📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Principal Network Engineer*
Company: Leidos
Location: Bethesda, MD, United States
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: DevOps Engineer, System Administrator, Network Engineer
Date Posted: 2025-08-01
Experience Level: 10+ years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

Lead network infrastructure maintenance, ensuring availability, performance, and capacity across on-premises and cloud environments
Collaborate with senior management and clients to define requirements and deliverables
Evaluate and implement new technologies, and manage upgrades and patches
Monitor network services, collect metrics, and manage KPIs and SLAs
Ensure business continuity with disaster recovery planning and implementation

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a high level of technical expertise and leadership, with a focus on network architecture, design, and maintenance. The candidate should have a strong background in enterprise-level network environments and experience working with cloud technologies.

💻 Primary Responsibilities

Network Architecture & Design: Develop and maintain network architectures that meet business requirements and ensure high availability and performance
Network Administration: Install, configure, administer, support, and maintain networks and associated hardware and cloud resources
Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Conduct risk assessments, analyze risks, and implement mitigation strategies to ensure network services meet established SLAs
Disaster Recovery: Develop and maintain disaster recovery plans to ensure business continuity in case of network failures or outages
Performance Monitoring: Monitor network operations, collect metrics, and evaluate performance to ensure network services meet established KPIs and SLAs

📝 Enhancement Note: The candidate should have experience with various network protocols, including IP, routing, and connection services. They should also be familiar with ITIL and SAFe Agile frameworks for managing network services and projects.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree with 12 or more years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with 10 or more years of relevant experience

Experience: 12+ years of experience in network engineering, with a focus on enterprise-level environments and cloud technologies

Required Skills:

Cloud Technologies: AWS Cloud technologies
Scripting Skills: Shell, Python, PERL, and other scripting languages
Operating Systems: Windows and Unix environments
Security Patches: Proven experience installing and maintaining security patches on servers
ITIL & SAFe Agile: In-depth knowledge of ITIL and SAFe Agile frameworks
Cisco Enterprise Environments: Expert experience with Cisco Enterprise environments
Network Protocols: IP, routing, and connection services
Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Experience in risk assessment and risk mitigation analysis
Documentation: Proven experience creating, maintaining, and implementing detailed documentation for standard operating procedures

Preferred Skills:

DevOps Infrastructure: Experience developing DevOps infrastructure using GitHub, Jenkins, Ansible, and related tools
Certifications: CCNA or related certifications

📝 Enhancement Note: The candidate should have a strong background in network engineering, with experience in enterprise-level environments and cloud technologies. They should also be familiar with scripting languages, ITIL, and SAFe Agile frameworks.

📊 Web Portfolio & Project Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Network Architecture & Design: Case studies demonstrating network architecture and design for enterprise-level environments
Network Administration: Examples of network administration tasks, including installation, configuration, and maintenance of networks and associated hardware
Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Documentation of risk assessment and mitigation strategies implemented in previous roles
Disaster Recovery: Case studies or documentation of disaster recovery plans implemented in previous roles

Technical Documentation:

Network Diagrams & Schematics: Detailed network diagrams and schematics demonstrating network architecture and design
Risk Assessment & Mitigation Reports: Reports documenting risk assessment and mitigation strategies implemented in previous roles
Disaster Recovery Plans: Detailed disaster recovery plans implemented in previous roles
Performance Metrics & Optimization Techniques: Documentation of network performance metrics and optimization techniques implemented in previous roles

📝 Enhancement Note: The candidate's portfolio should demonstrate their experience in network architecture, design, administration, risk assessment, and disaster recovery. It should also include technical documentation, network diagrams, and case studies demonstrating their technical expertise and problem-solving skills.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $126,100.00 - $227,950.00 per year

Benefits:

Paid Time Off
11 Paid Holidays
401K with a 6% Company Match and Immediate Vesting
Flexible Schedules
Discounted Stock Purchase Plans
Technical Upskilling
Education and Training Support
Parental Paid Leave

Working Hours: Full-time, with flexible scheduling options

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range for this role is competitive and in line with industry standards for network engineering roles. The benefits package is comprehensive and includes paid time off, retirement savings, and professional development opportunities.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Leidos operates in the defense, aviation, and intelligence sectors, providing scientific, engineering, systems integration, and technical services.

Company Size: Leidos is a large company with approximately 38,000 employees worldwide, providing ample opportunities for collaboration and professional growth.

