Network Engineer

Network Engineer (Mid-Level)

Energetics Technology Center (ETC)

Location: ARL’s Robotics Research Collaboration Campus (R2C2) at Graces Quarters, Middle River, MD

The Energetics Technology Center (ETC) is seeking a full-time mid-level Network Engineer with hands-on Linux system administration experience. This is a Network Engineer role with a substantial Linux component. The position supports robotics and autonomous systems research for our Department of War client at the U.S. Army Research Laboratory’s (ARL) Robotics Research Collaboration Campus (R2C2) in Middle River, MD.

This is a hybrid position requiring three days on-site per week. The selected candidate must also be on-site for projects, experimentation, and testing events. The role may require occasional work outdoors in varying terrain and weather conditions, plus travel two to three times per year for up to two weeks at a time.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, implement, and maintain wired and wireless network infrastructure at the R2C2 operations site, including Wi-Fi, wired LAN, point-to-point radios, tactical mesh radios, and 5G cellular networks.
• Administer Linux-based network services, servers, and robotic platforms operating in laboratory and field environments (Ubuntu and/or RHEL derivatives).
• Gather requirements from researchers, design practical network solutions, and present findings and recommendations to colleagues and leadership.
• Collaborate with robotics researchers to integrate networks for autonomous platform operation, communications, telemetry, and real-world experimentation.
• Support high-bandwidth data transfer using command-line tools, live analytics, and modeling systems.
• Develop and maintain operating policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), user guides, network architecture diagrams, and usage/performance reports.
• Configure, troubleshoot, and support Cisco, Juniper, Fortinet, or equivalent network equipment.
• Implement and maintain network monitoring using SNMP, NetFlow, syslog, and related tools for proactive monitoring, troubleshooting, and performance analysis.
• Support related system administration work on lab and field systems as assigned.

Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems, Systems Administration, Network Engineering, or a related technical discipline.

Experience Level: 3–5 years of relevant network engineering and/or systems administration experience.

Required Skills and Qualifications:

• U.S. citizenship and current possession of, or ability to obtain, a U.S. SECRET security clearance.
• Possess, or obtain within 3 months of start date, a DoD 8140-aligned certification (minimum CompTIA Security+ CE or equivalent; legacy DoD 8570 IAT II acceptable).
• Possess, or obtain within 3 months of start date, Linux+ or RHCSA (or equivalent) certification.
• Hands-on experience with Linux system administration, including Ubuntu and/or RHEL derivatives, shell scripting, command-line tools, and troubleshooting.
• Solid working knowledge of networking fundamentals and networked systems: TCP/IP, routing, switching, VLANs, VPNs, network interfaces, segmentation, traffic analysis, performance monitoring, and common protocols (including multicast/broadcast).
• Proficiency with network troubleshooting tools and techniques (ping, traceroute, SSH, SCP, tcpdump, Wireshark).
• Working understanding of network security standards (STIGs, CIS benchmarks, firmware and patch management).
• Hands-on experience with network device CLI (Cisco IOS, Juniper JUNOS, or equivalent).
• Ability to work independently and as part of a small team in a research and field-experimentation environment.

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

• Cisco CCNA certification or completion of Cisco training.
• Familiarity with configuration management and automation tools (Ansible, Puppet, Chef).
• Experience operating or supporting autonomous vehicles, robotic platforms, or field experimentation environments.
• Strong communication, presentation, and customer-service skills.

What We Offer: The opportunity to work hands-on with robotics and autonomous systems research at ARL R2C2, one of the nation’s premier DoD research sites. You will play a key role in enabling experimentation while advancing your expertise in enterprise networking and Linux systems administration. The role offers a hybrid schedule, exposure to fielded tactical and research networks, and support for required professional certifications.

Compensation: Compensation at ETC is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the combination of education, certifications, knowledge, skills, competencies, experience, internal and external equity, location, clearance level, as well as contract-specific affordability, and applicable employment laws. The estimated salary range for this position is based on full time status.

Estimated Salary Range
USD $91,000.00 - USD $136,000.00 /Yr