Network Engineer (Richmond)

DataStaff, Inc. is in need of a Network Engineer for a long-term contract opportunity with one of our direct clients in Richmond, VA*This position is on-site. *LOCAL CANDIDATES ONLY** Limited travel between office locations may be requiredResponsibilities:Support hybrid infrastructureManages routing, switching, firewalls, VPN, SD-WAN, and network security; supports monitoring, troubleshooting, resiliency, and secure connectivity.Support and maintain a secure, stable, and high-performing enterprise network environment.Administering and troubleshooting core networking infrastructure across multiple office locations, data centers, and remote access environments.Hands-on technical role responsible for routing, switching, firewalls, VPN connectivity, wireless infrastructure, and network resiliency.works under the direction of the Director of Infrastructure & Operations and collaborates with Infrastructure, Information Security, End User Services, Application/Data Services, vendors, and service providers.This role emphasizes operational discipline, secure network design, structured change management, and reliable service delivery within a government environment.Supports the agency's core network infrastructure and plays a critical role in ensuring secure and reliable connectivity for agency operations.Operates within established governance and operational processes to support stability, resiliency, and risk reduction across the enterprise environment.Network Infrastructure AdministrationAdminister enterprise routing and switching infrastructureConfigure and maintain LAN, WAN, wireless, and remote access environmentsSupport hybrid MPLS and SD-WAN connectivity across multiple locationsMaintain network availability, resiliency, and performanceFirewall & Secure Connectivity ManagementAdminister firewalls, VPN solutions, and secure remote connectivityImplement and maintain network segmentation and access controlsSupport secure connectivity for cloud and hybrid environmentsCoordinate firewall rule changes and network security updatesMonitoring & TroubleshootingMonitor network health, utilization, and performanceRespond to outages, connectivity issues, and infrastructure incidentsPerform network troubleshooting across routing, switching, wireless, and VPN environmentsConduct root cause analysis and implement corrective actionsSecurity & Compliance SupportSupport the implementation of network security controls and standardsCollaborate with the Information Security Office on vulnerability remediation and risk reductionAssist with logging, monitoring, and audit activitiesSupport secure configuration and hardening practicesChange Management & OperationsExecute network changes through defined change management processesValidate planned changes and maintain rollback proceduresParticipate in maintenance windows and operational planningMaintain network documentation and diagramsVendor & Carrier CoordinationCoordinate with telecommunications providers and vendorsSupport circuit provisioning, troubleshooting, and escalationsAssist with hardware lifecycle and support renewalsCross-Team CollaborationPartner with Systems Administration on infrastructure dependenciesCoordinate with End User Services regarding user-impacting network issuesSupport Application/Data teams with connectivity and performance needsCommunicate operational risks and system impacts to leadershipRequired QualificationsExperience administering enterprise network environmentsStrong knowledge of routing and switching conceptsExperience with firewalls, VPNs, and secure remote accessExperience troubleshooting network connectivity and performance issuesFamiliarity with wireless networking technologiesUnderstanding of structured operational and change management processesPreferred QualificationsExperience with Cisco networking technologiesExperience with SD-WAN and hybrid network environmentsExperience in government or regulated environmentsFamiliarity with network monitoring and logging toolsKnowledge of security frameworks such as NISTRelevant certifications such as CCNA or CCNPKnowledge, Skills, and AbilitiesStrong troubleshooting and analytical skillsAbility to manage multiple operational prioritiesEffective written and verbal communication skillsAbility to work collaboratively across technical teamsFocus on reliability, security, and operational consistencyRequired Skills:5 Years - Routing and switching5 Years - TCP/IP networking3 Years - VLAN configuration3 Years - VPN administration4 Years - Firewall administration3 Years - Wireless networking administration5 Years - Network troubleshooting4 Years - LAN/WAN support2 Years - SD-WAN support3 Years - Network monitoring tools3 Years - DNS fundamentals3 Years - Network performance analysis4 Years - Cisco networking technologies3 Years - Remote access technologies3 Years - Circuit troubleshooting2 Years - Carrier/vendor coordination2 Years - Network resiliency concepts2 Years - High availability concepts2 Years - Network documentation/diagramming2 Years - Network segmentation3 Years - Firewall rule management3 Years - Secure remote connectivity2 Years - Access control concepts2 Years - Vulnerability remediation support1 Year - Security incident support2 Years - Change management execution2 Years - Maintenance window coordination2 Years - Incident response participation2 Years - Root cause analysis4 Years - Structured troubleshooting methodology3 Years - Communication and collaboration3 Years - Operational discipline3 Years - Independent work capability3 Years - Prioritization under pressureDesired Skills:2 Years - BGP3 Years - Dynamic routing protocols3 Years - Advanced firewall administration2 Years - Cisco ASA or NGFW experience2 Years - SD-WAN design/optimization2 Years - QoS configuration1 Year - Azure networking1 Year - Hybrid cloud networking1 Year - Zero Trust networking concepts1 Year - SIEM/network logging integration1 Year - IDS/IPS familiarity2 Years - Government IT experience3 Years - Multi-site enterprise experienceThis opportunity is available on a corp-to-corp basis or as a W2 position with a competitive benefits package. DataStaff, Inc. offers medical, dental, and vision coverage options as well as paid vacation, sick, and holiday leave. As many of our opportunities are long-term, we also have a 401k program available for employees after 6 months.