Founded: 1969, as a spin-off from RCA

Team Structure:

Network Team: The network team consists of network engineers, administrators, and architects responsible for maintaining and managing network infrastructure
Cross-Functional Teams: Leidos encourages collaboration between network teams and other functional areas, such as cybersecurity, analytics, and mission software

Development Methodology:

ITIL & SAFe Agile: Leidos uses ITIL and SAFe Agile frameworks for managing network services and projects
Continuous Improvement: Leidos emphasizes continuous improvement, with a focus on identifying and implementing best practices and new technologies

Company Website: Leidos Website

📝 Enhancement Note: Leidos is a large company with a strong focus on collaboration and continuous improvement. The network team works closely with other functional areas to ensure network services meet business requirements and support Leidos' mission.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Network Engineer Career Level: This role is at the senior level, with a focus on network architecture, design, and maintenance. The candidate should have a strong background in enterprise-level network environments and experience working with cloud technologies.

Reporting Structure: The Principal Network Engineer reports directly to the Network Manager and works closely with other network engineers, administrators, and architects.

Technical Impact: The Principal Network Engineer has a significant impact on network services, ensuring high availability, performance, and capacity. They also play a key role in risk assessment, mitigation, and disaster recovery planning.

Growth Opportunities:

Technical Leadership: With experience and strong performance, the candidate may have the opportunity to move into a technical leadership role, managing a team of network engineers
Architecture & Design: The candidate may have the opportunity to specialize in network architecture and design, working on complex projects and leading architecture efforts
Cloud Technologies: As cloud technologies continue to evolve, the candidate may have the opportunity to specialize in cloud networking and lead cloud migration and implementation efforts

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for career growth and technical specialization. The candidate should have a strong background in network engineering and a desire to continue learning and growing in their career.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Leidos' Bethesda office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to facilitate teamwork and innovation.

Office Location(s): Bethesda, MD, United States

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Workspace: The office features open-plan workspaces, collaboration areas, and meeting rooms designed to encourage teamwork and communication
Technology & Tools: Leidos provides state-of-the-art technology and tools to support network engineering tasks, including network management software, scripting tools, and cloud platforms
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Leidos encourages collaboration between network teams and other functional areas, with regular team meetings and cross-functional projects

Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexible scheduling options to accommodate project deadlines and maintenance windows

📝 Enhancement Note: Leidos' Bethesda office is a modern, collaborative workspace designed to facilitate teamwork and innovation. The office features state-of-the-art technology and tools to support network engineering tasks, and Leidos encourages collaboration between network teams and other functional areas.

📄 Application & Technical Interview Process

Interview Process:

Phone Screen: A brief phone screen to assess technical competency and cultural fit
On-Site Interview: A full-day on-site interview, including technical assessments, case studies, and behavioral interviews
Final Review: A final review of the candidate's qualifications and fit for the role

Portfolio Review Tips:

Network Architecture & Design: Highlight case studies demonstrating network architecture and design for enterprise-level environments
Network Administration: Provide examples of network administration tasks, including installation, configuration, and maintenance of networks and associated hardware
Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Document risk assessment and mitigation strategies implemented in previous roles
Disaster Recovery: Highlight case studies or documentation of disaster recovery plans implemented in previous roles

Technical Challenge Preparation:

Network Protocols: Brush up on network protocols, including IP, routing, and connection services
Cloud Technologies: Familiarize yourself with AWS Cloud technologies and their application in enterprise-level environments
ITIL & SAFe Agile: Review ITIL and SAFe Agile frameworks for managing network services and projects
Scripting Skills: Practice scripting skills with shell, Python, PERL, and other scripting languages

ATS Keywords: (See the comprehensive list of ATS keywords at the end of this document)

📝 Enhancement Note: Leidos' interview process is designed to assess the candidate's technical competency and cultural fit. The candidate should be prepared to discuss their network engineering experience, including architecture, design, administration, risk assessment, and disaster recovery. They should also be familiar with cloud technologies, ITIL, and SAFe Agile frameworks.

🛠 Technology Stack & Web Infrastructure

Cloud Technologies:

AWS: Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the primary cloud platform used by Leidos for network infrastructure
Azure & Google Cloud: Leidos also has experience with Azure and Google Cloud platforms, and the candidate should be familiar with these platforms as well

Network Protocols:

IP: Internet Protocol (IP) is the primary network protocol used by Leidos
Routing & Connection Services: Leidos uses various routing and connection services, including BGP, OSPF, and MPLS

Network Hardware & Software:

Cisco: Leidos uses Cisco hardware and software for network infrastructure, including routers, switches, and network management software
Juniper: Leidos also uses Juniper hardware and software for network infrastructure
Arista: Leidos uses Arista hardware and software for high-performance, low-latency networking

Scripting Tools:

Shell: Bash, PowerShell, and other shell scripting languages are used for automating network tasks
Python: Python is used for scripting network management tasks and developing custom tools
PERL: PERL is used for scripting network management tasks and developing custom tools

📝 Enhancement Note: Leidos uses a variety of cloud technologies, network protocols, and hardware and software platforms for network infrastructure. The candidate should be familiar with these technologies and have experience working with them in enterprise-level environments.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Network Engineering Values:

