Junior Network Engineer

Leidos Digital is looking to fill a Junior Network Engineer position to support the National Digital Exploitation & OSINT Center (NDOC). The Network Engineer supports the planning, coordination, and execution of major computer network initiatives.

This is a 100% on-site position. All work must be performed at the customer site in Bethesda at the Intelligence Community Campus.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and maintain highly available, scalable, and secure data center and enterprise network architectures, including spine-leaf topologies, virtualized environments, and fabric networks.
• Plan, integrate, and sustain LAN/WAN infrastructure with seamless connectivity between on-premises systems, cloud environments, and external mission networks.
• Configure and maintain Cisco ACI, routers, switches, firewalls, and load balancers in support of mission-critical operations.
• Manage connectivity and performance across servers, storage, hypervisors, and data center interconnects to ensure optimal network throughput and reliability.
• Utilize network monitoring and ITSM tools such as ServiceNow, SolarWinds, NetBox, and PRTG to track network health, availability, and incident resolution metrics.
• Lead troubleshooting and incident resolution for complex network and data center issues, including root cause analysis and recovery planning.
• Develop and execute contingency and continuity plans to ensure network resilience and minimal downtime during outages or maintenance events.
• Oversee network cabling standards, patch management, and structured wiring practices to support consistent data center operations.
• Implement network segmentation, performance tuning, and latency optimization strategies across physical and virtual environments.
• Coordinate closely with IT, Systems Engineering, Cybersecurity, and Application teams to support cross-functional projects and ensure network compliance with security and mission requirements.
• Manage and assign work through ServiceNow ITSM, ensuring incidents and change requests are properly documented and resolved within SLA.
• Provide status reports, incident summaries, and performance metrics to program and executive leadership.
• Lead or support network modernization and data center consolidation initiatives, ensuring projects meet technical, budgetary, and schedule requirements.
• Evaluate and recommend emerging network technologies that improve data center efficiency, scalability, and cybersecurity posture.
• Supervise and mentor network engineers and technicians, providing technical leadership and professional development.
• Assist leadership with planning schedules and ensure proper personnel coverage for support activities.
• Responsible for evaluating resumes for vacancies and serving as a key component during candidate interviews.
• Manage work performance for subordinates, provide periodic feedback, and document performance against employee's goals and corporate guidelines.
• Review and approve timesheets for assigned subordinates in compliance with corporate standards.
• Maintain flexibility to provide after-hours or on-call support in the event of critical outages.

Basic Qualifications:

• Proven experience designing, implementing, and maintaining data center network architectures with a focus on scalability, redundancy, and security.
• Hands-on experience with Cisco ACI, Nexus, and Catalyst platforms, including configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting.
• Strong understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, OSPF, BGP, VLANs, HSRP, SNMP, and multicast protocols.
• Proficiency with network monitoring and ITSM tools such as ServiceNow, SolarWinds, and NetBox.
• In-depth knowledge of network security principles, including firewall rules, ACLs, VPNs, and secure remote access.
• Familiarity with network asset lifecycle management, capacity planning, and hardware procurement processes.
• Experience leading teams and managing performance under shifting operational priorities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to brief senior leadership and government stakeholders.
• Candidate must meet DoD 8140/8570.11- IAT Level II certification requirements (Security+ CE, CCNA Security, GSEC, or SSCP) with a valid Computing Environment (CE) certification.

Clearance:

• Due to the nature of the government contracts we support, US Citizenship is required.
• TS/SCI with Poly required for Position or TS/SCI and willingness to get a poly.

Education:

• Requires a High School diploma and 3-5+ years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Active Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification
• CCNP or CCIE certification

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.

Original Posting:

Pay Range:

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.