing and switching operations, network security implementation, and enterprise infrastructure support within a highly secure government environment. Key Responsibilities: * Provide engineering and day-to-day operational support for physical RDT&E and SRDT&E network environments. * Install, configure, upgrade, troubleshoot, and maintain network hardware and software, including firmware updates and STIG compliance activities. * Monitor and analyze network performance at both the physical and IP packet levels utilizing enterprise network management tools, including inMON Traffic Sentinel and Zabbix . * Provide on-call support for after-hours, weekend, and holiday network outages, with the ability to report onsite within two hours of notification. * Establish and maintain connectivity to multi-cloud environments, including AWS and Microsoft Azure . * Manage IP addressing, VLANs, route tables, Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs), virtual gateways, and cloud network infrastructure. * Configure and maintain Virtual Private Gateways, Virtual Network Gateways, and Azure Virtual Network Peering to support secure connectivity between RDT&E environments and cloud platforms. * Monitor and troubleshoot cloud connectivity, bandwidth utilization, latency, and routing issues in coordination with cloud engineering teams. * Establish network infrastructure test environments and execute network validation and operational testing activities. * Conduct test case reviews, assessments, execution, reporting, and regression testing to verify issue resolution. * Maintain corrective action tracking systems and coordinate with vendors to resolve network-related issues. * Prototype, install, and support network routing, distribution, boundary protection, and firewall infrastructure. * Configure and maintain HPE Aruba and Palo Alto networking solutions. * Manage and troubleshoot routing protocols such as OSPF and BGP . * Configure and secure network tunnels using technologies such as IPsec . * Implement and manage Network Access Control (NAC) solutions, including Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager . * Support 802.1X authentication , dynamic segmentation, and Zero-Trust network architectures. * Install, configure, and maintain enterprise wireless network infrastructure supporting both indoor and outdoor coverage requirements. * Collaborate with customer stakeholders and engineering teams to ensure highly available, secure, and scalable network operations. Required Qualifications * Bachelors Degree (Masters preferred) in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline. * 10+ years of relevant network engineering experience. * Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively in senior-level engineering environments. Clearance Requirements * Active Secret Clearance. Certification Requirements (IAT Level II) Must possess one of the following certifications: * CompTIA Security+ * CompTIA CySA+ * CCNA Security * GICSP * GSEC * SSCP Preferred Qualifications * Experience with inMON Traffic Sentinel and Zabbix network monitoring tools. * Experience administering Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager . * Knowledge of Network Access Control (NAC) technologies and security policies. * Experience implementing Zero-Trust architectures and dynamic segmentation. * Familiarity with enterprise wireless networking solutions. * Experience with network automation and scripting using Python and/or PowerShell . * Experience supporting cloud-connected government or enterprise environments. * Strong troubleshooting skills across routing, switching, security, and cloud networking domains. Compensation: Salary Range: $160,000 - $170,000 depending on experience Benefits Include: * Medical * Dental * Vision * 401(k) * Paid Time Off (PTO) * Sick Leave (where required by law) This job opens for applications on 8/10/2026. Applications for this job will be accepted for at least 30 days from the posting date. #LI-CB1 #LI-ONSITE Keywords: Network, STIG, STIGs, DoD, NAVY, powershell, linux, vulnerabilities, cyber, network security, network admin, administrator, vSphere, Administrator, CCNA, Vmware, SOP, Security+, security, SQL, SQL server, threat prevention, firewall, trellix, queries, query, Telecommunications, Network Infrastructure, ISP/OSP, Structured Cabling, Fiber Optics, Copper Cabling, VLAN, Routing, Switching, Layer 1-4, OTDR, TIA/EIA, Navy, DoD, STIG, RMF, Data Center Buildout, Cabling Technician Lead, Network Engineering, Infrastructure Design, Physical Layer, Network Architecture, Enterprise Networking, Cisco CCNP, Network Troubleshooting, Network Engineer, Network Engineering, Routing, Switching, OSPF, BGP, IPsec, AWS Networking, Azure Networking, Cloud Connectivity, Virtual Private Cloud (VPC), VLAN, Network Access Control (NAC), Aruba ClearPass, Zero Trust, Dynamic Segmentation, Palo Alto, HPE Aruba, Wireless Networking, Network Monitoring, Traffic Sentinel, Zabbix, Infrastructure Engineering, Enterprise Networking, STIG Compliance, Secret Clearance, Government Networks, RDT&E, Network Security, Firewall Engineering, Cloud Networking, Network Automation, Python, PowerShell, Network Operations, Infrastructure Support, Performance Analysis, Packet Analysis, Systems Engineering.