Senior Principal Network Engineer Architect
Senior network architect who owns the end-to-end network design for a DoD/Intelligence Community program, building a high-assurance SD-WAN spanning SDN, cloud connectivity, LAN/WAN, data centers, and network security. Requires TS/SCI clearance eligibility and deep routing/switching plus DoD security framework expertise.
- Compensation
- $133K–$390K / yr
- Location
- Herndon, VA, US
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- Principal
- Employment
- Contract
- Experience
- 3+ years
- Category
- Network engineering
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a TS/SCI clearance
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Computer Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
- 7+ years of experience in network engineering and infrastructure design
- 3+ years in a senior or lead network architect capacity within an enterprise environment
- 3+ years of network engineering experience in support of a federal agency
- Deep hands-on experience with SDN controllers and fabric architectures (Cisco ACI, VMware NSX, OVN, or cloud-native SDN)
- Strong understanding of overlay networks (VXLAN, NVGRE, Geneve) and controller-driven orchestration
- Understanding of hybrid cloud architectures, transit gateways, VPC/VNet, and direct connectivity (AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute)
- Knowledge of DoD/Federal security standards including RMF, NIST 800-53, FedRAMP, and DISA STIG
- Experience with network virtualization and virtual switching across VMware (NSX, vSwitch/vDS) and Microsoft Hyper-V
- Advanced proficiency with routing and switching protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, MPLS)
- Hands-on experience with enterprise networking equipment (Cisco, Juniper, Arista, Palo Alto, Fortinet)
- Deep familiarity with DNS, DHCP, IPAM, load balancing (F5, Citrix), and VPN technologies
- Strong analytical problem-solving, project management skills, and ability to articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
Full description
Senior Principal, Network Engineering Architect
Location: Herndon, VA
Department: Network Engineering
Clarity Innovations is a trusted national security partner, dedicated to safeguarding our nation’s interests and delivering innovative solutions that empower the Intelligence Community (IC) and Department of Defense (DoD) to transform data into actionable intelligence, ensuring mission success in an evolving world.
Our mission-first software and data engineering platform modernizes data operations, utilizing advanced workflows, CI/CD, and secure DevSecOps practices. We focus on challenges in Information Warfare, Cyber Operations, Operational Security, and Data Structuring, enabling end-to-end solutions that drive operational impact.
We are committed to delivering cutting-edge tools and capabilities that address the most complex national security challenges, empowering our partners to stay ahead of emerging threats and ensuring the success of their critical missions. At Clarity, we are people-focused and set on being a destination employer for top talent, offering an environment where innovation thrives, careers grow, and individuals are valued. Join us as we continue to lead innovation and tackle the most pressing challenges in national security.
Position Summary
The J9HT Network Architect is responsible for the overall network architecture of the program. The Network Architect designs the program’s enterprise networking infrastructure, including cloud connectivity, software-defined networking (SDN), local and wide area networks (LAN/WAN), data centers, and network security systems. The Network Architect creates and communicates network infrastructure implementation and management plan with the team to ensure the network infrastructure is maintained.This role serves as the technical authority on network design, ensuring infrastructure is scalable, secure, highly available, and aligned with long-term business goals. The Network Architect shall closely work with Program Management ensuring technical deliverables meet customer goals and contractual obligations.They must also collaborate with the Program / Portfolio PMA on the solution and vision; ensuring alignment between J9HT and the broader portfolio vision.
This program focuses on designing, implementing, and maintaining a managed, high-assurance software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN) architecture designed to deliver a unified, high-performance network foundation. The Network Architect will play a pivotal role in designing, implementing, and maintaining secure network infrastructures that are integral to our cyber development platforms. The role requires deep expertise in network architecture, combined with a strong understanding of platform operations, cyber defense, and security protocols.