Principal Network Solutions Architect

Quantum Sky is searching for an experienced technical professional to serve as a Principal Network Solution Architect. This role combines deep networking and infrastructure expertise with technical leadership, customer engagement, service management, solution development, proposal support, and team direction across government, private-sector, commercial, tactical, and large-enterprise environments.

The successful candidate will act as a trusted technical advisor and lead complex efforts from customer need and initial concept through architecture, implementation, deployment, operational performance, sustainment, and continuous improvement. The position requires someone who can remain technically engaged while coordinating engineers, operators, program leadership, business development, executives, and customers.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the technical subject matter expert, technical, and team lead for complex networking, telecommunications, software, automation, infrastructure, and service-management initiatives.
• Provide technical direction, establish priorities, coordinate resources, mentor team members, manage risk, and ensure successful delivery of customer requirements.
• Work directly with customers to understand business, operational, technical, contractual, and mission needs and translate them into executable solutions and engineering requirements.
• Lead solution activities across concept development, value proposition, feasibility, analysis of alternatives, requirements, architecture, design, implementation, qualification, security accreditation, deployment, operations, and sustainment.
• Lead technical discussions, design reviews, architecture reviews, demonstrations, and presentations for engineers, program leaders, senior government customers, commercial stakeholders, and executives.
• Support proposals and business development through technical writing, solution architecture, RFP and RFI responses, requirements analysis, demonstrations, and coordination of technical inputs.
• Coordinate across engineering, program management, service delivery, cybersecurity, business development, sales, executive leadership, and customer organizations.
• Maintain accountability for outcomes, take ownership of complex problems, and drive efforts through resolution while keeping stakeholders informed.

Required:

• Demonstrated experience as a Technical Lead, Solution Architect, Principal Engineer, or Subject Matter Expert for large-scale enterprise or mission-critical environments.
• Strong networking fundamentals and hands-on experience designing, implementing, troubleshooting, automating, and supporting enterprise, commercial, service-provider, and/or tactical networks.
• Proven leadership experience establishing priorities, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, mentoring technical staff, and delivering complex customer requirements.
• Strong customer-facing experience supporting government, private-sector, commercial, and large-enterprise organizations.
• Experience in business analysis, service management, networking, software solutions, and systems integration for large enterprise environments.
• Innovative thinking and a systematic approach to complex business, operational, and engineering challenges, including unique or constrained environments.
• Detailed understanding of Network Operations Center environments, workflows, pain points, escalation paths, processes, and service-assurance needs.
• End-to-end knowledge of product and solution realization and the software development lifecycle, from requirements and architecture through implementation, release, operations, and sustainment.
• Outstanding written, verbal, coordination, presentation, facilitation, and interpersonal skills for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Highly accountable, results-oriented, self-motivated working style, with the judgment and independence needed to drive technical efforts.
• Active security clearance at the level required by the program and the ability to support classified or sensitive environments.

Desired:

• Experience modernizing established enterprise or mission systems without unnecessarily disrupting operational capability.
• Experience combining network engineering, software development, automation, cloud, containers, cybersecurity, service management, and observability into integrated solutions.
• Experience with predictive network analytics, anomaly detection, automated root-cause analysis, telemetry analytics, AIOps, or AI-assisted NOC operations.
• Experience supporting both classified government programs and private-sector or commercial customer environments.
• Experience with proposals, technical solution development, capture support, and presentations to senior customers or executives.

Experience in the following technical spaces:

• Software Defined Networking and Network Functions Virtualization

YANG, NETCONF, OpenFlow, Cisco NSO, Ciena Blue Planet, ONAP, OpenStack, TOSCA, HEAT, Model-Based Engineering, Open Daylight, SDN, NFV, network automation, orchestration, and model-driven networking.

• Network Administration and Architecture

Cisco, Juniper, and A10 Networks; routing, switching, network architecture and design, network management, automation, orchestration, monitoring, troubleshooting, service assurance, and operational support.

• Software Development and Automation

Python, PowerShell, Java, JavaScript, Node.js, UNIX and Linux shell scripting, SQL, HTML and CSS, PHP, ASP.NET, VB and VBA, jQuery, and SharePoint. Experience with APIs, systems integration, secure coding, test automation, and source control is highly desirable.

• Databases

MySQL, Oracle, MongoDB, and PostgreSQL, including integration with operational reporting, automation, analytics, and service-management solutions.

• Network Security and Operations Tools

Cisco Prime Optical, Route Explorer, Riverbed Analytics, Ribbon Analytics, NetScout, Splunk, Elastic Stack, SolarWinds, Tenable and Nessus, General Dynamics GEM One, and RSA SecurID, as well as equivalent modern enterprise platforms.

Clearance: 

• US Citizenship with the ability to obtain a security clearance. DOD/DoW Secret or Top Secret clearance preferred.

Location:

• Remote, US, Hybrid-remote in Reston, VA (preferred)
• Remote, US with 20% travel as needed

Compensation:

• Compensation is unique to each candidate and relative to the skills and experience they bring to the position. The salary range for this position is typically between $180,000-$225,000. This does not guarantee a specific salary as compensation is based upon multiple factors such as education, experience, certifications, and other requirements, and may fall outside of the above-stated range.

Benefits:

• Highlights of our benefits include Health/Dental/Vision, 401(k) match, Paid Time Off, STD/LTD/Life Insurance, Referral Bonuses, professional development reimbursement, and parental leave.

The world the mission operates in is going post-quantum, contested, and machine-speed. Quantum Sky engineers the advantage across cyber, networks, software, and quantum because the mission demands dominance, not parity. We don't follow the map. We draw it. 

At Quantum Sky, we believe that success starts with our people. We foster a collaborative, innovative, and mission-driven environment where every team member plays a critical role in shaping the future of technology. Are you ready to join #TeamQuantumSky? 

Quantum Sky Engineering LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, [sexual orientation, gender identity,] national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any characteristic protected by applicable law.