Principal Engineer Network – Global Network Engineer (25-316) at Northrop Grumman

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal Engineer Network – Global Network Engineer (25-316)
Company: Northrop Grumman
Location: United States - Colorado - Schriever AFB
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Network Engineering
Date Posted: 2025-08-01
Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Serve as an S8.2 Network Development Engineer responsible for planning, deploying, integrating, and testing upgrades to the S8.2 C2BMC network at operational sites.
Travel to remote locations to perform network installations, troubleshoot issues, and provide status updates to Program personnel.
Collaborate with a highly motivated team of network engineers and work independently on large field projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a proven network engineer with practical experience in network architecture design, development, and testing methods. The candidate should be comfortable working in a team environment and independently on large field projects.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Network Development & Deployment: Plan, deploy, integrate, and test upgrades to the S8.2 C2BMC network at operational sites following Program configuration management processes.
Network Troubleshooting: Independently troubleshoot network issues and provide status updates to Program personnel.
Network Automation: Develop and deploy network and management systems using tools like Ansible or similar automation tools.
Collaboration & Communication: Work effectively with team members and communicate complex technical concepts clearly and concisely.
Travel: Travel up to 10% of the time to support business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The candidate should have proven troubleshooting skills and be able to work collaboratively in a team as well as independently on large field projects.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

A Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Network Engineering, Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field from an accredited university is preferred, along with 5 years of experience; or a Master’s degree in a related field with 3 years of relevant work experience; or 9 years of relevant experience may be considered as an alternative to a degree.

Experience:

Proven network engineering experience with practical knowledge of network architecture design, development, and testing methods.
Extensive experience in network development, including creating, testing, and deploying new and upgraded capabilities.
Experience with network automation, including both the development and deployment of network and management systems.
Demonstrated experience with Ansible or similar automation tools.
Experience in loading and modifying MIBs and SEED files, writing scripts for network automation, and developing fixlets to be used with IBM BigFix for efficient deployment of updates in the fielded environment.
Practical experience with monitoring, network diagnostics, and network analytics tools.

Required Skills:

Proven network engineering experience with practical knowledge of network architecture design, development, and testing methods.
Extensive experience in network development, including creating, testing, and deploying new and upgraded capabilities.
Experience with network automation, including both the development and deployment of network and management systems.
Demonstrated experience with Ansible or similar automation tools.
Experience in loading and modifying MIBs and SEED files, writing scripts for network automation, and developing fixlets to be used with IBM BigFix for efficient deployment of updates in the fielded environment.
Practical experience with monitoring, network diagnostics, and network analytics tools.
Effective communication skills with excellent writing and presentation skills, proficient in Microsoft PowerPoint and Visio drawing tools.
Proven troubleshooting skills.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with scripts.
A solid understanding of the OSI Model, TCP/IP, and routing protocols BGP and OSPF.
Experience in UDP multicast, SONET, MSPP, VLANs, GRE Tunnels, and TCP/IP network designs.
Hands-on experience with multi-vendor switching and routing (Juniper).
Cisco (CCNA, CCNP) certification.
Previous experience with the C2BMC network.

📝 Enhancement Note: The candidate should have a strong background in network development, automation, and troubleshooting, with a proven track record of successful network deployments and upgrades.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Detailed documentation of network design, deployment, and testing processes.
Case studies demonstrating successful network upgrades and troubleshooting efforts.
Examples of network automation scripts and fixlets developed using tools like Ansible and IBM BigFix.
Performance metrics and optimization techniques used to improve network efficiency and reliability.

Technical Documentation:

Detailed network diagrams and schematics using tools like Visio or similar software.
Network configuration and deployment plans.
Network performance and analytics reports.
Troubleshooting guides and best practices documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The candidate's portfolio should showcase their ability to plan, deploy, integrate, and test network upgrades, as well as their troubleshooting skills and experience with network automation tools.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $91,200.00 - $136,800.00

Benefits:

Health Plan
Savings Plan
Paid Time Off
Education Assistance
Training and Development
Flexible Work Arrangements

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range represents a general guideline and may vary based on the candidate's experience, education, skills, and current market conditions. Northrop Grumman also offers a variety of benefits, including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays, and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

🎯 Team & Company Context

Company Culture:

Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company, delivering innovative solutions to government and commercial customers.
The company values intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity, and bringing your whole self to work, fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
Northrop Grumman is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and offers a comprehensive benefits package and flexible work arrangements.

Team Structure:

The candidate will join a highly motivated team of network engineers, working collaboratively to support the U.S. President, Secretary of Defense, and combatant commanders at strategic, regional, and operational levels.
The team is responsible for planning, deploying, integrating, and testing upgrades to the S8.2 C2BMC network at operational sites, as well as troubleshooting network issues and providing status updates to Program personnel.

Development Methodology:

Northrop Grumman uses Agile methodologies for software development, with a focus on continuous integration, delivery, and deployment.
The company emphasizes collaboration, communication, and cross-functional teamwork to deliver high-quality products and services.

