Automation Engineer

Zachary Piper Solutions is seeking a Network Automation Engineer to support a long-term Federal network modernization program. This is a full-time hybrid role with occasional travel and in-person meetings in the DMV area. The ideal candidate will have expertise in network automation, multi-vendor environments, and Federal compliance frameworks, with the ability to design scalable, secure automation solutions.

Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, and maintain Ansible playbooks, roles, and collections to automate configuration and compliance for routers, switches, firewalls, and other network devices.
• Create reusable automation frameworks for multi-vendor environments (Cisco, Juniper, Arista, Palo Alto, etc.).
• Build modular automation pipelines integrated with CI/CD tools (GitLab CI, Jenkins, GitHub Actions).
• Develop Python scripts and RESTful API integrations for custom automation and reporting workflows.
• Collaborate with network architects to translate manual operations into automated workflows.
• Implement Infrastructure-as-Code best practices for repeatable deployments and version-controlled configurations.
• Integrate automation into change management, configuration management, and compliance enforcement systems.
• Support large-scale configuration rollouts, template-based provisioning, and software image management.
• Incorporate DISA STIG, DoD RMF, and Comply-to-Connect (C2C) standards into automation workflows.
• Automate compliance verification and reporting against Federal cybersecurity policies.
• Provide training, documentation, and code reviews for team adoption of automation practices.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field.
• 3+ years of Cisco networking experience, with at least 3 years in a network automation role.
• Strong understanding of TCP/IP, routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP), VLANs, QoS, and ACLs.
• Proficiency with Ansible, YAML, Jinja2, and Git.
• Experience automating Cisco IOS-XE, NX-OS, ASA/FTD, and wireless controllers.
• Familiarity with Python scripting for REST API integration and data manipulation.
• Experience with CI/CD platforms (GitLab, Jenkins, GitHub Actions).
• Understanding of DoD networking standards, DISA STIGs, and RMF documentation requirements.
• Ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively.

Preferred Skills:

• Certifications: Cisco DevNet Professional, CCNP Enterprise or Security, Red Hat Ansible Automation.
• Experience with Zero Trust and C2C-aligned automation.
• Familiarity with SDN technologies (Cisco DNA Center, ACI, NSX).
• Experience with multi-domain integration: cloud networking (AWS, Azure), firewalls, NAC systems.

Additional Information:

• This position may require occasional travel.
• Flexible working hours and remote work options available.
• Compensation: Competitive salary based on experience.
• Benefits: PTO, Paid Holidays, Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), Sick Leave (as required by law).

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