Network Engineer Principal

General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.

$110K — $149K *
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of related experience in network engineering
  • Strong hands-on experience with enterprise routing and switching
  • Deep understanding of networking protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, VPN)
  • Experience managing enterprise firewall platforms and VPNs
  • Familiarity with network monitoring and diagnostic tools

Responsibilities

  • Operate and improve enterprise network and security infrastructure
  • Continuously enhance network reliability and performance
  • Support routing and switching infrastructure troubleshooting
  • Manage enterprise DNS infrastructure and security
  • Provide advanced troubleshooting for network performance issues
  • Collaborate with cross-functional engineering teams
  • Mentor junior engineers and promote knowledge sharing

Benefits

  • Medical plan options including health savings accounts
  • Dental and vision plan options
  • 401(k) plan with company match
  • Flexible work schedule and a variety of paid time off
  • Short and long-term disability benefits
  • Life and accident insurance options
  • Regular review of benefits to ensure competitiveness and value
Full Job Description
Type of Requisition:
Regular

Clearance Level Must Currently Possess:
None

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain:
None

Public Trust/Other Required:
None

Job Family:
IT Infrastructure and Operations

Job Qualifications:

Skills:
Enterprise Network, Network Architecture, Network Engineering, Network Infrastructures
Certifications:
None
Experience:
8 + years of related experience
US Citizenship Required:
No

Job Description:

We are seeking a Network Engineer Principal to join our enterprise infrastructure team supporting a large, complex environment spanning cloud and enterprise network services. This is a hands-on engineering role responsible for implementing, operating, and continuously improving critical network infrastructure that supports enterprise applications, services, and users across hybrid environments.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience in enterprise routing, switching, network security, and core infrastructure services. This role focuses on implementing and operating existing network architecture while identifying opportunities to improve performance, reliability, and operational efficiency across the network environment. You will join a collaborative engineering team responsible for maintaining large-scale enterprise networking platforms, including routing, switching, security infrastructure, and foundational network services used by thousands of users and applications.

MEANINGFUL WORK AND PERSONAL IMPACT:

Operate and improve enterprise network and security infrastructure
  • Install, configure, and support enterprise network equipment including routers, switches, and core network services
  • Continuously improve network reliability, performance, and operational efficiency across large-scale deployments
  • Configure and support enterprise firewall platforms, including access control policies, VPNs, and secure tunnels
  • Maintain secure network connectivity across internal networks, remote sites, and cloud environments
  • Maintain network infrastructure through firmware updates and lifecycle management


Support routing, switching, and core network protocols
  • Configure and troubleshoot routing and switching infrastructure across large enterprise environments
  • Support dynamic routing protocols such as BGP and OSPF
  • Maintain strong operational knowledge of network layers (L1/L2/L3) and how they impact service delivery


Manage foundational network services
  • Manage enterprise DNS infrastructure, including record creation, monitoring, troubleshooting, and lifecycle management
  • Support DNS security and protection mechanisms
  • Maintain integration between DNS, directory services, and DHCP systems


Troubleshoot complex network problems
  • Provide advanced troubleshooting and resolution for complex network performance or connectivity issues
  • Utilize monitoring and diagnostic tools to identify and resolve infrastructure problems
  • Participate in incident response, root cause analysis, and operational improvement efforts


Collaborate across engineering teams
  • Partner with cloud, security, and infrastructure teams to support enterprise networking requirements
  • Contribute to network design documentation, operational runbooks, and engineering best practices
  • Mentor junior engineers and support knowledge sharing within the engineering organization


WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO SUCCEED

The Network Engineer Principal must have:
  • Education: High School diploma required
  • Experience: 8+ years of related experience with a Bachelor's degree; in lieu of Bachelor's degree, an additional four (4) years of experience is required
  • Strong hands-on experience with enterprise routing and switching
  • Deep understanding of networking protocols such as TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, and VPN technologies
  • Experience operating and troubleshooting dynamic routing protocols such as BGP and OSPF
  • Experience configuring and maintaining enterprise firewall platforms, VPN connectivity, and network security control
  • Experience managing DNS infrastructure, including monitoring, security, and integration with enterprise directory services
  • Experience supporting enterprise wireless and device authentication environment
  • Experience working within large enterprise or service provider environments
  • Familiarity with network monitoring and diagnostic tools
  • Ability to collaborate effectively across infrastructure, cloud, and security engineering teams


Preferred skills not required:
  • Experience with leading enterprise networking platforms such as JUNOS-based systems, Silverpeak SDWAN, BlueCat and Palo Alto Firewalls
  • Experience with SASE
  • Experience supporting networking in hybrid cloud environments
  • Familiarity with network automation, scripting, or infrastructure automation frameworks
  • Experience contributing to network design documentation and operational standards
  • Industry certifications in networking, cloud networking, or security disciplines


The likely salary range for this position is $110,500 - $149,500. This is not, however, a guarantee of compensation or salary. Rather, salary will be set based on experience, geographic location and possibly contractual requirements and could fall outside of this range.

Scheduled Weekly Hours:
40

Travel Required:
Less than 10%

Telecommuting Options:
Remote

Work Location:
USA VA Falls Church

Additional Work Locations:
USA VA Herndon

Total Rewards at GDIT:
Our benefits package for all US-based employees includes a variety of medical plan options, some with Health Savings Accounts, dental plan options, a vision plan, and a 401(k) plan offering the ability to contribute both pre and post-tax dollars up to the IRS annual limits and receive a company match. To encourage work/life balance, GDIT offers employees full flex work weeks where possible and a variety of paid time off plans, including vacation, sick and personal time, holidays, paid parental, military, bereavement and jury duty leave. To ensure our employees are able to protect their income, other offerings such as short and long-term disability benefits, life, accidental death and dismemberment, personal accident, critical illness and business travel and accident insurance are provided or available. We regularly review our Total Rewards package to ensure our offerings are competitive and reflect what our employees have told us they value most.

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.

More Information Technology Jobs

Find similar Network Engineer Principal jobs: