Kratos Defense and Security Solutions

Senior Network Architect and Technical Leader

Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • U.S. citizenship with active DoD Top Secret/SCI clearance is mandatory
  • BS in a STEM degree field required
  • Cisco CCNP certification required; CCIE preferred
  • DoDM 8140.03 certification (e.g. Security +) necessary
  • 10+ years in network architecture and technical leadership with a focus on large-scale enterprise networks
  • Extensive hands-on experience with network security and routing/switching technologies
  • Strong troubleshooting and communication skills, both verbal and written

Responsibilities

  • Collaborate with program and customer leadership to define network engineering requirements
  • Architect and implement scalable and secure WAN/LAN solutions for Department of War environments
  • Lead network modernization efforts including device refreshes and software deployments
  • Prototype network designs using modeling environments for optimization
  • Guide engineering teams through complex network design and configurations
  • Provide proactive consulting and troubleshoot issues for network optimization
  • Coach and mentor junior engineers to enhance team development

Benefits

  • Opportunity for continuous learning and professional development
  • Access to cutting-edge technologies and tools
  • Engagement in high-impact, mission-critical projects
  • Collaboration with experienced professionals in the field
  • Potential for travel to support customer meetings and system locations
Full Job Description
Kratos is seeking a highly accomplished Senior Network Architect and Technical Leader with 15+ years of progressive experience designing, implementing, modernizing, and supporting large-scale, remote manned/unmanned, mission-critical network environments. The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise across WAN/LAN routing and switching, data center technologies, virtualization, and network security, with a proven ability to lead teams, modernize customer environments, and support complex government customers.

This role involves high-impact, hands-on troubleshooting and maintenance, maintaining technical documentation, modernization initiatives, proactive consulting, and coaching of engineering staff. Experience supporting DoW and/or Intelligence Community customers is highly preferred.

Key Responsibilities
  • Work with Program and Customer Leadership to ensure all Network Engineering requirements are understood and defined, align solutions, and strengthen long-term technical relationships.
  • Architect, design, implement, and support scalable and secure WAN/LAN network solutions for DoW environments.
  • Lead comprehensive network modernization efforts, including device refreshes, routing changes, software deployments, and security hardening initiatives.
  • Prototype network designs and issues using modeling environments (e.g., Cisco Modeling Labs) to validate and optimize architectures.
  • Serve as a technical lead guiding teams of engineers through design, configuration, and stabilization of complex customer networks.
  • Provide proactive consulting support, issue troubleshooting, root-cause analysis, and performance optimization.
  • Coach and mentor junior engineers, contribute to knowledge transfer, and support team development.
  • Ensure secure system configuration, risk mitigation, and compliance with DoW and enterprise security standards.
  • Participate in CDRL and technical artifact generation based on internal and customer prescribed schedules
  • Attend and support highly technical engineering team meetings
  • Develop and deliver effective customer presentations, demonstrating an ability to communicate comfortably at a system level
  • Travel as necessary to attend customer meetings and establish/maintain remote system locations


  • U.S. citizenship with active DoD Top Secret/SCI clearance
  • BS in STEM degree field
  • Cisco CCNP (Required) or CCIE (Preferred) certification
  • DoDM 8140.03 Certification (Security +, CASP+, CEH, CISM, CISSP, or equivalent)
  • Supporting programs through SRR, PDR, CDR, or equivalent design reviews
  • 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in network architecture, engineering, and technical leadership
  • Extensive experience supporting large-scale enterprise or Department of War networks, ideally including the U.S. Air Force.
  • Hands-on experience with network security technologies including ASA firewalls, hardening, and access control systems.
  • Expertise with routing and switching technologies including OSPF, BGP, , multicast protocols, LAN switching, and advanced WAN solutions (DMVPN, SD-WAN, SD-Routing).
  • Strong data center experience across, SAN, storage networking, High Availability (HA), power solutions, and virtualization (VMware, Linux).
  • Demonstrated ability to lead engineering teams through complex network deployments and upgrades.
  • Strong troubleshooting capabilities and ability to simulate, replicate, and resolve complex issues.
  • Ability to articulate technical concepts orally and in written forms for internal team, external customer, and users

Preferred Skills and Experience
  • 15+ years of experience in network architecture, engineering, and technical leadership
  • Experience with network modeling and automation principles (e.g. CML)
  • Experience supporting high availability and multi-site environments
  • Other advanced certifications and specialization tracks beyond CCIE
  • Experience working alongside or in a network architect role
  • Experience with cloud networking platforms and integrations

#LI-Onsite

The grade-based pay range for this job is listed below. Individual salaries within that range are determined through a wide variety of factors including but not limited to education, experience, knowledge, and skills.

Competitive salary based on experience and education
Salary Range: $170,000-$185,000

This posting will close within 90 days from the Posting Date.

About Kratos Defense and Security Solutions

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. provides mission critical products, solutions, and services in the United States. The company operates through three segments: Kratos Government Solutions, Unmanned Systems, and Public Safety & Security. The Kratos Government Solutions segment offers microwave electronic products, satellite communications, training systems, modular systems, and defense and rocket support services. The Unmanned Systems segment provides unmanned aerial, ground, and seaborne, as well as command, control, and communications systems. The Public Safety & Security segment designs, engineers, deploys, operates, integrates, maintains, and operates security and surveillance solutions for homeland security, public safety, critical infrastructure, government, and commercial customers. The company serves national security related agencies, the department of defense, intelligence agencies, and classified agencies, as well as international government agencies and domestic and international commercial customers; and critical infrastructure, power generation, power transport, nuclear energy, financial, IT, healthcare, education, transportation, and petro-chemical industries, as well as government and military customers. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in San Diego, California.
Learn more about Kratos Defense and Security Solutions
Size
3,300 employees
Market Cap
$1.1 billion
Industry
Net Income
$79.6 million
Founded
1994
5 Year Trend
+8.4%
Revenue
$747.6 million
NASDAQ

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