Network Engineer

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 infrastructure Manages 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 switching 5 Years - TCP/IP networking 3 Years - VLAN configuration 3 Years - VPN administration 4 Years - Firewall administration 3 Years - Wireless networking administration 5 Years - Network troubleshooting 4 Years - LAN/WAN support 2 Years - SD-WAN support 3 Years - Network monitoring tools3 Years - DNS fundamentals 3 Years - Network performance analysis 4 Years - Cisco networking technologies 3 Years - Remote access technologies 3 Years - Circuit troubleshooting 2 Years - Carrier/vendor coordination 2 Years - Network resiliency concepts 2 Years - High availability concepts 2 Years - Network documentation/diagramming 2 Years - Network segmentation 3 Years - Firewall rule management 3 Years - Secure remote connectivity 2 Years - Access control concepts2 Years - Vulnerability remediation support 1 Year - Security incident support 2 Years - Change management execution2 Years - Maintenance window coordination 2 Years - Incident response participation 2 Years - Root cause analysis 4 Years - Structured troubleshooting methodology 3 Years - Communication and collaboration 3 Years - Operational discipline 3 Years - Independent work capability 3 Years - Prioritization under pressure Desired Skills: 2 Years - BGP 3 Years - Dynamic routing protocols 3 Years - Advanced firewall administration 2 Years - Cisco ASA or NGFW experience 2 Years - SD-WAN design/optimization 2 Years - QoS configuration 1 Year - Azure networking 1 Year - Hybrid cloud networking 1 Year - Zero Trust networking concepts 1 Year - SIEM/network logging integration 1 Year - IDS/IPS familiarity 2 Years - Government IT experience 3 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.