Principal Network Engineer (Active Secret clearance) at Northrop Grumman

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal Network Engineer (Active Secret clearance)
Company: Northrop Grumman
Location: Tampa, FL, USA
Job Type: Full-Time, On-site
Category: Network Engineering
Date Posted: June 24, 2025
Experience Level: 5-10 years
Remote Status: On-site only

🚀 Role Summary

Design, maintain, and optimize complex physical and virtual networks for mission-critical systems.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless connectivity and high performance.
Troubleshoot network issues and provide technical guidance to junior engineers.
Contribute to network planning and design, considering future needs and current usage.
Maintain network documentation and ensure compliance with security standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a high level of technical expertise in network engineering, with a focus on both physical and virtual environments. Candidates should be comfortable working in a dynamic, collaborative team environment and have a strong commitment to quality and security.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Network Maintenance & Optimization: Maintain smooth operations of local area, worldwide, and virtual private networks (VPN). Plan, evaluate, and coordinate installation and/or reconfiguration of hardware and software elements of data and/or voice communication networks.
Network Design & Planning: Propose solutions to management to ensure all communications requirements based on future needs and current usage, configuring such solutions to optimize cost savings. Prepare or ensure that appropriate network documentation exists, including operational instructions.
Network Monitoring & Analysis: Provide regular monitoring and network analysis regarding short- and long-range planning for in-house systems. Potential to be involved in the planning and design of a network or portion of a network that include selection of hardware and software packages.
Physical Networking: Configure Cisco firewalls, routers, and switches using command line experience. Develop secure baseline configurations of Cisco switches and routers to a DISA STIG level requirement. Conduct analysis of alternatives and develop an engineering basis for product selection criteria resulting in solutions that represent the best value.
Virtual Networking: Analyze VMware's network traffic management to identify and resolve misconfigurations, software glitches, and ensure seamless VM connectivity. Troubleshoot overlay routing issues within VMware NSX, ensuring smooth operation and uninterrupted service delivery. Configure vRealize Operations (vROPS) to monitor and optimize VMware NSX performance. Implement automation strategies to streamline network configuration processes, maximizing efficiency and minimizing manual intervention.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Master's Degree with 3 years of experience; OR a Bachelor's Degree with 5 years of experience; OR an Associate's Degree with 7 years of experience; OR a High School Diploma (or equivalent) with 9 years of IT experience is required. A core understanding of VMware vCenter and ESXi is preferred.

Experience: Proven experience in network engineering, with a focus on both physical and virtual environments. Experience with Cisco networking equipment and VMware NSX is required. Experience with remote-access and dynamic multipoint VPN solutions is preferred.

Required Skills:

Expertise in layer 2 and layer 3 networking
Ability to design and troubleshoot complex physical and virtual networks
Proficiency in Cisco command line configuration
Knowledge of VMware NSX design, operation, and troubleshooting
Ability to configure overlay and underlay networks and understand their dependencies and implications
Proficiency in network documentation and technical writing
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to work multiple tasks simultaneously and perform schedule deconfliction

Preferred Skills:

CCNA level or higher networking certification
VCAP-NV level or higher networking certification
Ability to develop automation scripts to deploy, configure, and maintain network components
Experience using tools to interact with APIs and automate configuration changes

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Case studies demonstrating network design, optimization, and troubleshooting in both physical and virtual environments.
Documentation showcasing network architecture, configuration, and security standards.
Live demonstrations of network configuration and management using tools like Cisco Packet Tracer or VMware Hands-on Labs.

Technical Documentation:

Detailed network diagrams and flowcharts illustrating network architecture and connectivity.
Network configuration scripts and automation tools demonstrating proficiency in network management.
Network performance reports and metrics showcasing optimization strategies and improvements.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $86,600.00 - $130,000.00 USD per year. The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills, and current market conditions.

