Senior Principal Network Engineer

Type of Requisition:

Regular

Clearance Level Must Currently Possess:

Top Secret

Clearance Level Must Be Able to Obtain:

Top Secret

Public Trust/Other Required:

None

Job Family:

IT Infrastructure and Operations

Job Qualifications:

Skills:

Aruba ClearPass, DNS Management, Enterprise Network, IT Network Security

Certifications:

None

Experience:

10 + years of related experience

US Citizenship Required:

Yes

Job Description:

GDIT is seeking a Senior Principal Network Engineer to help support our JSP ETM-NG activities at the Pentagon. Due to the nature of work this role entails, telecommuting is not allowed.

You will provide technical leadership for the Core Transport Network Engineering team and ensures the health, stability, and performance of a large, complex enterprise network. This role oversees more than 8,000 network devices, guiding engineers on best practices, executing network upgrades, and leading troubleshooting efforts. Responsibilities include comprehensive network administration, security remediation, and support for routers, switches, load balancers, VPNs, wireless, and VoIP systems. The engineer works both independently and collaboratively across teams.

MEANINGFUL WORK AND PERSONAL IMPACT

• Serve as subject-matter expert in routing, switching, network performance, and troubleshooting.
• Lead design reviews, system enhancements, and provide recommendations to management and clients.
• Assess new applications, infrastructure, and cloud solutions for alignment with enterprise strategy.
• Define system specifications and ensure hardware/software compatibility.
• Mentor junior engineers and support technical staff; may provide supervisory oversight.
• Act as senior liaison with clients, ensuring requirements and expectations are met.
• Resolve incidents and coordinate vendor support when needed.
• Deploy and maintain network hardware and services per industry standards.
• Perform daily monitoring and review logs to validate system health and availability.
• Document and execute configuration changes during maintenance windows.
• Lead on‑call troubleshooting and resolution activities.
• Develop and maintain installation, configuration, and process documentation.
• Partner with Security teams to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to support diverse user needs.
• Create automation scripts to support migrations and operational tasks.
• Perform root‑cause analysis and ensure effective long‑term fixes.
• Support multiple projects and stay current on emerging technologies.
• Participate in special projects as assigned.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO SUCCEED - REQUIRED:

• CLEARANCE: Active Top Secret clearance

• CERTIFICATIONS:

  • DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification

  • At least ONE active network certification - CCNA, CCNP, or ACSA

• EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in a technical field or equivalent experience
  YEAR’S EXPERIENCE: 10+ years of IT experience

• TECHNICAL SKILLS:

  • Advanced knowledge of IT principles, network engineering, and troubleshooting

  • Extensive experience with Cisco/Juniper hardware and SDN technologies

  • Proficiency with routing and switching protocols (TCP/IP, MPLS, OSPF, BGP, SDN, 802.1x)

  • Experience with DNS, DHCP, IPAM, NTP across multi‑site environments

  • Strong background in network security (firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPN, remediation)

  • Familiarity with network monitoring tools (SolarWinds, NetScout, NetCool, NetBrain, Infovista, Clearpass, Aruba, Arista)

  • CLI configuration experience and scripting for automation

  • Strong documentation, hardware troubleshooting, and customer‑service skills

  • Experience supporting remote users and teleworkers

• LOCATION: Arlington, VA (on‑site at the Pentagon)

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• CLEARANCE: Active TS/SCI or TS with SCI eligibility

• TECHNICAL SKILLS: Experience with proposals, Remedy ITSM, Linux/Windows/UNIX administration, and Visio network diagrams

GDIT IS YOUR PLACE
At GDIT, the mission is our purpose, and our people are at the center of everything we do.

• Growth: AI-powered career tool that identifies career steps and learning opportunities

• Su