Lead Network Engineer

At MITRE, your passion fuels work that impacts our nation and improves lives. This is where your skills strengthen national security, cybersecurity, health, transportation, and citizen services. We're a nonprofit engineering, applied research, and advanced technology organization working in the public interest. With objectivity and integrity at our core, we lead federally funded research and development centers for U.S. government agencies – collaborating with industry and academia to deliver integrated, high-impact solutions that advance our nation's health, security, and prosperity. Our people tackle the toughest technical challenges, supported by competitive benefits, meaningful career development, and a culture of innovation, collaboration, and technical excellence. Choose MITRE for a career with purpose — and help shape the future.Department Summary: As an operator of Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), MITRE staff are tasked with applying their skills to impact programmatic and technical decisions of highest importance to the nation. The Advanced Wireless & SATCOM Department which is part of the MITRE Technology and Engineering Infrastructure, Networking, and Communications Division, has as its mission to provide premier communications network engineering services for our customers at all classification levels.Our engineers have expertise in research, design, analysis, modeling and simulation, lab experimentation, field testing, and implementation of networks across a diverse set of networked communication environments including virtual, wired, and wireless. We are adept at combining networking research and innovation with practical hands-on experience to provide risk reduction and deployable solutions for our customers.We seek to expand our department with staff capable of leading and performing communications network engineering research and analysis tasks. They should have a solid understanding of and interest in networking protocols and principles, as well as the desire to learn more and focus in this area.Roles & Responsibilities: Specific duties will vary by project but will generally include a combination of research, design, analysis, testing, experimentation, and modeling & simulation of communications networks to solve our nation's most complex problems. Those activities will include one or more of following: Build lab-based testbeds and conduct proof-of-concept experimentsModel the performance and behavior of networks in tactical environmentsWork with cyber and infrastructure automation technologiesResearch emerging technologies and assess applicability to sponsor missionsAssist sponsors in analyzing, modernizing, and advancing their programsIf a specific project requires skills or knowledge of technologies with which you are unfamiliar, your responsibilities will also include reaching back to fellow network research engineers across the MITRE corporation to bring their expertise to bear.To be clear, these openings are for research, design, and analysis positions that are focused in the area of networking. They do not involve administering, operating, troubleshooting, or otherwise maintaining a production communications network.Basic Qualifications:Bachelor's degree with 8 years of related experience; or Master's degree with 6 related years; or a PhD with 3 years' experience; or equivalent combination of related education and work experience.Demonstrated expertise and leadership in one or more of the department's focus areas: Wireless and tactical networks, including 5GNetwork security and managementEmerging network technologies including cloud networking, SDN, and NFVNetwork modeling, simulation, emulation, and analysisProficiency in one or more scripting or programming languages such as C, C++, Java, and PythonKnowledge of modern networking technologies such as software-defined networking (SDN), network function virtualization (NFV), cloud networkingStrong foundational knowledge of TCP/IP networking fundamentals and OSI stack, including wireless networking and modern network securityPossess excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skillsWork well in a collaborative team environment with inter-disciplinary and geographically dispersed teamsWillingness to expand into and master network protocol, technology and skill areas listed above with which the candidate may not yet have experienceMust have an active Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.Must be eligible to obtain and maintain a Top Secret U.S Government issued Security Clearance. Per the U.S. Government's eligibility requirements, you must be a U.S Citizen to be considered for a security clearance.This position requires a minimum of 3 days a week on-site.Preferred Qualifications:MS or PhD in engineering discipline with 7+ years relevant experienceStrong interpersonal and leadership skills to effectively lead collaboration efforts across multiple organizations and engineering disciplinesProficiency in one or more network configuration and orchestrations frameworks such as Ansible, NETCONF, and YANGExperience with modeling and simulation of communications and networking, utilizing tools such as: EMANE, OPNET/Riverbed, and ExataExpertise in tactical network architectures, designs, and challenges; including familiarity with Naval or other DoD tactical networksKnowledge of DoD smart routing technologies such as DyNAMO, CaaS, etc. Foundational knowledge of network and cyber security, including recent concepts such as Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)Experience with systems engineering processes for networking systems, e.g., requirements development & review, V&V, etc. Active DoD Top Secret ClearanceThis requisition requires the candidate to have a minimum of the following clearance(s):SecretThis requisition requires the hired candidate to have or obtain, within one year from the date of hire, the following clearance(s):Top SecretSalary compensation range and midpoint:$147,200 - $184,000 - $220,800 AnnualWork Location Type: OnsiteIt 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.Commitment to Non-DiscriminationAll qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to disability, status as a protected veteran or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, local or international law. MITRE intends to maintain a website that is fully accessible to all individuals. If you are unable to search or apply for jobs and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of MITRE's employment process, please email recruitinghelp@mitre.org for general support and collegerecruiting@mitre.org for intern positions. This service is for individuals requiring reasonable accommodation requests. Please note that vendor solicitations will not receive a reply.Benefits information may be found here.Copyright 1997-2026, The MITRE Corporation. All rights reserved. MITRE is a registered trademark of The MITRE Corporation. Material on this site may be copied and distributed with permission only.Job SummaryJob number: R116631Profession: Engineering