Benefits:

Health Plan: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
Savings Plan: 401(k) with company match and a variety of investment options.
Paid Time Off: Competitive vacation and sick leave policies.
Additional Benefits: Education Assistance, Training and Development, and much more!

Working Hours: Full-time position with a standard workweek of 40 hours, with the potential for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is based on Northrop Grumman's standard compensation practices for this role in the Tampa, FL area. However, the final offer may vary depending on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and market conditions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Northrop Grumman operates in the aerospace and defense industry, focusing on mission-critical systems and technologies that support global security.

Company Size: Northrop Grumman is a large, global organization with approximately 90,000 employees in all 50 states and in more than 27 countries.

Founded: Northrop Grumman was founded in 1939 and has a rich history of innovation and technological advancements in the aerospace and defense industry.

Team Structure:

The Network Engineering team is part of the Mission Systems sector, which focuses on strategic planning and software-secure technology to enable missions.
The team consists of experienced engineers who collaborate to design, develop, and maintain complex network environments.
The team works closely with cross-functional teams, including software developers, system administrators, and project managers, to ensure seamless integration and high performance.

Development Methodology:

Northrop Grumman follows Agile development methodologies, with a focus on iterative development, continuous integration, and collaboration.
The company emphasizes code reviews, testing, and quality assurance practices to ensure high-quality, secure, and reliable software products.
Northrop Grumman uses deployment strategies, CI/CD pipelines, and server management tools to streamline the software development lifecycle and ensure efficient delivery.

Company Website: Northrop Grumman

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman's company culture is characterized by a strong commitment to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction. The company values intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity, and collaboration, fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Web Technology Career Level: Principal Network Engineer is a senior-level role that requires a high degree of technical expertise, leadership, and strategic thinking. This role provides significant opportunities for career growth and development within the network engineering field and the broader Mission Systems sector.

Reporting Structure: Principal Network Engineers typically report to a Senior Manager or Technical Lead within the Network Engineering team. They may also collaborate with other senior engineers and technical leads across the organization to ensure consistent network standards and best practices.

Technical Impact: Principal Network Engineers have a significant impact on the design, maintenance, and optimization of mission-critical network environments. Their work directly influences the performance, security, and reliability of Northrop Grumman's products and services, as well as the company's ability to meet its customers' needs.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Specialization: Principal Network Engineers can specialize in specific areas, such as data center networking, cloud networking, or cybersecurity, and develop deep expertise in those domains.
Technical Leadership: Principal Network Engineers can transition into technical leadership roles, where they would be responsible for managing teams, defining technical strategy, and driving innovation within the network engineering field.
Architecture & Design: Principal Network Engineers can move into architecture and design roles, where they would be responsible for defining the overall network architecture and designing complex network solutions that meet the company's mission-critical needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman offers a wide range of career growth opportunities for Principal Network Engineers, with a strong emphasis on technical specialization, leadership development, and architecture decision-making.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Northrop Grumman's Tampa, FL office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster innovation and productivity. The office features open workspaces, conference rooms, and breakout areas that encourage team interaction and knowledge sharing.

Office Location(s): Northrop Grumman's Tampa, FL office is located in the Tampa Bay area, with easy access to major highways and public transportation.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Workspace: The office features open workspaces that encourage team interaction and collaboration, with ample space for both individual and team work.
Development Tools & Equipment: Northrop Grumman provides its employees with state-of-the-art development tools, multiple monitors, and testing devices to ensure optimal productivity and performance.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: The office is home to various teams, including software developers, system administrators, and project managers, fostering cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Work Schedule: Northrop Grumman offers a standard workweek of 40 hours, with the potential for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus. The work schedule is flexible and accommodates the needs of both the employee and the project.

