Leidos is seeking an experienced Network Projects Lead to join our Defense Enclave Services (DES) team, supporting an extensive digital modernization program critical to the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and Department of Defense (DoD) Fourth Estate Agencies (DAFAs).
The Network Projects Lead will be responsible for advancing enterprise network innovation through the execution of strategic design and implementation efforts. This role will lead upcoming and future engineering projects such as Network Segmentation/C2C, enterprise Wi-Fi modernization, and other network transformation initiatives that support the evolution of the DES enterprise architecture and improve security, reliability, and mission outcomes.
Must be willing to commute to Ft. Meade, MD 2 days per week. This position requires an active DoD Secret clearance.
Primary Responsibilities
Lead a network project engineering team responsible for planning, designing, and implementing enterprise network modernization initiatives that improve the security, scalability, resiliency, and performance of the parent network environment.
Drive strategic engineering projects from concept through implementation, including architecture evaluation, requirements analysis, dependency identification, design coordination, planning, execution, validation, and transition to operations.
Lead current and future enterprise network initiatives such as Network Segmentation/C2C, enterprise Wi-Fi modernization, IPv4/IPv6 transition, network optimization, connectivity consolidation, lifecycle replacement, automation, and related architecture improvement efforts.
Provide technical leadership, mentoring, and day-to-day direction to network engineers, administrators, and analysts while organizing team priorities, maintaining accountability, and ensuring execution against aggressive timelines.
Evaluate current network architecture, identify gaps or improvement opportunities, estimate level of effort, assess implementation risk, and develop practical engineering plans to improve enterprise capabilities.
Develop and manage implementation plans, schedules, cutover strategies, contingency plans, rollback procedures, validation steps, stakeholder communications, and change documentation for mission-critical network changes.
Lead Network Segmentation/C2C planning and implementation, including data-flow mapping, firewall rule set and ACL review, routing and security policy coordination, cutover sequencing, validation, and stakeholder approval.
Partners with architecture, cybersecurity, operations, project management, and technical SME teams to resolve blockers, manage dependencies, reduce delivery risk, and ensure network projects are executed end-to-end.
Continuously improving engineering processes, documentation standards, implementation playbooks, and execution models to accelerate delivery, reduce rework, improve operational handoff, and lower sustainment burden.
Basic Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience and 12+ years of prior relevant experience, or Master's degree with 10+ years of experience. Specific experience, education, and training may be considered in lieu of degree.
Significant experience leading or managing technical teams of network engineers, administrators, analysts, or implementation resources in complex enterprise environments.
Experience leading network engineering projects from planning through implementation, including requirements analysis, dependency management, risk reduction, contingency planning, execution oversight, validation, and operational transition.
Experience evaluating enterprise network architectures and developing improvement plans across LAN, WAN, WLAN, routing, switching, firewalls, VPN, proxies, security stacks, software-defined networking, and cloud-connected environments.
Experience with Network Segmentation/C2C or similar secure connectivity efforts, including data-flow analysis, firewall and ACL policy review, routing changes, security-zone design, stakeholder coordination, and implementation planning.
Demonstrated ability to organize teams, track details, manage competing priorities, meet aggressive schedules, and drive complex technical efforts to completion with a high degree of accountability.
Experience documenting logical and physical network designs, implementation plans, risks, dependencies, decision points, and technical recommendations using tools such as Visio, PowerPoint, Cameo, or similar tools.
Experience working with two or more of the following network technologies: Cisco, Aruba, Palo Alto, Dell, Infoblox, and Brocade.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting architecture recommendations, implementation plans, risks, dependencies, and status to technical leadership, stakeholders, and approval boards.
Current IAT Level II or higher certification, such as Security+ or CISSP.
Requires an active DoD Secret clearance.
Preferred Qualifications
Certified Cisco Network Professional (CCNP) or equivalent certification.
Experience supporting DISA, DoDNet, DoD Fourth Estate, or similar large-scale federal network modernization programs.
Experience leading enterprise network innovation efforts such as Network Segmentation/C2C, enterprise Wi-Fi modernization, IPv6 transition, automation, SDN, cloud connectivity, zero-trust-aligned networking, or security stack modernization.
Experience with Jira, Confluence, or other project and knowledge-management tools used to coordinate technical work across distributed engineering teams.