Company Website: Northrop Grumman

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman offers a dynamic and innovative work environment, with a strong focus on collaboration, communication, and cross-functional teamwork. The company values intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity, and bringing your whole self to work, fostering a culture of innovation and inclusion.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Mid-Senior Level Network Engineer

Reporting Structure:

The candidate will report directly to the Program Manager and work collaboratively with other network engineers, as well as cross-functional teams, including software developers, system administrators, and project managers.

Technical Impact:

The candidate's work will directly impact the U.S. President, Secretary of Defense, and combatant commanders at strategic, regional, and operational levels by providing a reliable and secure network infrastructure for the C2BMC system.
The candidate will play a crucial role in planning, deploying, integrating, and testing network upgrades, as well as troubleshooting network issues and providing status updates to Program personnel.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Skill Development: The candidate will have the opportunity to develop their skills in network architecture design, development, and testing methods, as well as gain experience with emerging network technologies and automation tools.
Technical Leadership: With experience and proven performance, the candidate may have the opportunity to take on a technical leadership role, mentoring junior team members and contributing to the development of network architecture and design standards.
Career Progression: The candidate may have the opportunity to advance to a senior network engineering role or take on a more strategic or management-focused position within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman offers a dynamic and challenging work environment, with ample opportunities for technical skill development, growth, and career progression. The company values intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity, and bringing your whole self to work, fostering a culture of innovation and inclusion.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site, secure government facility

Office Location(s): Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, CO

Workspace Context:

The candidate will work in a secure government facility, with access to state-of-the-art network infrastructure and tools.
The work environment will be collaborative, with opportunities for cross-functional teamwork and knowledge sharing.
The candidate will have access to multiple monitors, testing devices, and other resources necessary for network development, deployment, and troubleshooting.

Work Schedule:

The candidate will work a standard 40-hour workweek, with the possibility of overtime or flexible scheduling to support business needs.
The candidate may be required to travel up to 10% of the time to support business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment at Northrop Grumman is dynamic, collaborative, and supportive of cross-functional teamwork. The company offers state-of-the-art resources and tools for network development, deployment, and troubleshooting, as well as opportunities for technical skill development, growth, and career progression.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief phone call to discuss the candidate's qualifications and experience.
Technical Assessment: A hands-on technical assessment, focusing on network architecture design, development, and testing methods, as well as network automation and troubleshooting skills.
Behavioral Interview: An in-depth discussion of the candidate's problem-solving skills, communication abilities, and cultural fit with the team.
Final Interview: A meeting with the hiring manager and other key stakeholders to discuss the candidate's qualifications, experience, and career goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight network design, deployment, and testing processes, as well as network automation scripts and fixlets developed using tools like Ansible and IBM BigFix.
Showcase successful network upgrades and troubleshooting efforts, with a focus on performance optimization and user experience enhancement.
Emphasize collaboration and cross-functional teamwork, with examples of working effectively with software developers, system administrators, and project managers.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on network architecture design, development, and testing methods, as well as network automation and troubleshooting skills.
Familiarize yourself with the OSI Model, TCP/IP, and routing protocols BGP and OSPF.
Review network automation tools like Ansible and IBM BigFix, as well as monitoring, network diagnostics, and analytics tools.
Practice troubleshooting network issues and providing clear, concise, and actionable solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process at Northrop Grumman is comprehensive, focusing on the candidate's technical skills, problem-solving abilities, communication abilities, and cultural fit with the team. The company values intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity, and bringing your whole self to work, fostering a culture of innovation and inclusion.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Network Infrastructure:

Routing Protocols: BGP, OSPF
Switching: Juniper (JNCIA, JNCIS, JNCIP, JNCIE)
Network Automation: Ansible
Network Monitoring: MicroFocus Operations Bridge Manager Suite, NMMI, Network Automation, Ops Analytics Orchestration, SiteScope, HP System Insight Manager, JUNOS Space, Viavi GigaStor, Apex
Protocol Analyzers/ Sniffers: Tcpdump, Wireshark, OPNET ACElive, ITGuru
Authentication & Encryption: TACACS+, Active Directory, GPOs, GEM One Encryptor Manager
Network Management & Monitoring Systems: MicroFocus Operations Bridge Manager Suite, NMMI, Network Automation, Ops Analytics Orchestration, SiteScope, HP System Insight Manager, JUNOS Space, Viavi GigaStor, Apex

📝 Enhancement Note: The candidate should have a strong background in network infrastructure, with experience in routing protocols, switching, network automation, and network monitoring tools. Familiarity with the specific tools and technologies used by Northrop Grumman is essential for success in this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

