Network Engineer SME

• Location: Herndon, Virginia
• Type: Contract
• Job #3951

Title: Network Engineer, SME
Location: Herndon, VA

Company Overview:
Cornerstone Defense is the Employer of Choice within the Intelligence, Defense, and Space communities of the U.S. Government. Realizing early on that our most prized assets are our employees, we continually focus our attention on improving the overall work/life experience they have supporting the mission. Our Team is pushed every day to use their industry leading knowledge to provide end-to-end solutions to combat our nation's toughest and most secure problems. If you are looking for a place to not only be professionally challenged, but encouraged and supported by a company that cares, don't look any further than Cornerstone Defense.

Benefits Overview :
Cornerstone Defense offers a very comprehensive benefits package including, but not limited to: Medical, Dental and Vision Plans * Generous PTO Policy * 401(k) * HSA and FSA options * Life and Disability Insurance * Tuition Reimbursement and Training * Perks at Work Discount Program * Referral Program * Leads Generation Program * CollegeAmerica 529 * Fitness Reimbursement Program * Travel Assistance * Norton Lifelock Benefit Solutions * Life Planning Financial & Legal Services *

We are seeking a Subject Matter Expert (SME) Level Network Engineer with a minimum of 16 years' of experience and a specialized focus on Network Access Control (NAC), particularly with significant expertise in CISCO network appliances and associated management software to join our technology-based program supporting a key Government customer. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of network security principles, excellent problem-solving skills, and a proactive approach to maintaining and optimizing endpoint validation.

Responsibilities:
Subject Matter Expert (SME) Level design, implementation, and management of NAC solutions utilizing CISCO network devices including load balancers, LINUX servers, and CISCO appliances
Perform configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of NAC policies and profiles
Monitor network traffic for potential security threats and proactively address vulnerabilities
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure network security standards align with business objectives
Stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends and best practices in network security and NAC technologies
Provide technical support and guidance to internal and external teams and clients on NAC and network security related issues
Participate in the evaluation and selection of new NAC technologies and vendors
Required Education, Experience, & Skills:
We are actively seeking Network Engineers with a minimum of 16 years' experience. Bachelor's or Master's Degrees are preferred in one or more of the disciplines described below where specific skills may include the following:
Ability to translate customer requirements into enterprise network solutions
Proven SME level experience as a CISCO Network Engineer with a focus on Network Security
Strong proficiency with NAC platforms
In-depth knowledge of network protocols, TCP/IP stack, and OSI model
Experience with firewall management software such as Cisco FTD
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills:
Knowledge of NAC management software such as Cisco Identity Service Engine (ISE) is high desired
Industry certifications such as CCNA Security, CCNP Security, REDHAT Certified Architect (RHCA), or similar industry certifications are preferred
Demonstrated experience with Network Access Controls (NAC), CISCO profiling ISE
Experience with Linux Operating Systems (OS) and Python scripting
Experience with a wide variety of network technologies and solutions architectures is a plus
Broad understanding of technical principles, theories and concepts in the networking field
Knowledge of state-of-the-art systems engineering principles and network design concepts
Cloud Service Provider and hybrid cloud experience (extending on premise networks to cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, Oracle and Google)
Strong proficiency with Network Access Control (NAC) platforms is a plus