Senior Network Administrator (5835)

SMX is seeking a Senior Network Administrator to support enterprise network infrastructure and operations at NAS Patuxent River, MD.

This full-time, hybrid position requires an active Top Secret clearance and involves maintaining the performance, availability, and security of critical network infrastructure within a DoD environment. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in enterprise networking, network security technologies, and troubleshooting complex network environments, with hands-on experience supporting Cisco, Juniper, F5, or Palo Alto platforms.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Administer, maintain, and troubleshoot enterprise network infrastructure, including routers, switches, firewalls, and network security appliances
• Support the configuration, maintenance, and optimization of Cisco, Juniper, F5, and Palo Alto networking technologies to ensure reliable and secure network operations
• Monitor network performance, availability, and traffic patterns to proactively identify connectivity issues, performance degradation, and potential security concerns
• Troubleshoot complex network issues involving routing, switching, network protocols, firewall policies, and connectivity across enterprise environments
• Implement and maintain network configurations, access controls, and security policies to support operational requirements and protect critical infrastructure
• Support network security monitoring and incident response activities, including reviewing alerts, analyzing network traffic, and coordinating remediation efforts
• Perform network maintenance, software updates, configuration changes, and vulnerability remediation in accordance with established procedures and security requirements
• Collaborate with infrastructure, cybersecurity, and engineering teams to resolve technical issues, implement improvements, and maintain operational readiness
• Support network assessments, configuration reviews, and compliance activities to ensure alignment with applicable DoD cybersecurity requirements
• Develop and maintain network diagrams, technical documentation, configuration records, and standard operating procedures

Required Skills & Experience 

• Clearance Required: Top Secret
  • A secret clearance may be considered to start, but candidates must be eligible for upgrade to Top Secret 
  • US Citizenship is required for work on DOW contracts
• Minimum of 5+ years of hands-on experience supporting enterprise networking technologies, including Cisco, Juniper, F5, and/or Palo Alto platforms
• CompTIA Security+ or higher-level qualifying certification (CySA+, SecurityX, CISSP, or equivalent)
• Experience administering and troubleshooting enterprise routers, switches, firewalls, and network security appliances
• Strong understanding of TCP/IP, routing and switching, VLANs, network protocols, and enterprise network architecture
• Experience troubleshooting complex network connectivity, performance, and configuration issues
• Familiarity with network monitoring, traffic analysis, intrusion detection/prevention systems, and network security best practices
• Experience implementing network configurations, access controls, and security policies
• Strong analytical, troubleshooting, communication, and documentation skills

Desired Skills & Experience 

• Experience supporting large-scale enterprise networks, including network segmentation, firewall administration, and traffic management
• Familiarity with SIEM platforms, IDS/IPS, vulnerability management, and network security monitoring tools
• Knowledge of DoD cybersecurity requirements, DISA STIGs, and secure network configuration practices
• Experience supporting classified networks or enterprise infrastructure within a DoD environment
• Additional industry certifications such as CompTIA SecurityX, CISSP, or other advanced networking and cybersecurity credentials

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The SMX salary determination process takes into account a number of factors, including but not limited to, geographic location, Federal Government contract labor categories, relevant prior work experience, specific skills, education and certifications. At SMX, one of our Core Values is to Invest in Our People so we offer a competitive mix of compensation, learning & development opportunities, and benefits. Some key components of our robust benefits include health insurance, paid leave, and retirement.