Experience developing repeatable engineering execution frameworks, implementation playbooks, migration runbooks, technical standards, and risk-reduction processes for enterprise network teams.
Experience coordinating ASIs, change windows, implementation plans, test validation, and rollback procedures for mission-critical network activities.
Understanding of Federal Government application, server, and network security requirements such as NIST, FedRAMP, FISMA, RMF, and DoD cybersecurity requirements.
If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo — because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 — and moving faster than anyone else dares.
Original Posting:June 16, 2026For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.
The Leidos pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with market data, applicable bargaining agreement (if any), or other law.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience and 12+ years of relevant experience, or Master's degree with 10+ years of experience.
- Significant experience leading or managing technical teams of network engineers, administrators, analysts, or implementation resources in complex enterprise environments.
- Experience leading network engineering projects from planning through implementation, including requirements analysis, dependency management, risk reduction, contingency planning, execution oversight, validation, and operational transition.
- Experience evaluating enterprise network architectures across LAN, WAN, WLAN, routing, switching, firewalls, VPN, proxies, security stacks, software-defined networking, and cloud-connected environments.
- Experience with Network Segmentation/C2C or similar secure connectivity efforts, including data-flow analysis, firewall and ACL policy review, routing changes, and security-zone design.
- Demonstrated ability to organize teams, manage priorities, meet aggressive schedules, and drive complex technical efforts to completion.
- Experience documenting logical and physical network designs and implementation plans using tools such as Visio, PowerPoint, or Cameo.
- Experience working with two or more of the following: Cisco, Aruba, Palo Alto, Dell, Infoblox, Brocade.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including presenting architecture recommendations and status to technical leadership and stakeholders.
- Current IAT Level II or higher certification (e.g., Security+ or CISSP).
- Active DoD Secret clearance required.
- Willingness to commute to Ft. Meade, MD two days per week (hybrid work requirement).
- Certified Cisco Network Professional (CCNP) or equivalent certification.
- Experience supporting DISA, DoDNet, DoD Fourth Estate, or similar large-scale federal network modernization programs.
- Experience with Jira, Confluence, or other project and knowledge-management tools.
- Experience developing engineering execution frameworks, implementation playbooks, migration runbooks, and technical standards.
- Experience coordinating ASIs, change windows, test validation, and rollback procedures for mission-critical network activities.
- Understanding of federal security frameworks (NIST, FedRAMP, FISMA, RMF) and DoD cybersecurity requirements.
Leidos Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Leidos and has not been reviewed or approved by Leidos.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as comprehensive, with multiple plan options, low office-visit copays in some plans, and access to mental health and wellness support tools. The availability of HSA/FSA options and employer contributions is positioned as a meaningful part of the total package.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits are framed as a strong component of total rewards, highlighted by a 401(k) match and immediate vesting in the standard package. The Employee Stock Purchase Plan is also presented as an additional long-term wealth-building feature.
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Wellbeing & Lifestyle Benefits — Wellbeing and lifestyle supports extend beyond core insurance, including wellness programs, fitness-related stipends, and assistance resources. Work flexibility and related perks are also included as part of the broader rewards experience.
Leidos Insights
What We Do
We Are Leidos For 50 years we have been tackling some of the biggest problems that face our nation and our world. OUR MISSION Through our culture of innovation and history of performance, we develop deep customer trust built on integrity and create enduring solutions that improve our world. Leidos is a science and technology solutions leader working to address some of the world’s toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, homeland security, civil, and healthcare markets. The company’s 43,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Va., Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $11.09 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2020. Leidos was cited for the meaningful work employees perform that is challenging, impactful, and aligned with our customers’ missions as reasons professionals want to work and stay at our company. Leidos has also been named to lists including Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity, Forbes’ America’s Best Employers for Women, Military Times Best for Vets Employers, and Ethisphere Institute’s World's Most Ethical Companies®. Employees enjoy career enrichment opportunities available through mobility and development and experience rewarding relationships with supportive supervisors and talented colleagues and customers. Employees appreciate our flexible work environment, allowing for and encouraging a true work-life balance. Our professionals are also excited about our Employee Resource Groups, like the newly launched Collaborative Outreach with Remote and Embedded Employees (CORE), which strives to create an environment where every employee, regardless of location, feels fully engaged as a valued employee of Leidos. Your most important work is ahead.
