Network Operations Engineer

Thompson Gray is an Equal Opportunity Employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or national origin. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation national origin, protected veteran status or disability. Thompson Gray, Inc. welcomes minority and veteran applicants.

Network Operations Engineer

Location: Orlando, FL (PEO STRI)

Security Clearance: TS-SCI (Required)

Experience: 10+ years of relevant experience in network operations, or 5+ years of other relevant experience.

Work Schedule: Hybrid, In office 2 days a week

Job Summary:

PEO STRI is seeking a highly skilled NetOps Engineer to support the design, management, and optimization of mission-critical networks for Army simulation and training solutions. The ideal candidate will possess extensive experience in network operations, monitoring, and security, with a deep understanding of network protocols, architecture, and optimization techniques. This role requires an individual capable of ensuring the reliability, security, and performance of complex network environments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Network Monitoring and Management: Monitor, diagnose, and resolve network issues using advanced tools and techniques to ensure 24/7 availability and optimal performance.
• Network Optimization: Develop and implement strategies for network redundancy, scalability, and performance enhancement.
• Network Architecture: Design and maintain secure, scalable, and resilient network architectures to support mission-critical operations.
• Network Security: Implement and enforce network security protocols, such as firewalls, VPNs, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and encryption techniques.
• Troubleshooting: Analyze and troubleshoot network protocols, including TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, and others, to ensure smooth communication and data flow.
• IP Addressing and Subnetting: Manage and configure IP addressing schemes, including subnetting and routing protocols.
• Collaboration: Work closely with other IT teams, including cybersecurity, systems administration, and cloud engineering, to ensure seamless network operations.
• Documentation: Create and maintain detailed network configuration, performance, and security documentation. Provide regular reports on network performance and optimization strategies.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience: 10+ years of relevant experience in network operations, or 5+ years of experience with a Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or a related field.
• Security Clearance: Active TS-SCI clearance (mandatory).
• Technical Skills: Proficient in network protocols (e.g., TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF), network security, redundancy, scalability, and performance optimization.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Demonstrated experience in troubleshooting complex network issues in mission-critical environments.
• Strong analytical and communication skills.
• Ability to work in highly classified and sensitive environments.
• A collaborative mindset, with the ability to work in cross-functional teams, including military and civilian personnel.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with defense-related or DoD network operations.
• Familiarity with cloud networking solutions (e.g., AWS, Azure) and hybrid network environments.
• Experience with automation and scripting tools like Python, Ansible, or other network automation frameworks.
• Experience with network monitoring tools (e.g., SolarWinds, Nagios, Wireshark) and cybersecurity best practices.