Sr. Principal Network Engineer

Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman · Aerospace · Linthicum Heights, MD +2 · Networks

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Senior Principal Network Engineer to support its IT Infrastructure & Operations organization's Classified Solutions team. The role involves performing network engineering activities for classified government contracts, defining network architecture roadmaps (SDWAN, ZeroTrust, cloud-enabled networking), leading the design and implementation of large-scale, multi-domain networks, and serving as a technical liaison to government customers. Responsibilities include authoring network standards, providing advanced monitoring and analysis, delivering third-level technical support, developing innovative solutions, mentoring junior team members, and ensuring alignment with enterprise security and compliance requirements.

What you'd actually do

  1. Perform Senior Principal Network Engineer activities in support of classified government contracts.
  2. Define and execute long-term network architecture roadmaps, such as SDWAN, ZeroTrust, and cloud-enabled networking, ensuring alignment with enterprise security and compliance requirements.
  3. Lead the design, integration, and implementation of large-scale, multi-domain networks supporting classified missions, and oversee network migrations and cyber resilience initiatives.
  4. Serve as a senior technical liaison to government customers and internal leadership, negotiating requirements, delivering status briefings, and participating in external technical forums, proposals, and procurement discussions.
  5. Author, maintain, and enforce enterprise-wide network standards, policies, and security frameworks; regularly audit compliance and champion continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Required

  • PhD with 4 years of relevant experience, or a Master's degree with 6 years of relevant experience, or a Bachelor's degree with 8 years of relevant experience, or an Associate's degree with 10 years of relevant experience; a High School diploma or equivalent with 12 years of relevant experience may be considered in lieu of a completed degree
  • current U.S. Government Top Secret level security clearance (at a minimum), to include a closed investigation date completed within the last 6 years OR must be enrolled in the U.S. Government Continuous Evaluation (CE) Program
  • ability to obtain, and maintain, access to Special Programs (PAR)
  • demonstrated experience designing and maintaining complex LAN/WAN based networks to include analysis, enhancements of routers, switches, and firewalls
  • experience supporting Video Teleconferencing (VTCs) and deploying audio/visual technologies in classified environments
  • Government 8140 IAM Level I Certification (Security+ CE certification or equivalent)

Nice to have

  • Bachelor’s degree in Network Engineering
  • Current SAP/SAR access, SCI, and or polygraph
  • Experience supporting Cisco Call Managers or other similar technologies
  • Experience designing, implementing, and managing large scale, multi-domain network architectures; expertise in advanced routing, security, and mission critical systems
  • Experience with configuring TACLANES, and/or encryption solutions
  • Experience with Assessment & Authorization processes
  • Experience troubleshooting network procedures and best practices; experience with network challenges associated with systems integration, including COTS integration, capacity analysis, and system architecture design
  • Evidence of published technical papers, patents, or internal knowledge‑sharing contributions

What the JD emphasized

  • current U.S. Government Top Secret level security clearance
  • ability to obtain, and maintain, access to Special Programs (PAR)
  • classified government contracts
  • classified missions
  • classified environments