Innovation: Northrop Grumman values intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity, and bringing your whole self to work, fostering a culture of innovation and inclusion.
Collaboration: The company emphasizes collaboration, communication, and cross-functional teamwork to deliver high-quality products and services.
Quality: Northrop Grumman is committed to delivering high-quality, reliable, and secure network infrastructure for its customers.
Customer Focus: The company is dedicated to understanding and meeting the needs of its customers, providing exceptional service and support.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Integration: Northrop Grumman encourages collaboration and communication across functional teams, including software developers, system administrators, and project managers.
Code Review Culture: The company values code review and peer programming practices, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement.
Knowledge Sharing: Northrop Grumman encourages knowledge sharing, technical mentoring, and continuous learning, with a focus on developing the skills and expertise of its team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman values intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity, and bringing your whole self to work, fostering a culture of innovation and inclusion. The company emphasizes collaboration, communication, and cross-functional teamwork, with a strong focus on delivering high-quality, reliable, and secure network infrastructure for its customers.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Network Architecture Design: Designing and developing complex network architectures that meet the needs of the C2BMC system and its users.
Network Deployment & Integration: Deploying and integrating network upgrades at operational sites, with a focus on minimizing downtime and ensuring seamless user experience.
Network Troubleshooting: Troubleshooting network issues and providing clear, concise, and actionable solutions, often in remote or challenging environments.
Network Automation: Developing and deploying network and management systems using tools like Ansible or similar automation tools, with a focus on efficiency, scalability, and maintainability.
Emerging Technologies: Staying up-to-date with emerging network technologies and automation tools, and incorporating them into the C2BMC network as appropriate.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Skill Development: The candidate will have the opportunity to develop their skills in network architecture design, development, and testing methods, as well as gain experience with emerging network technologies and automation tools.
Technical Leadership: With experience and proven performance, the candidate may have the opportunity to take on a technical leadership role, mentoring junior team members and contributing to the development of network architecture and design standards.
Career Progression: The candidate may have the opportunity to advance to a senior network engineering role or take on a more strategic or management-focused position within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman offers a dynamic and challenging work environment, with ample opportunities for technical skill development, growth, and career progression. The company values intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity, and bringing your whole self to work, fostering a culture of innovation and inclusion.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Network Architecture Design: Questions focusing on the candidate's understanding of network architecture design principles, as well as their experience in designing and developing complex network architectures.
Network Deployment & Integration: Questions focusing on the candidate's experience in deploying and integrating network upgrades, with a focus on minimizing downtime and ensuring seamless user experience.
Network Troubleshooting: Questions focusing on the candidate's troubleshooting skills, with an emphasis on clear, concise, and actionable solutions.
Network Automation: Questions focusing on the candidate's experience with network automation tools like Ansible or similar automation tools, as well as their understanding of network automation principles and best practices.
Emerging Technologies: Questions focusing on the candidate's knowledge of emerging network technologies and automation tools, as well as their ability to stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices.

Company & Culture Questions:

Company Culture: Questions focusing on the candidate's understanding of Northrop Grumman's company culture, values, and mission.
Team Dynamics: Questions focusing on the candidate's ability to work effectively in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment.
Problem-Solving Skills: Questions focusing on the candidate's problem-solving skills, communication abilities, and cultural fit with the team.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Network Architecture Design: Highlight the candidate's network architecture design skills, with examples of complex network architectures they have designed and developed.
Network Deployment & Integration: Showcase the candidate's experience in deploying and integrating network upgrades, with a focus on minimizing downtime and ensuring seamless user experience.
Network Troubleshooting: Demonstrate the candidate's troubleshooting skills, with examples of network issues they have resolved and the clear, concise, and actionable solutions they provided.
Network Automation: Highlight the candidate's experience with network automation tools like Ansible or similar automation tools, with examples of network automation scripts and fixlets they have developed.
Company-Specific Context: Tailor the candidate's portfolio to Northrop Grumman's specific needs and requirements, with a focus on the C2BMC network and its users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process at Northrop Grumman is comprehensive, focusing on the candidate's technical skills, problem-solving abilities, communication abilities, and cultural fit with the team. The company values intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity, and bringing your whole self to work, fostering a culture of innovation and inclusion.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this network engineering position at Northrop Grumman:

Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your network engineering experience, with a focus on network architecture design, development, and testing methods, as well as network automation and troubleshooting skills.
Portfolio Preparation: Prepare a portfolio showcasing your network design, deployment, and testing processes, as well as your network automation scripts and fixlets. Highlight your successful network upgrades and troubleshooting efforts, with a focus on performance optimization and user experience enhancement.
Technical Interview Preparation: Brush up on your network architecture design, development, and testing methods, as well as your network automation and troubleshooting skills. Familiarize yourself with the OSI Model, TCP/IP, and routing protocols BGP and OSPF. Review network automation tools like Ansible and IBM BigFix, as well as monitoring, network diagnostics, and analytics tools. Practice troubleshooting network issues and providing clear, concise, and actionable solutions.
Company Research: Research Northrop Grumman's company culture, values, and mission, as well as the specific needs and requirements of the C2BMC network and its users. Prepare thoughtful and insightful questions to ask during the interview process.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web technology industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Principal Engineer Network – Global Network Engineer (25-316)