Principal Enterprise Network Engineer

About Us:

VT-ARC, a technical services and applied research company, has built an organizational culture marked by four primary values: Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence, and Service. Integral to our success is our staff’s enthusiasm for solving tough problems by working together in teams to get the job done. We foster a culture where every employee’s contribution is valued and performed with integrity while maintaining a fun work environment. VT-ARC strives for excellence in all that is done for our clients, and such achievement is recognized through service/merit awards. Moreover, we promote a sense of community larger than VT-ARC alone, where staff and institutional resources can be applied in service to our country.

We are proud to be the recipient of the Best Workplace in Defense Award by Emergent Magazine, an honor that recognizes companies with positive cultures that not only impact their people but also make a meaningful difference in the community.

About You:

You are a principal-level enterprise network engineering subject matter expert with deep experience designing, implementing, integrating, and modernizing complex enterprise networks in mission-critical environments. You bring broad technical authority across enterprise networking technologies, including Cisco, Juniper, Aruba, and related routing, switching, wireless, transport, security, and network infrastructure platforms.

You have experience across both WAN and LAN environments, including internet-connected enterprise networks, classified enclaves, multi-site mission networks, and fully air-gapped environments. You understand how to design resilient, secure, interoperable network architectures that support mission operations, high availability, segmentation, performance, and long-term modernization.

You are comfortable leading complex architecture and integration efforts while remaining hands-on with design, implementation, troubleshooting, documentation, and deployment. You thrive in high-assurance environments where reliability, security, interoperability, and disciplined execution are essential. You provide technical leadership across network engineering, unified communications, cybersecurity, infrastructure, and performance engineering teams.

Position Overview:

VT-ARC is seeking a Principal Enterprise Network Engineer to serve as a senior technical authority for enterprise network architecture, implementation, sustainment, and modernization supporting mission-critical programs within TS/SCI environments.

This role is focused on SME-level enterprise networking across the full network lifecycle, from requirements interpretation and architecture input through detailed design, implementation, validation, documentation, and operational transition. The position is not limited to a single vendor stack or a narrow WAN/SD-WAN scope; it includes holistic network engineering across LAN, WAN, campus, data center, classified, air-gapped, multi-enclave, and mission communications environments.

This is a principal-level network engineering role responsible for translating mission and architecture objectives into executable network designs, implementation plans, and operationally supportable solutions. The Principal Enterprise Network Engineer will guide network, unified communications, cybersecurity, and infrastructure teams while actively contributing to system stand-up, modernization efforts, architecture validation, and mission integration within classified enterprise environments.

Active Top Secret/SCI clearance is required.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end enterprise network engineering activities, including architecture input, detailed design, implementation planning, integration, validation, and operational transition.
• Design, implement, and modernize enterprise network infrastructures across WAN, LAN, data center, campus, classified, multi-enclave, and air-gapped environments.
• Provide SME-level technical leadership across a wide range of enterprise networking technologies, including Cisco, Juniper, Aruba, and related network infrastructure platforms.
• Develop and validate network designs that account for routing, switching, segmentation, transport, security, performance, resiliency, interoperability, and sustainment.
• Translate enterprise architecture objectives and mission requirements into executable network designs, implementation plans, configuration standards, and deployment roadmaps.
• Lead design and deployment of enterprise routing and transport technologies, including BGP, OSPF, MPLS, QoS, VPN, SD-WAN, and related overlay/underlay architectures.
• Develop cross-domain, multi-enclave, and secure network integration approaches for classified and high-assurance mission environments.
• Collaborate with program architecture, cybersecurity, UC, systems engineering, infrastructure, and network performance teams to ensure end-to-end mission integration.
• Lead proof-of-concept demonstrations, lab validation, technical pilots, integration events, and network deployment activities.
• Develop technical documentation, network diagrams, configuration baselines, implementation guides, test plans, and operational transition materials.
• Mentor network engineering staff, establish network engineering standards, and promote best practices across the program.

Required Education, Certification, Skills, Capabilities:

• Demonstrated senior-level experience designing, implementing, and modernizing complex enterprise networks in mission-critical or high-assurance environments.
• Broad hands-on expertise across enterprise networking technologies, including routing, switching, transport, segmentation, wireless, edge, data center, and secure enclave networking.
• Experience with multi-vendor network environments, including platforms such as Cisco, Juniper, Aruba, or equivalent enterprise networking technologies.
• Strong practical knowledge of enterprise routing and transport protocols, including BGP, OSPF, MPLS, QoS, VPN, and related network services.
• Experience designing and supporting WAN, LAN, campus, data center, classified, and air-gapped network environments.
• Experience standing up, operating, integrating, or modernizing networks within TS/SCI, classified, multi-enclave, or other secure mission environments.
• Strong understanding of network segmentation, secure enclave integration, access control, Zero Trust-aligned architecture, and defense-in-depth network design.
• Experience supporting RMF processes, ATO documentation, security controls, STIG compliance, or equivalent cybersecurity compliance activities for network infrastructure.
• Ability to lead architecture discussions, evaluate design tradeoffs, develop implementation plans, and guide technical teams through complex integration efforts.
• Ability to produce clear technical documentation, architecture diagrams, configuration standards, operational procedures, and executive-level technical summaries.
• Ability to work fully onsite in Arlington, VA.

Desired Education, Certification, Skills, Capabilities:

• Professional certifications such as CCNP, CCIE, JNCIP, JNCIE, Aruba Certified Professional/Expert, Security+, CISSP, or equivalent technical credentials.
• Experience with SD-WAN technologies, including Cisco Viptela, Juniper, Aruba, VMware/VeloCloud, or equivalent platforms.
• Experience integrating WAN, LAN, wireless, unified communications, and mission communications transport in high-availability environments.
• Experience with cloud or hybrid networking architectures in AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, or similar government cloud environments.
• Experience with network automation, scripting, and infrastructure-as-code tools such as Python, Ansible, REST APIs, Git, or related toolsets.
• Experience with network modeling, simulation, lab validation, or digital engineering environments.
• Familiarity with systems engineering lifecycle reviews, including SRR, PDR, CDR, TRR, and related technical review processes.
• Experience producing architecture artifacts aligned with DoDAF, mission engineering, model-based systems engineering, or enterprise architecture frameworks.
• Experience mentoring engineers, establishing technical standards, and serving as a trusted technical advisor to program leadership and mission stakeholders.

Primary Work Location: Work is expected to be fully onsite in Arlington, VA.

Special Work Conditions: Travel may be required, up to 10%.

Security:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance is required

Competitive Salary: VT-ARC offers competitive pay based on a number of factors, including but not limited to conducting comparable salary market research, education, years of experience, and benefits.

Salary Range: $220,000–$250,000 annually

Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation: VT-ARC is a 501(c)(3), non-profit R&D organization affiliated with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech or VT). Our mission is to provide superior analytic and technology solutions across multiple domains by leveraging Virginia Tech’s multidisciplinary research and innovation ecosystem. With unique access to the broad and rich research enterprise found at Virginia Tech, VT-ARC forms multi-disciplinary teams to apply innovative solutions to the real-world problems that strain our social, political, industrial, and economic foundations.

To learn more about VT-ARC’s Benefits, Perks, Culture & more visit our Careers page: https://vt-arc.org/careers/

Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. As a federal contractor, we are committed to providing equal employment opportunity and affirmative action for qualified individuals with disabilities under Section?503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources at hr@vt-arc.org

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