Lead Network Engineer

Overview:

GovCIO is currently hiring a highly experienced Network Transport Team Lead to manage a diverse, multi-location engineering and operations team supporting a mission-critical U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) program. This position is located in Alexandria, VA and will be an on-site position.

Responsibilities:

The Network Transport Team Lead will manage and maintain the enterprise network environment to ensure continuous operational readiness and modernization. Core responsibilities include:

• Lead a cross-functional engineering and operations team of 65 personnel (GovCIO and subcontractors) across Alexandria, VA, Kearneysville, WV, and nationwide telework locations, with additional staffing inbound for upcoming Microsegmentation projects.
• Oversee a 24/7/365 Tier 2/3 Network Operations helpdesk spanning both NIPRNet and SIPRNet environments.
• Approve, execute, and maintain network configurations and architectures for large-scale enterprise deployments, focusing on consistent uptime and hardware compatibility.
• Operate and maintain dedicated test environments to validate network configurations and upgrades before production rollout.
• Direct daily network operations across network engineering, security, and operations branches, including scheduling deployments and resolving failed installations.
• Monitor and remediate network compliance to ensure all systems adhere to organizational security policies and federal standards.
• Perform and guide team members through advanced troubleshooting for routing, switching, cryptographic devices, and transport issues.
• Utilize automated network tools and management platforms to automate routine administrative tasks and improve enterprise management efficiency.
• Keep detailed records of system configurations, network topologies, operational procedures, and daily maintenance logs.
• Generate and present regular, cumulative reports on deployment status, network health, and overall enterprise compliance to senior corporate and government leadership.
• Attend weekly Change Control Board (CCB) review and approval meetings as the primary Network Team representative.
• Brief all current engineering, operational, and security activities up to contract and government leadership as required.
• Support operational issues as they arise and maintain enterprise operability across multiple IT disciplines during routine moves, adds, and changes.

Qualifications:

High School with 12+ years (or commensurate experience)

Required Skills & Experience

• DoD 8570 IAT Level II Certification (e.g., Security+ CE, CySA+).
• Proven experience leading technical teams in architecting and managing enterprise network environments in large-scale settings.
• Strong understanding of secure networking platforms (SIPRNet) and core cryptographic services, specifically configuring, managing, and topology mapping TACLANE models KG-175D and KG-175F.
• Experience with command-line interface (CLI) foundational knowledge of Cisco Routers (4K and 8K series) and Cisco Switches (29XX, 38XX, 49XX, 6K, 7K, and 9K series).
• Proficiency with Cisco Catalyst Center, Cisco ISE, and Cisco SD-WAN implementation, management, reporting, and enhancement.
• Foundational implementation knowledge and architectural understanding of Zero Trust requirements, including Thunderdome, Comply to Connect (C2C), SD-WAN, and Microsegmentation.
• Experience building and maintaining lab/test environments for network validation and troubleshooting.
• Expertise managing modernization life cycles, upgrade deployments (including upcoming 8K router and 9K switch standardizations), and compliance reporting.
• Strong communication and leadership skills with the ability to participate in technical discussions, coordinate across multiple IT disciplines, and translate requirements between stakeholders and engineering teams.
• Mastery of Microsoft Office 365 products along with advanced proficiency in Microsoft Visio for documentation and topology diagrams.

Clearance Level: Must have an active Secret clearance

Preferred Skills & Experience

• Experience supporting U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) or Department of Homeland Security (DHS) programs, with an in-depth understanding of Coast Guard culture and IT operational/project management environments.
• Cisco Certifications: Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) or higher advanced Cisco certifications.
• Knowledge of networking concepts, including load balancing, high-level project oversight (EVOIP, CORA security inspections, LAN/WAN upgrades), and content distribution challenges.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and continuous improvement mindset.

#JP #USCG #DICE

Posted Salary Range: USD $155,000.00 - USD $195,000.00 /Yr.