Lead Network Automation Engineer

We are seeking an experienced Lead Network Automation Engineer to lead the development, implementation, and sustainment of network automation solutions supporting a complex, multivendor enterprise network environment.

The ideal candidate combines strong network engineering fundamentals with advanced hands-on expertise in Python and Ansible. This individual will collaborate closely with network administrators, engineers, architects, and customer stakeholders to translate technical requirements into scalable, reliable, and maintainable automation solutions.

This is a hands-on technical leadership position responsible for developing production-ready automation, mentoring a small team of automation engineers, and helping establish repeatable engineering practices.

The successful candidate will play a critical role in improving network operational efficiency, accelerating configuration deployments, reducing manual effort, and increasing the consistency and reliability of network infrastructure operations.

THIS POSITION IS A HYBRID ROLE REQUIRING 3 DAYS A WEEK ON-SITE AT THE PENTAGON AND 2 DAYS REMOTE.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, develop, test, deploy, and maintain network automation solutions using Python and Ansible.
• Develop Ansible playbooks, Python scripts, and reusable automation modules to support network configuration management, provisioning, patching, maintenance, and operational tasks.
• Automate network device configuration changes, software updates, configuration backups, compliance checks, and operational validation across multivendor environments.
• Develop automation capabilities supporting Cisco, Juniper, Arista, Aruba, and other enterprise networking technologies.
• Implement automated configuration validation, network state verification, and configuration drift detection to improve network reliability and compliance.
• Build automation solutions for network monitoring, reporting, inventory management, and operational data collection.
• Develop standardized, reusable automation components that reduce repetitive administrative activities and improve engineering consistency.
• Incorporate appropriate error handling, logging, validation, and rollback capabilities into automated network changes.
• Troubleshoot automation failures and resolve integration challenges between automation tools and network infrastructure.

Engineering Collaboration and Requirements Execution

• Work directly with network administrators, engineers, and architects to understand technical requirements and operational challenges.
• Translate network engineering specifications into functional automation playbooks, scripts, and workflows.
• Evaluate manual network administration processes and identify opportunities to improve execution through automation.
• Collaborate with infrastructure and cybersecurity teams to ensure automated solutions satisfy operational and security requirements.
• Validate automation solutions with network engineering stakeholders before deployment into production environments.
• Provide technical recommendations regarding implementation approaches, automation feasibility, and operational considerations.

Technical Leadership and Team Development

• Serve as the technical lead for a small team of network automation engineers.
• Provide technical direction, mentorship, and hands-on support to team members.
• Coordinate and assign automation development activities based on established engineering priorities.
• Conduct code reviews and promote consistent development, testing, documentation, and version control practices.
• Establish reusable development standards and promote knowledge sharing across the automation team.
• Support the development of junior and mid-level engineers through technical coaching and collaborative problem-solving.
• Communicate progress, technical challenges, dependencies, and delivery risks to engineering and program leadership.

Automation Capability Development and Sustainment

• Enhance existing Python scripts and Ansible playbooks while expanding the organization's automation capabilities.
• Establish consistent approaches for source code management, testing, documentation, and deployment.
• Develop maintainable automation solutions that can be supported and enhanced by other engineers.
• Assist with implementing appropriate development, testing, and production deployment controls.
• Document automation workflows, technical dependencies, operating procedures, and troubleshooting guidance.
• Measure automation effectiveness through improvements in task execution time, configuration consistency, reduction in manual activities, and operational reliability.

Required Qualifications:

• Active TS/SCI security clearance.
• Ability to work onsite in a secure customer environment.
• Advanced proficiency developing Python scripts, modules, and applications for network infrastructure automation.
• Advanced hands-on experience developing, troubleshooting, and maintaining Ansible playbooks and automation workflows.
• Demonstrated experience automating network configuration deployments, device administration, software patching, or other network operational activities.
• Working knowledge of enterprise routing and switching fundamentals, including TCP/IP, VLANs, routing protocols, and network device configuration.
• Practical experience administering, troubleshooting, or automating enterprise network infrastructure.
• Experience working with multivendor networking environments involving technologies such as Cisco, Juniper, Arista, or Aruba.
• Experience using Git or comparable version control tools to maintain automation code.
• Ability to translate technical requirements from network engineering teams into functional automation solutions.
• Understanding of automation testing, error handling, logging, change validation, and operational safeguards.
• Ability to troubleshoot complex automation workflows and resolve issues involving network devices, APIs, and automation systems.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience automating Cisco IOS XE, IOS XR, Juniper JunOS, Arista EOS, or ArubaOS environments.
• Understanding of routing technologies and protocols such as BGP, OSPF, MPLS, or EVPN.
• Experience with Python networking libraries, APIs, SSH-based automation, or structured network configuration management.
• Experience with Jinja2 templates and automated network configuration generation.
• Familiarity with tools such as Nornir, Netmiko, NAPALM, or equivalent network automation frameworks.
• Experience with Ansible Automation Platform or AWX.
• Experience with REST APIs, NETCONF, RESTCONF, or other programmatic network management interfaces.
• Familiarity with CI/CD practices and automated testing for infrastructure automation.
• Experience developing network configuration compliance, drift detection, or automated validation solutions.
• Experience supporting Department of Defense, federal government, or other highly regulated enterprise environments.
• Experience leading a small technical team or mentoring automation engineers.
• Relevant certifications such as Cisco CCNP, Cisco DevNet, Juniper certifications, Red Hat Ansible certifications, or CompTIA Security+.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, Cybersecurity, or related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.

What Success Looks Like

• Deliver reliable Python and Ansible automation that reduces manual network administration activities.
• Work effectively with network engineering teams to implement technical requirements accurately and efficiently.
• Improve the speed, consistency, and quality of network configuration changes and maintenance activities.
• Establish reusable, documented, and supportable automation solutions.
• Reduce operational risk through testing, validation, and appropriate deployment safeguards.
• Mentor automation engineers and strengthen the team's overall technical capabilities.
• Help transition existing isolated scripts and playbooks into a more consistent, maintainable network automation capability.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits and wellness packages
• 401K with company match
• Competitive pay and paid time off
• Award-winning culture of innovation and a military-friendly workplace