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman's Tampa, FL office provides a modern, collaborative work environment that supports the needs of its network engineering team and fosters cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief phone or video call to assess communication skills, technical expertise, and cultural fit.
Technical Assessment: A hands-on technical assessment, focusing on network design, configuration, and troubleshooting skills. The assessment may include a mix of multiple-choice questions, scenario-based exercises, and live coding challenges.
Behavioral Interview: A structured interview focused on understanding the candidate's problem-solving skills, leadership potential, and cultural fit within the Northrop Grumman team.
Final Review: A final review with senior leadership to assess the candidate's overall fit for the role and the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight network design, optimization, and troubleshooting case studies that demonstrate your expertise in both physical and virtual environments.
Include network diagrams, configuration scripts, and performance metrics to showcase your technical proficiency and attention to detail.
Prepare a live demonstration of your network configuration and management skills using tools like Cisco Packet Tracer or VMware Hands-on Labs.

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Brush up on your Cisco command line configuration skills, with a focus on firewalls, routers, and switches.
Familiarize yourself with VMware NSX design, operation, and troubleshooting, as well as overlay and underlay network configuration.
Practice network design and optimization exercises, focusing on cost savings, scalability, and performance optimization.

ATS Keywords: Network Engineering, Cisco, VMware, VPN, Layer 2, Layer 3, Network Documentation, Network Troubleshooting, Network Automation, Cybersecurity, Network Design, Network Planning, Technical Expertise, Collaboration, Analysis, Problem-Solving, Technical Leadership

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman's interview process is designed to assess the candidate's technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the organization. The process is comprehensive and tailored to the specific requirements of the Principal Network Engineer role.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Frontend Technologies: Not applicable for this role.

Backend & Server Technologies:

Cisco: Cisco networking equipment, including routers, switches, and firewalls, is used to build and maintain Northrop Grumman's network infrastructure.
VMware: VMware NSX is used to provide virtual networking and network virtualization capabilities, enabling the creation of dynamic, secure, and scalable network environments.
Windows Server: Windows Server is used to host and manage network services, including Active Directory, DNS, and DHCP.
Linux: Linux-based systems are used to manage network services, including firewalls, load balancers, and VPN concentrators.

Development & DevOps Tools:

Cisco Packet Tracer: Cisco Packet Tracer is a network simulation and training tool that allows network engineers to design, configure, and troubleshoot virtual network topologies.
VMware Hands-on Labs: VMware Hands-on Labs is a cloud-based learning platform that provides interactive, guided labs and hands-on training for VMware products and technologies.
Ansible: Ansible is an open-source automation platform that enables IT professionals to describe their IT infrastructure in a manner that is easy to read and understand, and then automate the provisioning and configuration of that infrastructure.
Jenkins: Jenkins is an open-source automation server that provides a continuous integration and delivery pipeline for software development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman's technology stack is designed to support the company's mission-critical network infrastructure and enable the delivery of secure, reliable, and high-performing network services.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Web Development Values:

Innovation: Northrop Grumman values innovation and encourages its employees to push the boundaries of what's possible in network engineering.
Quality: Northrop Grumman is committed to delivering high-quality, reliable, and secure network solutions that meet the company's mission-critical needs.
Collaboration: Northrop Grumman fosters a collaborative work environment that encourages knowledge sharing, teamwork, and cross-functional collaboration.
Customer Focus: Northrop Grumman prioritizes customer satisfaction and ensures that its network solutions meet the unique needs and requirements of its customers.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Integration: Northrop Grumman encourages collaboration between network engineers and other technical teams, including software developers, system administrators, and project managers, to ensure seamless integration and high performance.
Code Review Culture: Northrop Grumman emphasizes code reviews and peer programming practices to ensure high-quality, secure, and reliable network solutions.
Knowledge Sharing: Northrop Grumman fosters a culture of knowledge sharing, technical mentoring, and continuous learning to help its employees develop their skills and advance their careers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman's web development values and collaboration style are centered around innovation, quality, collaboration, and customer focus, fostering a dynamic and inclusive work environment that supports the company's mission-critical needs.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Network Complexity: Principal Network Engineers must be able to design, maintain, and optimize complex physical and virtual network environments, with a deep understanding of network architecture, protocols, and best practices.
Security & Compliance: Principal Network Engineers must ensure that network solutions comply with security standards and regulations, such as DISA STIG, and maintain a strong focus on network security and risk management.
Scalability & Performance: Principal Network Engineers must be able to design and implement network solutions that can scale to meet the company's growing needs and maintain high performance under heavy load.
Emerging Technologies: Principal Network Engineers must stay up-to-date with emerging network technologies and consider their potential impact on the company's network infrastructure and mission-critical systems.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Technical Training: Northrop Grumman offers a wide range of technical training opportunities, including online courses, workshops, and hands-on labs, to help Principal Network Engineers develop their skills and advance their careers.
Conference Attendance: Northrop Grumman encourages its employees to attend industry conferences and events to stay current with emerging trends and best practices in network engineering.
Mentorship & Leadership Development: Northrop Grumman provides mentorship and leadership development opportunities to help Principal Network Engineers grow into technical leadership roles and drive innovation within the network engineering field.