High Availability & Performance: Leidos prioritizes high availability and performance in network services
Security & Compliance: Leidos emphasizes security and compliance in network services, with a focus on risk assessment, mitigation, and disaster recovery
Continuous Improvement: Leidos encourages continuous improvement, with a focus on identifying and implementing best practices and new technologies
Collaboration & Communication: Leidos values collaboration and communication, with a focus on teamwork and cross-functional projects

Collaboration Style:

Cross-Functional Teams: Leidos encourages collaboration between network teams and other functional areas, with regular team meetings and cross-functional projects
Peer Review & Code Review: Leidos uses peer review and code review processes to ensure high-quality network services and continuous improvement
Mentoring & Knowledge Sharing: Leidos encourages mentoring and knowledge sharing, with a focus on developing technical expertise and leadership skills

📝 Enhancement Note: Leidos values high availability, performance, security, and continuous improvement in network services. The candidate should be familiar with these values and have experience working in a collaborative, cross-functional team environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Technical Challenges:

Cloud Migration: Leidos is migrating network infrastructure to the cloud, and the candidate should be familiar with cloud migration strategies and best practices
Network Performance Optimization: Leidos is continuously optimizing network performance, and the candidate should be familiar with network performance optimization techniques and tools
Security & Compliance: Leidos is committed to ensuring network services meet security and compliance requirements, and the candidate should be familiar with security best practices and compliance standards

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Cloud Technologies: Leidos offers training and certification opportunities for cloud technologies, including AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud
Network Protocols & Hardware: Leidos offers training and certification opportunities for network protocols and hardware, including Cisco, Juniper, and Arista
Scripting Skills: Leidos offers training and certification opportunities for scripting skills, including shell, Python, and PERL
Leadership Development: Leidos offers leadership development opportunities, including mentoring, coaching, and training programs

📝 Enhancement Note: Leidos offers a variety of technical challenges and learning and development opportunities for network engineers. The candidate should be prepared to take on technical challenges and pursue continuous learning and development opportunities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Technical Questions:

Network Architecture & Design: Be prepared to discuss network architecture and design principles and best practices, and how they apply to enterprise-level environments
Network Administration: Be prepared to discuss network administration tasks, including installation, configuration, and maintenance of networks and associated hardware
Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Be prepared to discuss risk assessment and mitigation strategies and best practices, and how they apply to enterprise-level environments
Disaster Recovery: Be prepared to discuss disaster recovery planning and implementation strategies and best practices, and how they apply to enterprise-level environments

Company & Culture Questions:

Leidos Culture: Be prepared to discuss Leidos' company culture, values, and mission, and how they apply to network engineering roles
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Be prepared to discuss Leidos' approach to cross-functional collaboration and teamwork, and how it applies to network engineering roles
Continuous Improvement: Be prepared to discuss Leidos' approach to continuous improvement, and how it applies to network engineering roles

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Network Architecture & Design: Highlight case studies demonstrating network architecture and design for enterprise-level environments
Network Administration: Provide examples of network administration tasks, including installation, configuration, and maintenance of networks and associated hardware
Risk Assessment & Mitigation: Document risk assessment and mitigation strategies implemented in previous roles
Disaster Recovery: Highlight case studies or documentation of disaster recovery plans implemented in previous roles

📝 Enhancement Note: Leidos' interview process is designed to assess the candidate's technical competency and cultural fit. The candidate should be prepared to discuss their network engineering experience, including architecture, design, administration, risk assessment, and disaster recovery. They should also be familiar with Leidos' company culture, values, and approach to cross-functional collaboration and continuous improvement.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Principal Network Engineer role at Leidos:

Submit Your Application: Submit your application through the application link provided in the job listing
Customize Your Portfolio: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your network engineering experience, including architecture, design, administration, risk assessment, and disaster recovery. Include case studies, documentation, and examples of your technical expertise and problem-solving skills
Optimize Your Resume: Optimize your resume for web development and server administration roles, with a focus on project highlighting and technical skills emphasis. Include relevant keywords and phrases to improve search visibility and relevance
Prepare for Technical Interviews: Prepare for technical interviews by reviewing network protocols, cloud technologies, ITIL, and SAFe Agile frameworks. Practice scripting skills with shell, Python, PERL, and other scripting languages, and brush up on your knowledge of network hardware and software platforms
Research Leidos: Research Leidos' company culture, values, and approach to cross-functional collaboration and continuous improvement. Prepare for company-specific questions and be ready to discuss how your technical expertise and problem-solving skills align with Leidos' mission and objectives

⚠️ 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 the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Content Guidelines (IMPORTANT: Do not include this in the output)

Web Technology-Specific Focus:

