Enterprise WAN Engineer

VT-ARC is seeking a Senior or Staff Enterprise WAN Engineer to provide technical leadership for enterprise WAN engineering, transport integration, secure routing, implementation, and modernization supporting mission-critical programs within TS/SCI environments.

This role is focused on domain-level WAN ownership across the full network lifecycle, from requirements interpretation and architecture input through detailed design, implementation planning, integration, validation, and transition to operations. The role is broader than SD-WAN alone and includes holistic WAN engineering across multiple transport layers, multi-enclave environments, classified networks, internet-connected networks, and fully air-gapped operating environments.

The Enterprise WAN Engineer will partner with programmatic staff and technical leads to deliver secure, resilient, interoperable, and mission-aligned WAN solutions. You have a mission focus and take pride in building systems the right way and supporting them end-to-end., * Lead end-to-end enterprise WAN engineering activities, including architecture input, detailed design, implementation planning, integration, validation, and operational transition.

• Design, implement, and modernize global WAN infrastructures across MPLS, carrier Ethernet, commercial internet, private transport, SD-WAN, cloud interconnect, satellite, classified, multi-enclave, and air-gapped environments.
• Develop and validate WAN designs that account for routing, transport diversity, QoS, resiliency, segmentation, encryption dependencies, traffic engineering, monitoring, and sustainment.
• Implement and troubleshoot enterprise routing and transport technologies, including BGP, OSPF, MPLS, QoS, VPN, SD-WAN, route redistribution, overlay/underlay architectures, and high-availability designs.
• Coordinate WAN design dependencies with inline encryption, UC, LAN, identity, cybersecurity, cloud, and mission application teams.
• Support cross-domain, multi-enclave, and secure network integration approaches for classified and high-assurance mission environments.
• Develop implementation plans, test plans, configuration standards, technical diagrams, migration runbooks, and operational transition materials.
• Participate in lab validation, proof-of-concept demonstrations, technical pilots, network cutovers, and integration events.
• Mentor junior engineers and help establish engineering standards, configuration baselines, and operational best practices.

You are a senior-level to staff-level enterprise WAN engineer and networking SME with deep experience designing, implementing, integrating, and modernizing global WAN and mission communications infrastructures in high-assurance, classified environments.

You bring broad hands-on depth across routing, transport, QoS, segmentation, SD-WAN, VPN, carrier services, secure enclave connectivity, and air-gapped network environments. You understand how to translate enterprise architecture objectives into executable WAN designs, implementation plans, configuration baselines, and operationally supportable solutions.

You are adaptable and comfortable owning complex WAN design and implementation efforts while working closely across technical teams and leads. You remain hands-on with deployment, troubleshooting, validation, documentation, and operational transition. You have a mission focus and take pride in building systems the right way and supporting them end-to-end., * Demonstrated senior or lead-level experience designing, implementing, and modernizing enterprise WAN environments in mission-critical or high-assurance settings.

• Hands-on expertise with enterprise routing, transport, WAN segmentation, QoS, VPN, SD-WAN, and high-availability network design.
• Experience with multi-vendor enterprise networking technologies, including platforms such as Cisco, Juniper, Aruba, Fortinet, Palo Alto, F5, or equivalent technologies.
• Experience supporting classified, TS/SCI, multi-enclave, internet-connected, or air-gapped network environments.
• Strong practical knowledge of BGP, OSPF, MPLS, QoS, IPsec, GRE, route redistribution, network address translation, and WAN troubleshooting.
• Ability to translate architecture objectives and mission requirements into executable WAN designs, deployment plans, configuration baselines, and validation approaches.
• Experience supporting RMF processes, ATO documentation, STIG compliance, security controls, or equivalent cybersecurity compliance activities for network infrastructure.
• Ability to produce clear technical documentation, diagrams, implementation guides, and operational procedures.

Desired Education, Certification, Skills, Capabilities:

• Professional certifications such as CCNP, JNCIP, Aruba Certified Professional, Security+, CISSP, or equivalent technical credentials.
• Experience with Cisco Viptela, Juniper, Aruba, VMware/VeloCloud, Fortinet, or equivalent SD-WAN platforms.
• Experience integrating WAN transport with Type 1 inline encryption, mission communications, voice/video, cloud, and data center services.
• Experience with network automation, scripting, APIs, Ansible, Python, Git, or related tools.
• Experience with network modeling, lab validation, traffic analysis, packet capture, or performance engineering tools.
• Familiarity with DoD networking standards, DISA STIGs, Zero Trust principles, and systems engineering lifecycle reviews.

Security:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Active Top Secret/SCI clearance is required

Competitive Salary: VT-ARC offers a competitive salary and benefits package designed to attract and retain senior technical talent supporting mission-critical programs.

Salary: $190,000-$230,000/yr., based on skills, experience, clearance, technical depth, and mission alignment.

Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation: VT-ARC is a 501(c)(3), non-profit R&D organization affiliated with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech or VT). Our mission is to provide superior analytic and technology solutions across multiple domains by leveraging Virginia Techs multidisciplinary research and innovation ecosystem. With unique access to the broad and rich research enterprise found at Virginia Tech, VT-ARC forms multi-disciplinary teams to apply innovative solutions to the real-world problems that strain our social, political, industrial, and economic foundations.

VT-ARC, a technical services and applied research company, has built an organizational culture marked by four primary values: Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence, and Service. Integral to our success is our staffs enthusiasm for solving tough problems by working together in teams to get the job done. We foster a culture where every employees contribution is valued and performed with integrity while maintaining a fun work environment. VT-ARC strives for excellence in all that is done for our clients, and such achievement is recognized through service/merit awards. Moreover, we promote a sense of community larger than VT-ARC alone, where staff and institutional resources can be applied in service to our country.

We are proud to be the recipient of the Best Workplace in Defense Award by Emergent Magazine, an honor that recognizes companies with positive cultures that not only impact their people but also make a meaningful difference in the community.