Senior Principal Network Engineer - 175370

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking aSenior Principal Network Engineerto support a federal defense program focused on national security, mission-critical communications, and critical infrastructure protection. This position ison-siteinNewington, VA. TheSenior Principal Network Engineerwill lead the design, implementation, and optimization of complex network environments supporting high-priority government operations. Responsibilities for the Senior Principal Network Engineer include: Design and architect scalable, secure voice, video, wireless, and data communication networks in collaboration with engineering, security, cloud, and operations teams. Develop high-level and low-level network designs (HLDs/LLDs) and support the deployment and integration of enterprise and data center networking solutions. Troubleshoot complex network issues, conduct root cause analysis, and implement performance, reliability, and security improvements. Act as a trusted technical advisor by translating mission requirements into scalable network architectures and strategic solutions. Utilize advanced routing, switching, security, and automation technologies to optimize and modernize network infrastructure. Required Qualifications for the Senior Principal Network Engineer include:8+ years of experience in network engineering, network architecture, or complex enterprise networking environments. Strong expertise with routing and switching technologies including BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, MPLS, VXLAN, and EVPN. Hands-on experience with Cisco technologies including Catalyst, Nexus, ACI, Next-Generation Firewalls, and enterprise LAN/WAN environments. Experience with network monitoring and troubleshooting tools such as SolarWinds, Wireshark, and NetFlow. Strong communication, presentation, troubleshooting, and analytical skills. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field; equivalent experience may be considered. Active TS/SCI clearance required with eligibility for Special Access Program (SAP) approval. Compensation for the Senior Principal Network Engineer include: