1427 - Network Engineer

Sigma Defense is seeking a Network Engineer to perform the daily tasks of operating and maintaining the Global Agile Integrated Transport (GAIT) Network Service Center (NSC). The candidate fulfilling these functions must be knowledgeable about tactical communications and networks from a planning, implementation and troubleshooting perspective. The GAIT cell will be based out of the Fort Detrick, Maryland (Fredrick Maryland) area. The cell will operate on a 24 x 7 x 365 basis.

GAIT is a colorless (transport) MPLS network that connects each of the Army Regional Hub Nodes (RHNs), multiple DoD Teleports (SATCOM only), and other points of presence together in support of a global tactical network. This network will support training, contingency, and operational missions on a global scale.

The GAIT Network Engineer will be responsible for mission planning, engineering, implementation, maintenance, and troubleshooting as required to support users requiring GAIT services. Some knowledge of the PM Tactical Network (formerly PM WIN-T) architecture along with emerging technologies at the tactical edge is required. The successful candidate should have familiarity of the tactical network and different technologies associated with it. The ability to assess and implement network outage or degradation remediation in a quick and resourceful manner is required.

Must have excellent reasoning and troubleshooting skills enough to assist and guide problems to resolution over the phone. Good customer relations skills are also a must. All candidates should have a basic understanding of tactical satellite (TACSAT) equipment and understand its relationship to the greater network architecture. The successful candidate must have a desire to complete assigned site certifications within prescribed periods and also learn about new technologies being implemented on a continual basis. 

The ideal candidate is able to work independently or as part of a larger team.  Has excellent analytical skills and is able to utilize those skills in a customer service environment to solve communications related issues with tactical users.  Has technical knowledge across many of the industry certifications and drive for continual professional development in those areas.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled: Sigma Defense Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Requirements

Requirements and Experience:

• 4+ years of relevant experience.
• General routing and switching experience.
• Basic understanding of SATCOM and SATCOM principles, specifically advantageous is Linkway modem operations (Basic Ops), Raydyne FDMA modem operations (Basic Ops), NCW modem operations (Basic Ops), and iDirect Modem operations.
• Willingness to learn setup, operations and troubleshooting of the Linkway NCC operations (Advanced Ops).
• Experience or willingness to learn Voice.
• Experience or willingness to learn creating trunks (CCNA Voice).
• Willingness to learn how to build call managers (CCNP Voice).
• Experience or willingness to learn how to create route patterns (CCNA Voice).
• Willingness to learn how to setup and operate the Voice Gateway Routers (VGR) (CCNP Voice).
• Willingness to learn how to setup call traffic flow (CCNP Voice).

Candidate Differentiators:

• The successful candidate should have A+ or Network + certifications or have the ability to obtain them within the first 30 days after employment. 
• The candidate should also be working towards Security+ or equivalent certifications within the first year of employment. 
• A valid CCNA or other equivalent industry certification where not required is preferred. 
• Direct military experience in communications is highly advantageous.     
• Setup, troubleshooting and operation of the iDirect network operations (Advanced Ops) and in-depth knowledge of IP networking and processes is preferred.

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in an IT or DoD Communications field of study.

Personnel Clearance Level:

• Candidate must possess or have the ability to obtain an active Secret security clearance.

Essential Job Duties (not all inclusive):

• Shift work is required and there may be periods of time where employees are placed in an on call scenario and must provide a good point of contact number.
• Premium hours in the amount of 10-15% is anticipated for all incumbents.
• Collaborate effectively with a team.

• Load IOS's on Cisco firewalls and IPS's (CCNA Security).
• Setup, configure, and troubleshoot Palo Alto virtual Firewalls.
• Setup, troubleshoot, and understand the various Netops applications, such as: SNMPc, SolarWinds ORION, Radius, and TACACS (Cisco ISE).
• Load, setup, and troubleshoot routers/switches IOS (CCNA R&S).
• Set up and operate KG-175A and KG-175D model TACLANEs and/or similar encryption devices.
• Have experience with or show the ability to learn the setup, troubleshoot, and understand:
• Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) (CCNP R&S)
• Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) (CCNP R&S)
• Switch technologies
• Wide Area Network (WAN) accelerators
• Policy Based Routing (PBR)
• Web Cache Communication Protocol (WCCP) (CCNP R&S)
• Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) (CCNP SP)
• MPLS Layer 2 & 3 VPN (L2VPN) (L3VPN)
• Various SP technologies i.e. MVPN, LDP, MPBGP (CCNP SP)
• Information Assurance (IA) tactics as they apply to the DoD
• Configuration of Cisco firewall/IPS configurations (CCNP Security)
• Routing and traffic flows in the RHNs, and downrange assets (CCNP Security/CCNP R&S)
• Configuration of Cisco Security Manager (CSM) (CCNP Security)
• Configuration of Palo Alto’s Panorama firewall management tool
• Communications Security plays into DoD networks
• The troubleshooting of VMware vSphere 6.0 (VMware VCP-DCV)

Salary Range: $75,000 - $90,000 annually.

Benefits

• Dental and Vision Insurance

• Medical Insurance to Include HSA, FSA, and DFSA Plans
• Life and AD&D coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 401(k) Plan with Company Matching Contributions
• 160 Hours of Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 12 (Floating) Holidays
• Educational Assistance
• Highly Competitive Salary
• Flexibility