About the role

Imagineeer is looking for a NOC Tier 3 Technician that will serve as the highest level of technical escalation within the Network Operations Center, handling the most complex and critical network and system incidents. This role requires advanced troubleshooting expertise, architectural knowledge, and the ability to lead incident response efforts in a 7x24x365 environment.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Serve as the final escalation point for complex Tier 1 and Tier 2 incidents requiring advanced technical expertise
• Lead troubleshooting and resolution of critical network outages, performance degradation, and complex technical issues
• Perform root cause analysis on major incidents and develop preventive measures to avoid recurrence
• Provide technical leadership and guidance to junior NOC technicians during critical incidents
• Design and implement solutions for network optimization, automation, and performance improvements
• Conduct in-depth packet analysis and protocol troubleshooting to diagnose complex connectivity issues
• Configure and troubleshoot advanced network devices including core routers, multilayer switches, firewalls, and load balancers
• Participate in and lead Major Incident Management calls with stakeholders and executive leadership
• Develop, maintain, and improve NOC procedures, runbooks, and technical documentation
• Perform advanced network and system performance analysis using multiple monitoring and diagnostic tools
• Collaborate with Network Engineering, Security, and Systems Administration teams on complex cross-functional issues
• Evaluate and recommend improvements to network architecture, monitoring capabilities, and operational processes
• Mentor and train Tier 1 and Tier 2 technicians on advanced troubleshooting techniques and best practices
• Participate in change advisory board (CAB) reviews and provide technical assessments of proposed changes
• Execute complex network changes during maintenance windows with minimal service disruption
• Monitor and optimize network capacity, bandwidth utilization, and traffic patterns
• Coordinate with vendors and external service providers to resolve carrier and equipment issues
• Develop and maintain disaster recovery procedures and participate in failover testing
• Implement network security measures and respond to security incidents in coordination with security teams
• Create and present technical reports on network performance, incidents, and trends to management
• Participate in on-call rotation as the senior technical escalation resource
• Stay current with emerging technologies and industry best practices to continuously improve operations 

Qualifications and Skills: 

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, or related field from an accredited college or university, OR equivalent combination of education and extensive experience
• 7+ years of progressive experience in network operations, network engineering, or systems administration
• 5+ years of experience working in a 7x24x365 NOC or similar mission-critical operations environment
• Demonstrated experience serving as a senior escalation point for complex technical issues
• Experience supporting large-scale enterprise networks with thousands of users
• Advanced industry certifications such as Cisco CCNP, CCNP Security, JNCIP, or equivalent
• Expert-level knowledge of network protocols, routing, and switching (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, MPLS, spanning-tree, VLAN)
• Advanced expertise in troubleshooting complex network issues using packet analysis tools (Wireshark, tcpdump)
• Deep understanding of network security technologies including firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPN, and NAT
• Extensive experience with enterprise network equipment from multiple vendors (Cisco, Juniper, Palo Alto, Arista, F5)
• Proficiency with network monitoring and management platforms (SolarWinds, Nagios, Splunk, NetFlow/sFlow analysis)
• Advanced knowledge of TCP/IP stack, network services (DNS, DHCP, NTP), and application protocols
• Expertise in load balancing, traffic engineering, and high-availability architectures
• Strong understanding of data center networking, including fabric technologies and virtualization
• Experience with routing policy implementation and traffic optimization techniques
• Advanced troubleshooting skills across multiple technology domains (network, systems, applications, security)
• Ability to read and interpret network diagrams, technical specifications, and vendor documentation
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with ability to solve complex problems under pressure
• Excellent leadership and mentoring abilities to guide junior team members
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills for interacting with all levels of stakeholders
• Proven ability to manage multiple critical incidents simultaneously with appropriate prioritization
• Experience leading bridge calls and coordinating resources during major incidents
• Proficiency with scripting and automation tools (Python, Ansible, PowerShell, Bash)
• Deep understanding of ITIL framework, particularly Incident, Problem, and Change Management
• Knowledge of cloud networking architectures and technologies (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Ability to work effectively under extreme pressure and make sound technical decisions rapidly
• Flexibility to work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, and holidays as required
• Strong documentation skills and commitment to maintaining accurate technical records

Desired Skills and Competencies: 

• 10+ years of network operations or engineering experience
• Expert-level certifications such as Cisco CCIE, Juniper JNCIE, or equivalent
• Experience in federal government IT environments
• Experience working in a federal government IT environment with security clearance
• Active security clearance or ability to obtain Public Trust or higher clearance
• Expert-level vendor certifications (CCIE, JNCIE, PCNSE, F5-CTS)
• Experience with SD-WAN technologies and implementation (Cisco Viptela, VMware VeloCloud, Silver Peak)
• Knowledge of CDN architectures and DDoS mitigation technologies
• Advanced security certifications (CISSP, GIAC certifications, CEH)
• Experience with network automation frameworks (Ansible, Terraform, NSO)
• Proficiency in multiple programming/scripting languages
• Deep knowledge of IPv6 implementation and dual-stack environments
• Experience with multicast routing and troubleshooting
• Expertise in VoIP and unified communications infrastructure (SIP, H.323, QoS)
• Knowledge of wireless technologies including 802.11 standards and enterprise wireless controllers
• Experience with application performance monitoring and optimization
• Understanding of database systems and SQL for log analysis
• Familiarity with DevOps practices and CI/CD pipelines
• Experience with container networking (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Knowledge of compliance frameworks (NIST, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, FedRAMP, FISMA)
• Experience designing and implementing network monitoring solutions
• Background in capacity planning and traffic forecasting
• Incident Commander or ITIL Expert certification
• Published technical articles, blogs, or presentations at industry conferences
• Experience with multiple ticketing and ITSM platforms (ServiceNow, Remedy, Jira)

Additional Information: 

Employment for this position is contingent upon the candidate being a United States citizen and having the ability to successfully obtain and maintain a Public Trust clearance, in accordance with applicable federal regulations. We use AI to review resumes. All hiring decisions will be made in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations 

Equal Opportunity Employer: 

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications. 

Imagineeer is a fast-growing SBA 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Business headquartered in Arlington, VA, delivering federal AI modernization across health, defense, homeland security, and transportation. We design, test, and deploy secure, AI-ready systems that move agencies from pilots to production without breaking governance, compliance, or mission continuity. Our Mission Studio model creates shared environments where policy, data, security, and operations come together. We are capability-driven and competitive by design, not program-dependent. Our leadership has operated inside the federal systems we now transform, bringing institutional knowledge that accelerates delivery and reduces risk. If real delivery motivates you more than slides, and you want your work to compound across programs and agencies, Imagineeer is growing and we are building the team to match.