Network Engineer

Job Title: Network Engineer FLSA Classification: Exempt Location: Panama City Beach, FL Summary New Venture Research Corporation (NVRC) is a leading provider of innovative technology solutions supporting critical defense programs. We are seeking a Network Engineer whose role will be focused on maintaining and automating high-availability enterprise environments. You will be responsible for configuring and troubleshooting complex routing and switching infrastructures (Cisco, Juniper, Palo Alto) with a heavy emphasis on redundancy and stateful failover mechanisms. A core component of this position is network automation, specifically using Ansible to orchestrate configurations and streamline deployments. Key Responsibilities - Design and maintain high-availability enterprise networks using session failover configurations and state replication for routers, firewalls, and load balancers. - Implement and manage redundancy protocols such as HSRP, VRRP, and Cisco SSO to ensure continuous system uptime. - Drive network efficiency by writing custom Ansible playbooks and roles to automate configuration management and deployment processes. - Configure and provide advanced troubleshooting for multi-vendor hardware including Cisco, Juniper, F5, and Palo Alto routers, switches, and firewalls. - Administer complex routing and switching protocols including OSPF, BGP, MPLS, and VPNs to support secure and scalable connectivity. - Optimize network performance through hands-on Session Smart Routing (SSR) expertise and granular session persistence management. - Integrate security controls and protocols like SSL and NAT/PAT while maintaining the rigorous standards required for an active Secret Clearance. - Collaborate on the transition toward modern infrastructure technologies such as SD-WAN, cloud networking, and containerization. Required Minimum Qualifications - Hands-on expertise with Session Smart Routing (SSR), including session failover configurations and high-availability performance optimization. - Proven proficiency in state replication for firewalls, load balancers, and routers. - Direct experience implementing redundancy protocols such as HSRP, VRRP, or Cisco SSO. - Advanced technical knowledge of networking protocols including TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, VLANs, OSPF, BGP, MPLS, VPN, and NAT/PAT. - Demonstrated experience configuring and troubleshooting enterprise hardware from vendors such as Cisco, Juniper, F5, or Palo Alto. - Expertise in using Ansible for automation, specifically in writing custom playbooks and roles for configuration management. Preferred Qualifications - Familiarity with containerization and cloud networking technologies such as Kubernetes, AWS, Azure, or GCP. - Experience utilizing additional network automation frameworks such as Python, Terraform, or Chef. - Practical knowledge of load balancing technologies including F5 BIG-IP or Citrix ADC and features like session persistence. - Strong understanding of network security protocols and controls such as SSL, VPNs, and firewalls. - Familiarity with SD-WAN and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) technologies. - Possession of Cisco certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, or CCIE. - Automation-focused credentials like Cisco DevNet Associate/Professional or Red Hat Ansible certifications. - Security certifications such as CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or equivalent. Required Education and Length of Experience - Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or other related field; 4 years of experience (in addition to the minimum years of experience requirement) can be substituted in lieu of a degree - 5+ years of experience as a Network Engineer (preferably with a focus on enterprise networking in a DoD environment) Travel Requirements Travel up to 25% may be required. U.S. Citizenship Requirements Due to our co tracts with the U.S. federal government and the requirement for a security clearance for this role, candidates for this position must be U.S. Citizens. Clearance Type Required Candidates must be able to maintain an active Secret security clearance. NVRC is an equal opportunity employer and a VEVRAA contractor dedicated to merit- and value-based employment decisions. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities per the guidelines set forth by the ADA and the ADAAA. If you require an accommodation to participate in the application or interview process, please contact Human Resources by phone at 256-583-3471.