Network Engineer (Entry Level to SME) TS/SCI with Poly REQUIRED

Category: Database Administration

Main location: United States, Virginia, Arlington

Position ID:J0726-1989

Employment Type: Full Time

Position Description:

The Network Engineer helps build, secure, and maintain an organization's IT communication systems. They support senior staff by installing hardware, monitoring network performance, and troubleshooting everyday connection issues.

This position is located in our Arlington office; however, a hybrid working model is acceptable.

Your future duties and responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities (Entry Level)
• Hardware & Software Setup: Install and configure basic network equipment like routers, switches, and cables.
• System Monitoring: Watch network traffic to ensure systems stay fast, reliable, and available to all users.
• Issue Troubleshooting: Help identify and fix basic network errors or connection dropouts under the supervision of senior engineers.
• Routine Maintenance: Apply software updates, security patches, and perform basic data backups.
• Documentation: Keep detailed records of network layouts, upgrades, and changes.

Key Responsibilities (Junior Level)
• Network Monitoring: Monitor system performance using network management tools.
• Incident Management: Serve as the initial point of contact for network tickets. Troubleshoot link failures, IP conflicts, and wireless connectivity.
• Configuration & Maintenance: Assist in the basic setup, configuration, and maintenance of network devices like routers, switches, and access points.
• Documentation: Document troubleshooting steps, recurring network issues, and update network topology diagrams.
• Hardware Inventory: Keep track of network equipment, perform cable patching, and assist with physical hardware setups.
• Escalation: Identify when a problem exceeds L1 scope and seamlessly escalate tickets to L2 or L3 engineering teams.

Key Responsibilities (Mid-Level)
• Advanced Troubleshooting & Escalation: Act as a primary escalation point for Level 1 support, diagnosing and resolving highly complex latency, connectivity, and hardware failures.
• Infrastructure Management: Configure, maintain, and upgrade routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, and VPNs.
• Network Design & Implementation: Partner with architects to design, test, and deploy network modules, cabling, and SD-WAN/LAN updates.
• Security & Compliance Operations: Implement security policies, apply firmware patches, and ensure infrastructure meets compliance frameworks.
• Performance Optimization: Monitor network traffic patterns, minimize latency, and optimize data throughput utilizing performance evaluation and simulation tools.
• Disaster Recovery & Documentation: Maintain detailed network diagrams and documentation. Design and test Disaster Recovery (DR) and business continuity processes.
• Team Leadership: Provide guidance, mentorship, and technical direction to junior or helpdesk engineers.

Key Responsibilities (Senior Level)
• Advanced Architecture & Design: Architect, test, and implement highly available, scalable enterprise networks (LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, and Data Center). Create comprehensive High-Level (HLD) and Low-Level Designs (LLD).
• Tier-4 Escalation & Troubleshooting: Act as the final escalation point for critical, high-impact network outages. Lead root cause analysis (RCA) investigations and liaise directly with strategic vendor TAC (e.g., Cisco, Arista, Juniper).
• Network Automation & Scripting: Engineer infrastructure-as-code and configuration templates using automation and orchestration tools. Minimize manual rollouts and reduce human error across global network stacks.
• Security & Compliance Oversight: Enforce strict security postures. Manage advanced security configurations (firewalls, F5 load balancers, IDS/IPS, WAF) and ensure compliance with security frameworks.
• Capacity & Performance Optimization: Utilize sophisticated network performance monitoring to forecast thresholds, mitigate latency, and maximize throughput.
• Mentorship & Leadership: Guide and train lower-tier engineers and technicians. Translate complex technical concepts into strategic executive reports for senior management.

Key Responsibilities (SME Level)
• Network Architecture & Design: Architect and deploy highly scalable, resilient, and future-proof enterprise networks (LAN, WAN, WLAN, and Cloud IaaS).
• Advanced Escalation & Troubleshooting: Act as the final tier of technical escalation. Perform rapid, complex root-cause analysis (RCA) on severe, enterprise-impacting incidents and outages.
• Automation & Orchestration: Engineer and maintain Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and network automation using languages and tools like Python, Ansible, and Terraform.
• Security Architecture: Architect and enforce Zero-Trust and SASE frameworks, administer next-generation firewalls, and establish rigorous access, auditing, and encryption policies.
• Strategic Capacity Planning: Lead resource planning, circuit analysis, and traffic optimization by assessing metrics, identifying bottlenecks, and forecasting future compute/bandwidth requirements.
• Technical Leadership & Mentorship: Lead cross-functional teams, direct 2nd/3rd-line teams, mentor junior engineers, and conduct vendor negotiations for hardware/software solutions.

