Principal Network Administrator - Top Secret

Due to the classified nature of the work, this position requires on-site, full-time work at our Gilbert, Arizona location and does not offer virtual or telecommute options. Applicants must be willing to work on-site, lift and move equipment up to 50 pounds, and work after hours or weekends as needed. A current US Government Top Secret security clearance (with a closed investigation within the last 6 years) or enrollment in the DOD Continuous Evaluation Program is required to start, along with the ability to obtain and maintain access to Special Programs.

About the Role

At Northrop Grumman, our employees work on revolutionary systems that impact lives globally, contributing to technological advancements from historic flights to stealth bombers and space exploration. We seek bold innovators to join our mission-driven culture, where intellectual curiosity and cognitive diversity thrive. This role supports information system lifecycle activities for classified government contracts as a Principal Network Communications - Network Administrator.

Responsibilities

• Perform senior network communications activities for classified government contracts.
• Define and execute long-term network architecture roadmaps (e.g., SDWAN, ZeroTrust, cloud-enabled networking) aligned with enterprise security and compliance.
• Lead design, integration, and implementation of large-scale, multidomain networks supporting classified missions, including network migrations and cyber resilience initiatives.
• Serve as a senior technical liaison to government customers and internal leadership, negotiating requirements, delivering status briefings, and participating in external technical forums, proposals, and procurement discussions.
• Author, maintain, and enforce enterprise-wide network standards, policies, and security frameworks; audit compliance and champion continuous improvement.
• Provide advanced monitoring, analysis, and planning for network systems, coordinating third-party maintenance and supporting environments via ticketing systems (e.g., ServiceNow, JIRA).
• Deliver third-level technical support for complex network, hardware, software, and telecommunications issues.
• Develop innovative technical solutions to complex problems, clarify requirements, and ensure adherence to established standards.
• Raise issues requiring management attention, measure performance against KPIs, and implement corrective actions to exceed operational standards.
• Mentor junior and experienced team members, fostering professional growth and enhancing team capabilities.

Requirements

• Master’s Degree with 3+ years of relevant technical experience; OR Bachelor’s Degree with 5+ years; OR Associate’s Degree with 7+ years; OR High School Diploma (or equivalent) with 9+ years.
• Demonstrated experience designing and maintaining complex LAN/WAN networks, including routers, switches, and firewalls.
• Must meet US Government 8140 (8570 equivalent) requirements for Sr Principal Network Communications - IAT Level II baseline certification (e.g., Security+ CE).
• Current US Government Top Secret security clearance (with closed investigation within the last 6 years) or enrollment in the DOD Continuous Evaluation Program.
• Ability to obtain and maintain access to Special Programs as a condition of continued employment.
• 10% travel required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Network Engineering with 6+ years of experience.
• CCNP or Security+ CE certification.
• Experience supporting Video Teleconferencing (VTCs) and deploying audio/visual technologies in classified environments.
• Experience with Cisco Call Managers or similar technologies.
• Expertise in designing, implementing, and managing large-scale, multidomain network architectures, including advanced routing, security, and mission-critical systems.
• Experience configuring TACLANES and/or encryption solutions.
• Familiarity with Assessment & Authorization processes.
• Experience troubleshooting network procedures, COTS integration, capacity analysis, and system architecture design.
• Published technical papers, patents, or internal knowledge-sharing contributions.
• Current SAP/SAR access.

Benefits

• Flexible work arrangements and a 9/80 work schedule.
• Phenomenal learning opportunities and exposure to diverse projects and customers.
• Exceptional healthcare benefits, life and disability insurance, and a 401k matching program.
• Paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation/personal business.
• Annual bonuses tied to individual contributions and company performance.
• Eligibility for overtime, shift differential, and discretionary bonuses (role-dependent).
• Long-term incentives for Vice President or Director positions.

Pay

Primary salary range: $89,400 – $134,200. Offers consider scope, responsibilities, candidate experience, education, skills, and market conditions. Additional compensation may include overtime, shift differential, discretionary bonuses, and annual performance-based bonuses.