DescriptionTEKsystems is seeking a Principal Network Engineer specializing in routing and switching to serve as the senior technical authority for the routed and switched enterprise. The role is responsible for advancing network innovation through the execution of strategic design and implementation efforts that improve the security, scalability, resiliency, and performance of the enterprise network. This position is responsible for overall network engineering support across a broad range of efforts, including planning, designing, and evaluating the various components of the network. Duties include providing specifications for network architecture, evaluating and recommending new technologies to enhance current capabilities, performing needs assessments, and directing the installation, modification, testing, and servicing of network infrastructure. The successful candidate sets technical direction for routing and switching across the enterprise defining standards, resolving the architecture questions no one else can, and directing the work of other engineers against designs they own. Scope and Impact Impact: Influences development of solutions that impact strategic project and program goals and business results. Recommends and develops new technical solutions, products, and standards. Leads and manages the work of other technical staff that has significant impact on project results and outputs. Complexity: Resolves highly complex problems through significant application of technical knowledge, conceptualization, reasoning, and interpretation. Develops solutions that are highly innovative and achieved through research and integration of best practices. Communication: Communicates with executive and client leadership on matters of significant technical importance. Presents architecture recommendations, implementation plans, risks, dependencies, and status to technical leadership, stakeholders, and approval boards, and works to build consensus around new concepts, practices, and approaches. Knowledge: In-depth understanding of network engineering principles, theories, and concepts and their application across a range of programs. Serves as a subject matter expert within the routing and switching domain. Primary Responsibilities Architecture and Design Authority
- Own the enterprise routing and switching architecture, including core, distribution, access, WAN edge, and data center interconnect designs.
- Define routing architecture and policy standards across BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, and static routing, including addressing strategy, route filtering and summarization, path selection, redistribution boundaries, and convergence targets.
- Define Layer 2 and high-availability architecture, including VLAN and spanning-tree strategy, link aggregation, redundancy models, VRF and segmentation structure, multicast design, and QoS policy architecture.
- Evaluate the current network architecture, identify gaps and improvement opportunities, estimate level of effort, assess implementation risk, and develop practical engineering plans to improve enterprise capabilities.
- Provide specifications for network architecture, evaluate and recommend emerging technologies, and perform needs assessments to inform design and investment decisions.
- Establish and enforce configuration standards, design patterns, and technical baselines that other engineers build against.
Project Execution
- Drive strategic engineering projects from concept through implementation, including architecture evaluation, requirements analysis, dependency identification, design coordination, planning, execution, validation, and transition to operations.
- 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 modernization efforts such as segmentation, IPv4/IPv6 transition, network optimization, connectivity consolidation, lifecycle replacement, automation, and software-defined networking adoption.
- Coordinate change windows, maintenance activities, test validation, and rollback procedures for high-impact network activities.
- Partner with architecture, cybersecurity, operations, project management, and technical SME teams to resolve blockers, manage dependencies, and reduce delivery risk.
Technical Leadership
- Serve as the final technical escalation point for complex routing, switching, transport, and performance problems spanning multiple domains and vendors.
- Provide technical direction, mentoring, and day-to-day guidance to network engineers, administrators, and analysts; review designs and implementation work for technical quality.
- Organize technical priorities, track details across concurrent efforts, manage competing demands, and maintain accountability against aggressive schedules.
- Continuously improve engineering processes, documentation standards, implementation playbooks, migration runbooks, technical standards, and execution models to accelerate delivery, reduce rework, improve operational handoff, and lower sustainment burden.
Documentation
- Develop and maintain engineering and operational documentation, including:
- Logical and physical network designs and architecture diagrams
- Routing architecture, policy standards, and addressing plans
- Configuration standards, design patterns, and technical baselines
- Implementation and cutover plans with rollback and contingency procedures
Test and validation plans
- Risk, dependency, and decision registers
- Technical standards, playbooks, and runbooks
- As-built and operations transition documentation
Key Success Factors:This position requires more than a senior engineer executing assigned work. It requires the person who decides what the routing and switching architecture should be, defends that decision in front of leadership and approval boards, and then makes sure it gets built correctly. The successful engineer is equally credible in the deepest technical detail a BGP path-selection argument, a convergence problem nobody else has reproduced and in a room where the question is what the enterprise should do next and why.SkillsNetwork engineering, Firewall, Router, CCNA, Cisco routersTop Skills DetailsNetwork engineering, Firewall, Router, CCNA, Cisco routersAdditional Skills & 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.
Experience LevelExpert Level Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Fort Meade, MD. Pay and BenefitsThe pay range for this position is $65.00 - $85.00/hr. Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits
available for this temporary role may include the following:
Medical, dental & vision Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) Short and long-term disability Health Spending Account (HSA) Transportation benefits Employee Assistance Program Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Job Type & LocationThis is a Contract position based out of Fort Meade, MD. Application DeadlineThis position is anticipated to close on Nov 17, 2026. Workplace TypeThis is a hybrid position in Fort Meade,MD.
About TEKsystems
We're partners in transformation. We help clients activate ideas and solutions to take advantage of a new world of opportunity. We are a team of 80,000 strong, working with over 6,000 clients, including 80% of the Fortune 500, across North America, Europe and Asia. As an industry leader in Full-Stack Technology Services, Talent Services, and real-world application, we work with progressive leaders to drive change. That's the power of true partnership. TEKsystems is an Allegis Group company.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
About TEKsystems and TEKsystems Global Services
Were a leading provider of business and technology services. We accelerate business transformation for our customers. Our expertise in strategy, design, execution and operations unlocks business value through a range of solutions. Were a team of 80,000 strong, working with over 6,000 customers, including 80% of the Fortune 500 across North America, Europe and Asia, who partner with us for our scale, full-stack capabilities and speed. Were strategic thinkers, hands-on collaborators, helping customers capitalize on change and master the momentum of technology. Were building tomorrow by delivering business outcomes and making positive impacts in our global communities. TEKsystems and TEKsystems Global Services are Allegis Group companies. Learn more at TEKsystems.com.
The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.
San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.