Network Engineer IV (SD)

About the Role

Apex is seeking a Network Engineer IV to support the Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific (NIWC Pacific) by providing engineering and operational support for the physical Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation (RDT&E) and Secret RDT&E (SRDT&E) network environments. This is a 100% onsite position requiring an active Secret clearance and a qualifying DoD 8570 IAT Level II certification. The Network Engineer will be responsible for the integration, administration, analysis, testing, troubleshooting, maintenance, and security of enterprise network infrastructure. The ideal candidate will possess deep expertise in routing, switching, cloud connectivity, network monitoring, and network security technologies supporting mission-critical environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide engineering and day-to-day operational support for RDT&E and SRDT&E network environments.
• Install, configure, maintain, and upgrade network hardware and software, including routers, switches, and related infrastructure.
• Perform firmware upgrades, security patching, STIG compliance activities, and network performance optimization.
• Monitor and analyze network health, utilization, and performance at both the physical and IP packet levels utilizing tools such as inMON Traffic Sentinel and Zabbix.
• Provide on-call support for network outages during evenings, weekends, and holidays, with the ability to be onsite within two (2) hours of notification.
• Design, implement, and maintain connectivity to cloud environments including AWS and Azure.
• Manage IP addressing, VLANs, route tables, Virtual Private Clouds (VPCs), and Virtual Gateways.
• Establish and maintain secure connectivity between on-premises environments and cloud platforms using Virtual Private Gateways, Azure Virtual Network Peering, and IPsec tunnels.
• Monitor and troubleshoot connectivity, bandwidth, latency, and cloud integration issues in collaboration with cloud engineering teams.
• Build and maintain network infrastructure test environments.
• Develop and execute network test plans, conduct assessments, and document results.
• Establish and manage corrective action processes for identified network issues and coordinate vendor support activities.
• Perform regression testing to validate corrective actions and system improvements.
• Configure, administer, and troubleshoot OSPF, BGP, IPsec, and firewall and boundary routing technologies.
• Deploy and support HPE Aruba and Palo Alto network infrastructure solutions.
• Implement and support Network Access Control (NAC) solutions, including Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager.
• Manage network security technologies including 802.1X Authentication, Dynamic Segmentation, and Zero-Trust architectures.
• Support installation and maintenance of enterprise wireless infrastructure for both indoor and outdoor coverage.

Required Qualifications

• Active Secret Security Clearance
• Active DoD 8570 IAT Level II Certification, including one of the following: Security+, CySA+, SSCP, GSEC, GICSP, or CCNA Security
• Master's Degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field
• 10+ years of network engineering and infrastructure support experience
• Advanced experience supporting enterprise routing, switching, and cloud-connected network environments
• Strong understanding of TCP/IP networking, OSPF, BGP, VLAN design, IP subnetting, and network security principles
• Experience implementing STIG requirements and security best practices within DoD environments
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across technical and operational teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with network monitoring and traffic analysis platforms such as inMON Traffic Sentinel and Zabbix
• Experience managing and supporting Aruba ClearPass Policy Manager
• Experience implementing Zero-Trust networking architectures and dynamic segmentation
• Familiarity with enterprise wireless networking solutions
• Experience with network automation and scripting languages including Python and PowerShell
• Experience supporting cloud networking services within AWS and Azure environments
• Prior experience supporting Navy, DoD, or classified network environments

Pay & Schedule

• Pay Rate: $76.00 - $81.00/hour
• Location: 100% Onsite, San Diego

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance plans
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP)
• 401K program with company match after 12 months of tenure
• Health Savings Account (HSA) on the HDHP plan
• SupportLinc Employee Assistance Program (EAP) with up to 8 free counseling sessions
• Corporate discount savings program and other discounts
• On-demand training program
• Access to certification prep and a library of technical and leadership courses/books/seminars after 6+ months of tenure
• Certification discounts and perks to associations including CompTIA and IIBA
• Dedicated customer service team for Consultants
• Certified Career Coach