Network Administration and Operations Engineer

The Force Protection Division is seeking a Network Administration & Operations Engineer to support the design, implementation, integration, operation, and sustainment of the network infrastructure supporting the Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) Increased Access OTA Prototype. The successful candidate will serve as the network engineering lead responsible for building and maintaining the communications backbone that enables the integration of multiple commercial, Government, and third-party technologies into a secure, reliable, and operational layered security system.

The Network Administration & Operations Engineer is responsible for planning, designing, configuring, testing, implementing, monitoring, and maintaining the prototype's network infrastructure supporting sensors, autonomous systems, command and control (C2) applications, cybersecurity appliances, communications systems, servers, and supporting information technology components. The individual will evaluate network architectures, recommend technical solutions, develop implementation plans, and ensure the network infrastructure provides the reliability, scalability, performance, and security necessary to support developmental testing, operational assessments, and customer demonstrations.

Working closely with Systems Engineering, Security Architecture & Engineering, Software Engineering, Integration & Test, subcontractors, Government stakeholders, and commercial technology providers, the Network Administration & Operations Engineer will support the integration of multiple OEM capabilities into existing Department of Defense (DoD) network environments while ensuring interoperability, network performance, cybersecurity compliance, and operational readiness. The individual will troubleshoot complex network issues, optimize system performance, and support the deployment of network infrastructure across laboratory, staging, and operational environments.

The Network Administration & Operations Engineer collaborates across multiple engineering disciplines to ensure network architectures support mission objectives while maintaining compliance with DoD cybersecurity requirements, configuration management processes, and engineering best practices. This position requires a technically proficient engineer capable of balancing network performance, security, reliability, and operational effectiveness within a fast-paced prototype development environment.

Primary Responsibilities

• Design, implement, configure, and maintain the network infrastructure supporting the Rock Island Arsenal (RIA) Increased Access OTA Prototype, including routers, switches, firewalls, wireless infrastructure, servers, and supporting communications equipment.
• Lead the integration of multiple commercial, Government, and third-party vendor technologies into a secure, reliable, and interoperable network architecture supporting the prototype's layered security system.
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize network performance, availability, connectivity, and reliability across laboratory, staging, and operational environments to ensure mission readiness.
• Collaborate with Systems Engineering, Security Architecture & Engineering, Software Engineering, and Integration & Test teams to support system integration, customer demonstrations, operational assessments, and field deployments.
• Implement and maintain secure network configurations that comply with Department of Defense (DoD) cybersecurity requirements, including network segmentation, access controls, Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs), and Risk Management Framework (RMF) objectives.
• Develop and maintain network architecture diagrams, implementation plans, configuration baselines, and technical documentation supporting system deployment, troubleshooting, and lifecycle management.
• Support customer demonstrations, operational assessments, and field installations by providing hands-on network engineering expertise, resolving technical issues, and ensuring reliable end-to-end communications across the integrated prototype.

Basic Qualifications

• Typically requires high school diploma or equivalent and 2 – 4 years of prior relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, configuring, and administering enterprise or Department of Defense (DoD) network infrastructures supporting mission-critical systems.
• Demonstrated experience planning, installing, configuring, testing, and maintaining network equipment including routers, switches, firewalls, wireless infrastructure, and supporting communications hardware.
• Demonstrated experience supporting network engineering activities throughout the system development life cycle, including network architecture, implementation, integration, testing, and operational support.
• Demonstrated experience integrating multiple hardware, software, and networked systems into secure enterprise or tactical network environments.
• Demonstrated experience troubleshooting network connectivity, routing, switching, firewall, VLAN, VPN, and communications issues in complex operational environments.
• Demonstrated experience evaluating network performance, identifying bottlenecks, and implementing solutions to improve network reliability, availability, and performance.
• Demonstrated experience supporting network integration and interoperability among commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), Government off-the-shelf (GOTS), and third-party vendor technologies.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with systems engineering, cybersecurity, software engineering, and integration teams to support system implementation and operational readiness.
• Demonstrated experience preparing network diagrams, implementation plans, technical documentation, configuration baselines, and engineering recommendations.
• Working knowledge of TCP/IP networking, Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking, routing protocols, network segmentation, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, VPNs, and network management principles.
• Ability to travel up to 50% to support laboratory integration, customer demonstrations, installation, and operational assessments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting Department of Defense (DoD), Army, or Other Transaction Authority (OTA) prototype programs.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing secure network architectures supporting layered security systems, physical security technologies, command and control (C2) systems, autonomous systems, or sensor integration.
• Experience integrating multiple OEM technologies into existing DoD enterprise or tactical network environments.
• Experience supporting network infrastructure for operational assessments, developmental testing, customer demonstrations, or field exercises.
• Experience implementing network security best practices including network segmentation, firewall configuration, access control, secure remote access, and defense-in-depth architectures.
• Familiarity with Risk Management Framework (RMF), Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs), Assured Compliance Assessment Solution (ACAS), and DoD cybersecurity requirements.

Industry certifications such as Cisco CCNA/CCNP, CompTIA Network+, Security+, Juniper JNCIS, Palo Alto PCNSA, or equivalent.

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The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.