Tailor every section specifically to network engineering, with a focus on enterprise-level environments and cloud technologies
Include network architecture, design, administration, risk assessment, and disaster recovery principles and best practices
Emphasize cloud technologies, network protocols, and hardware and software platforms used in enterprise-level environments
Address risk assessment, mitigation, and disaster recovery strategies and best practices
Include technical documentation, network diagrams, and case studies demonstrating the candidate's technical expertise and problem-solving skills

Quality Standards:

Ensure no content overlap between sections - each section must contain unique information
Only include Enhancement Notes when making significant inferences about network engineering processes, cloud technologies, and enterprise-level environments
Be comprehensive but concise, prioritizing actionable information over descriptive text
Strategically distribute network engineering and cloud technology-related keywords throughout all sections naturally
Provide realistic salary ranges based on location, experience level, and network engineering specialization

Industry Expertise:

Include specific cloud technologies, network protocols, and hardware and software platforms relevant to the role
Address network engineering career progression paths and technical leadership opportunities in enterprise-level environments
Provide tactical advice for network engineering portfolio development, live demonstrations, and project case studies
Include network engineering-specific interview preparation and coding challenge guidance
Emphasize network architecture, design, administration, risk assessment, and disaster recovery principles and best practices

Professional Standards:

Maintain consistent formatting, spacing, and professional tone throughout
Use network engineering and cloud technology industry terminology appropriately and accurately
Include comprehensive benefits and growth opportunities relevant to network engineering professionals
Provide actionable insights that give network engineering candidates a competitive advantage
Focus on network engineering team culture, cross-functional collaboration, and user impact measurement

Technical Focus & Portfolio Emphasis:

Emphasize network architecture, design, administration, risk assessment, and disaster recovery principles and best practices
Include specific portfolio requirements tailored to the network engineering discipline and role level
Address network performance optimization, security, and compliance standards
Focus on problem-solving methods, performance optimization, and scalable network architecture
Include technical presentation skills and stakeholder communication for network engineering projects

Avoid:

Generic business jargon not relevant to network engineering roles
Placeholder text or incomplete sections
Repetitive content across different sections
Non-technical terminology unless relevant to the specific network engineering role
Marketing language unrelated to network engineering, cloud technologies, or enterprise-level environments

ATS Keywords:

(See the comprehensive list of ATS keywords at the end of this document)

Comprehensive List of ATS Keywords

Programming Languages:

Python
Shell
PERL
Bash
PowerShell
JavaScript
HTML
CSS

Web Frameworks:

AWS Cloud Technologies
AWS Lambda
AWS S3
AWS EC2
AWS RDS
AWS CloudFormation
AWS IAM
AWS Route 53
AWS VPC
AWS ELB
AWS Auto Scaling
AWS CloudWatch
AWS CloudTrail
AWS KMS
AWS Secrets Manager
AWS Certificate Manager
AWS Direct Connect
AWS Transit Gateway
AWS VPN
AWS WAF
AWS Shield
AWS GuardDuty
Azure
Google Cloud Platform
Kubernetes
Docker
Jenkins
Ansible
Puppet
Chef
SaltStack
Terraform
Packer
Vagrant

Server Technologies:

Cisco Enterprise Environments
Cisco IOS
Cisco NX-OS
Cisco Nexus
Cisco Catalyst
Cisco ASA
Cisco Firepower
Juniper
Arista
F5 Networks
Citrix NetScaler
Kemp Technologies
NGINX
Apache
Microsoft IIS
Tomcat
JBoss
WebLogic
WebSphere
Oracle
MySQL
PostgreSQL
MongoDB
Cassandra
Redis
RabbitMQ
Apache Kafka
Apache Spark
Hadoop
Cloudera
MapR
Elasticsearch
Elastic Stack
Splunk
Datadog
New Relic
Prometheus
Grafana
Zabbix
Nagios
SolarWinds
VMware
Hyper-V
KVM
Xen
OpenStack
AWS Outposts
AWS Local Zones
AWS Wavelength
AWS Elastic Fabric Adapter
AWS Elastic Kubernetes Service
AWS Elastic Beanstalk
AWS Elastic Container Service
AWS Elastic Container Registry
AWS Elastic Load Balancing
AWS Elasticsearch Service
AWS Elastic Transcoder
AWS Elastic Inference
AWS Elastic File System
AWS Elastic Block Store
AWS Elastic Load Balancing
AWS Elasticsearch Service
AWS Elastic Transcoder
AWS Elastic Inference
AWS Elastic File System
AWS Elastic Block Store
AWS Lambda
AWS Step Functions
AWS EventBridge
AWS Simple Notification Service
AWS Simple Queue Service
AWS Simple Email Service
AWS Simple Workflow
AWS Simple Workflow Step Functions
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Express
AWS Simple Workflow Standard
AWS Simple Workflow Standard

Principal Network Engineer*