Senior Network Engineer - Team Lead

Company Overview

At ValidaTek, we modernize and optimize IT services to solve some of the most critical challenges facing federal civilian and defense agencies. From customers to partners to top-talent employees, ValidaTek puts people first, empowering them to exceed expectations and transform government organizations. Our success starts and ends with our people, so we built a company where great people can do great things, with the resources and autonomy to make decisions that transform organizations. We operate as one team of diverse people, united by a passion for continuous growth and optimization. Our commitment to quality and performance optimization is the reason why our IT Service Projects and New Development Projects have been appraised at CMMI Maturity Level 5, positioning us as one of a handful of elite companies to receive the highest form of third-party validation. www.validatek.com

Summary

The Senior Network Engineer - Team Lead serves as the primary technical leader responsible for the design, implementation, and operational maintenance of enterprise network infrastructure supporting mission-critical systems. The role oversees daily network operations, leads technical teams in troubleshooting and optimization, and ensures the delivery of secure, high-performance network services that meet evolving Government requirements.

This position combines advanced engineering expertise with leadership responsibilities, requiring the ability to guide and mentor engineers, prioritize tasks, coordinate with DHS and OneNet stakeholders, and make critical technical recommendations to maintain operational excellence across the enterprise environment.

Responsibilities

Network Engineering & Operations

• Design, implement, and optimize operational network systems and prototypes to meet current and future engineering and Government requirements.
• Prioritize and manage multiple concurrent network outages, projects, and maintenance tasks to ensure minimal service disruption.
• Oversee the troubleshooting, diagnosis, and repair of complex network infrastructure issues across LAN/WAN, cloud, and data center environments.
• Ensure the operational readiness, scalability, and reliability of all network components, including routers, switches, firewalls, load balancers, and monitoring systems.
• Maintain compliance with Government policies, standards, and security directives.

Technical Leadership & Team Oversight

• Lead a team of network engineers and technicians, providing mentorship, technical guidance, and workload prioritization.
• Facilitate collaboration across technical teams-including Network and System Engineers, equipment vendors, and other mission stakeholders-to identify, define, and resolve trending or developmental problems.
• Coordinate technical reviews and ensure all deliverables meet DHS and OneNet engineering standards.

Change Control & Governance

• Review, evaluate, and provide technical recommendations for all Infrastructure Change Control Board (ICCB) packets prior to submission.
• Ensure change requests are fully coordinated, documented, and communicated with OneNet and DHS Data Center (DC) personnel.
• Validate the proper implementation of approved changes during network rollouts to minimize service impact and maintain configuration integrity.

Cloud & Emerging Technologies

• Support cloud engineering and migration strategies to transition enterprise systems from on-premises to hybrid or cloud-based environments.
• Integrate cloud networking solutions (e.g., AWS, Azure, or GovCloud) with existing infrastructure.
• Evaluate and recommend emerging technologies to enhance network performance, security, and automation.

Collaboration & Communication

• Communicate and coordinate network engineering activities across the OneNet enterprise topology, including DHS Data Centers and regional sites.
• Serve as the technical escalation point for critical incidents and complex engineering challenges.
• Provide regular status reports, risk assessments, and performance updates to program management and Government stakeholders.
• Document network configurations, procedures, and operational changes to ensure continuity and compliance.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of detailed technical experience in network engineering or related field within the last 7 years.
• Proven experience in:
• Prioritizing network outages, projects, and maintenance tasks.
• Providing technical assistance and resolution to cross-functional teams.
• Designing and implementing operational network systems and prototypes.
• Collaborating with Network and System Engineers, vendors, and Government personnel to resolve technical issues.
• Supporting cloud engineering and migration initiatives.
• Reviewing and providing technical recommendations for ICCB change packets.
• In-depth understanding of network principles, protocols, and design methodologies to evaluate and deliver optimal network performance.
• Ability to lead technical teams, delegate work, and ensure mission alignment.

• Must be able to pass the DHS law enforcement background check.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or related discipline.
• Professional certifications such as CCNP, CCIE, JNCIP, AWS Certified Advanced Networking, or CompTIA Network+.
• Experience working within DHS or similar federal network environments.
• Familiarity with ITIL processes, enterprise architecture, and network automation tools.
• Excellent communication and coordination skills, with demonstrated experience in cross-organizational collaboration.

EEO Statement

ValidaTek is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, protected veteran status, or disability status.

Applicants who are selected for employment will be required to verify authorization to work in the United States.

Offers of employment will be contingent upon passing a post-offer background check.