The Role
Leads enterprise network architecture and engineering across distributed federal networks, including data centers, field sites, colocation, cloud, and hybrid-cloud environments. Develops architecture standards, designs, business cases, and alternatives analyses; guides SDN and SD-WAN implementations; supports security, Zero Trust, FedRAMP, cloud migration, testing, change control, incident resolution, and Tier 3 escalations. Advises government stakeholders and ensures network solutions meet performance, resiliency, compliance, and mission requirements.
Summary Generated by Built In
OverviewAMERICAN SYSTEMS is an employee-owned federal government contractor supporting national priority programs through our strategic solutions in the areas of Information Technology, Test & Evaluation, Program Mission Support, Engineering & Analysis, and Training. We are seeking a Lead Network Architect to serve as the subject-matter expert for enterprise network architecture and engineering supporting a large, geographically distributed federal network. The successful candidate will lead architecture and design efforts; develop business cases and analyses of alternatives; advise government stakeholders on network strategy; and recommend solutions to complex architecture, performance, resiliency, security, cloud, and operational challenges. This role will help design and evolve secure, scalable, high-performing network services across field sites, data centers, colocations, cloud and hybrid-cloud environments, while ensuring alignment with agency’s enterprise architecture, technical standards, security policies, and mission requirements.
Responsibilities
- Lead enterprise network architecture and engineering activities across the full lifecycle, from requirements analysis and conceptual design through implementation, operations, modernization, and technology refresh.
- Establish and maintain network architecture standards; develop, review, and maintain System Design Documents, topology diagrams, logical designs, network taxonomies, and other architecture artifacts for new and existing network solutions.
- Conduct requirements analysis and analyses of alternatives; evaluate performance, availability, resiliency, interoperability, security, operational efficiency, total cost of ownership, and compliance with agency’s policies.
- Develop business cases and return-on-investment analyses for new network technologies and services, including lifecycle, sustainment, supply-chain, cost, risk, and mission-value considerations.
- Research and evaluate emerging technologies; recommend solutions for enterprise networking, SDN, SD-WAN, cloud connectivity, colocation, network management, automation, monitoring, and technology refresh.
- Guide engineering and implementation of SDN and SD-WAN solutions, including policy-based routing, multiple network transports, standardized configurations, automation, and centralized troubleshooting.
- Support testing, patching, release management, change control, field-site implementation, as-built documentation, and Tier 3 escalation activities; perform or direct root-cause analysis for complex network incidents.
- Architect secure and resilient connectivity to commercial, private, and hybrid cloud environments; support cloud migration and ensure alignment with FedRAMP, agency’s security requirements, and applicable TIC 3.0 capabilities.
- Integrate security controls and Zero Trust principles into architecture and engineering decisions; collaborate with ISSOs, ISSMs, cybersecurity personnel, and stakeholders to address vulnerabilities, audit findings, RMF requirements, and ATO/ATT documentation.
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Networking, Telecommunications, or a related technical field.
- Experience supporting large federal agencies or other mission-critical enterprise networks, including geographically distributed field sites and 24x7 operations.
- Experience with cloud service providers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, and/or Google Cloud Platform; TIC 3.0, FedRAMP, and cloud network migration experience.
Security Clearance
- Ability to obtain Public Trust, Preferred Secret/Top Secret Clearance
Certifications
- Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Networking, Telecommunications, or a related technical field
- Experience supporting large federal agencies or mission-critical enterprise networks, including geographically distributed field sites and 24x7 operations
- Experience with AWS, Microsoft Azure, and/or Google Cloud Platform
- TIC 3.0, FedRAMP, and cloud network migration experience
- Ability to obtain Public Trust clearance
- Secret or Top Secret clearance
- Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification
AMERICAN SYSTEMS Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about AMERICAN SYSTEMS and has not been reviewed or approved by AMERICAN SYSTEMS.
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Equity Value & Accessibility — The ESOP provides an ownership stake that adds long-term financial value and complements base pay. This employee-ownership structure stands out within the overall package.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with automatic enrollment and broad investment options, alongside the ESOP, strengthens retirement pathways beyond salary. These features are presented as competitive within the defense contracting space.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Base pay is considered fair or comparable to industry peers, particularly for technical roles. Starting compensation is described as solid for areas like cybersecurity, systems administration, and IT engineering.
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The Company
What We Do
AMERICAN SYSTEMS is an employee-owned government services contractor that delivers professional, technical, information technology, engineering, analysis, testing, evaluation, and training solutions for complex national-priority programs. Based in McLean, Virginia, the company supports federal customers—particularly defense and other Department of Defense missions—with mission-essential and information engineering, digital engineering, systems integration, cybersecurity, cloud, data, and lifecycle IT services across critical public-sector environments.