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman offers a wide range of technical challenges and learning opportunities for Principal Network Engineers, with a strong emphasis on network complexity, security, scalability, and emerging technologies.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Network Design & Architecture: Questions focusing on network design principles, architecture patterns, and best practices for both physical and virtual environments.
Network Configuration & Troubleshooting: Questions focusing on network configuration, management, and troubleshooting, with a focus on Cisco networking equipment and VMware NSX.
Network Security & Compliance: Questions focusing on network security principles, risk management, and compliance with security standards and regulations, such as DISA STIG.
Network Performance & Optimization: Questions focusing on network performance optimization, scalability, and load balancing, with a focus on emerging network technologies and best practices.

Company & Culture Questions:

Company Culture: Questions focusing on Northrop Grumman's company culture, values, and mission, as well as the company's approach to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction.
Team Dynamics: Questions focusing on the network engineering team's structure, dynamics, and collaboration practices, as well as the team's relationship with other technical teams within the organization.
Career Growth: Questions focusing on career growth opportunities within the network engineering field and the broader Mission Systems sector, as well as Northrop Grumman's approach to employee development and training.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Case Study Presentation: Present a detailed case study of a network design, optimization, or troubleshooting project, highlighting your technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and attention to detail.
Live Demonstration: Prepare a live demonstration of your network configuration and management skills using tools like Cisco Packet Tracer or VMware Hands-on Labs, focusing on network design, configuration, and troubleshooting.
Technical Deep Dive: Prepare a detailed technical deep dive into a specific network technology, protocol, or best practice, demonstrating your expertise and understanding of the subject matter.

📝 Enhancement Note: Northrop Grumman's interview process is designed to assess the candidate's technical expertise, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit within the organization. The process is comprehensive and tailored to the specific requirements of the Principal Network Engineer role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal Network Engineer position at Northrop Grumman:

Update Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your network engineering experience, technical skills, and accomplishments in network design, configuration, and troubleshooting. Include relevant keywords and phrases to optimize your resume for Northrop Grumman's Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a portfolio of network design, optimization, and troubleshooting case studies that demonstrate your expertise in both physical and virtual environments. Include network diagrams, configuration scripts, and performance metrics to showcase your technical proficiency and attention to detail.
Practice Technical Interview Questions: Familiarize yourself with the technical interview questions and practice your responses, focusing on network design, configuration, and troubleshooting. Use the interview preparation tips and technical challenge preparation strategies outlined above to help you prepare for the interview.
Research Northrop Grumman: Learn about Northrop Grumman's company culture, values, and mission, as well as the network engineering team's structure, dynamics, and collaboration practices. Prepare thoughtful questions to ask during the interview, demonstrating your interest in the role and the organization.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and web development/server administration industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Northrop Grumman before making application decisions.

Principal Network Engineer (Active Secret clearance)