Required qualifications to be successful in this role:

All roles require an active TS/SCI with Poly

Entry Level:
• Education:
o High School Diploma/GED with 4 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 2 years of relevant experience,
o or Bachelor's Degree with 0 years of relevant experience
• Basic understanding of networking fundamentals (e.g., TCP/IP, OSI model, routing, and switching).
• Familiarity with command-line interfaces and basic operating systems (like Linux or Windows).
• Strong troubleshooting, problem-solving, and analytical capabilities.
• Excellent communication and documentation skills for recording network faults.
• Certifications: Foundational certifications like CompTIA Network+ or Cisco Certified Support Technician (CCST) are highly preferred.

Junior Level:
• Education:
o High School Diploma/GED with 6 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 4 years of relevant experience,
o Bachelor's Degree with 2 years of relevant experience,
o or Masters Degree with 0 years of relevant experience
• Networking Fundamentals: Foundational understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, and OSI model concepts.
• Device Familiarity: Basic exposure to configuring switches, routers, and firewalls.
• Soft Skills: Strong problem-solving, analytical thinking, and clear verbal communication for dealing with users and other technical teams.
• Preferred Certifications: Entry-level credentials such as CompTIA Network+ or a beginner Cisco certification like CCNA.

Mid-Level:
• Education:
o High School Diploma/GED with 8 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 6 years of relevant experience,
o Bachelor's Degree with 4 years of relevant experience,
o Masters Degree with 2 years of relevant experience,
o or PhD with 0 years of relevant experience
• Certifications: Mid-level to advanced certifications, such as a Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) or a Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA).
• Technical Proficiencies:
o Deep working knowledge of BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, and TCP/IP protocols.Hands-on experience with Cisco, Juniper, or Arista platforms.
o Familiarity with VPNs, NAT, IPSec, GRE tunneling, and VoIP solutions.
o Proficiency in utilizing monitoring tools, Packet Analysis (Wireshark), and network management platforms.

Senior Level:
• Education:
o High School Diploma/GED with 10 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 8 years of relevant experience,
o Bachelor's Degree with 6 years of relevant experience,
o or Masters Degree with 4 years of relevant experience,
o or PhD with 2 years of relevant experience
• Expert Technical Fluency: In-depth, hands-on command of routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP), switching (VXLAN, EVPN), and network virtualization (SDN, SD-WAN).
• Certifications: Industry-standard expert-level certifications are highly preferred (e.g., Cisco CCIE, Juniper JNCIE, or Arista ACE-A).
• Scripting & Automation Proficiency: Strong practical experience with Python, Ansible, Terraform, or RESTful APIs in a networking context.

SME Level:
• Education:
o High School Diploma/GED with 12 years of relevant experience,
o Associates Degree with 10 years of relevant experience,
o Bachelor's Degree with 8 years of relevant experience,
o or Masters Degree with 6 years of relevant experience,
o or PhD with 4 years of relevant experience
• Certifications: Industry-standard Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) or Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) enterprise/security preferred.
• Protocols & Technologies: Deep, hands-on expertise with BGP, TCP/IP, MPLS, OSPF, EVPN, VXLAN, QoS, IPSec VPNs, and overlay/underlay architectures.
• Infrastructure: Proficiency in configuring physical and virtualized hardware, including modular chassis switches, core routers, load balancers, and wireless controllers.
• Cloud & Virtualization: Strong working knowledge of hybrid/multi-cloud networking environments (e.g., MS Azure, AWS, Google Cloud VPCs) and software-defined networking (SDN).
• Analytical Mindset: Exceptional problem-solving and critical-thinking capabilities with a proven track record of designing fault-tolerant disaster recovery and business continuity architectures.

CGI is required by law in some jurisdictions to include a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. The determination of this range includes various factors not limited to skill set, level, experience, relevant training, and licensure and certifications. To support the ability to reward for merit-based performance, CGI typically does not hire individuals at or near the top of the range for their role. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current range for this role in the U.S. is $89,600.00 - $204,000.00.

CGI Federal's benefits are offered to eligible professionals on their first day of employment to include:
. Competitive compensation
. Comprehensive insurance options
. Matching contributions through the 401(k) plan and the share purchase plan
. Paid time off for vacation, holidays, and sick time
. Paid parental leave
. Learning opportunities and tuition assistance
. Wellness and Well-being programs

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