Network Architect Jobs in Virginia
Network Architect jobs in Virginia are among the most active in the country, concentrated in federal IT contracting, defense, cybersecurity, and cloud infrastructure, with openings from mid-level engineers stepping into architecture roles through principal and chief architects. The heaviest hiring is in Northern Virginia, Richmond, and the Hampton Roads corridor, where employers like Leidos, General Dynamics Information Technology, and Booz Allen Hamilton have deep and sustained presences. The most in-demand specialties are zero-trust network design, SD-WAN implementation, and cloud-native architecture supporting federal and commercial clients. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Position Title: NGE - Network Design Engineer Architect / Lead
Location: Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, CO, Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville, AL, or Fort Belvoir, VA
Relocation Assistance: None available at this time
Remote/Telework: NO - Not available for this position
Clearance Type: DoW Secret
Shift: Day shift
Travel Required: Up to 10% of the time
Description of Duties:
As the Network Design Engineering Architect / Lead for the Next Generation Environment (NGE) on the Integrated Research and Development for Enterprise Solutions (IRES) contract, you will serve as the principal network authority and Lead Network Integrator driving the architecture, modernization, and cross-performer technical governance of the Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) unified digital ecosystem.
In this high-visibility role, you will lead a dedicated team of network engineers and act as the primary interface between the Government NGE Technical Director, Government Network Design Lead, MDA leadership, and industry partners within the multi-contractor program consortium. You will establish and enforce technical baselines across Cisco Nexus Spine-Leaf EVPN-VxLAN fabrics, VMware NSX software-defined networks, Versa SD-WAN WAN/edge transport, F5 application delivery controllers, and Infoblox enterprise DDI bridging on-premises and hybrid multi-cloud (AWS/Azure GovCloud/IL5/IL6/IL7) environments.
Consortium & Stakeholder Integration:
- Serve as the Lead Network Integrator across the program enterprise; align network technical roadmaps and Interface Control Documents (ICDs) among government stakeholders, military leadership, and multiple industry performers/teammate companies.
Government & Technical Advisory:
- Serve as direct technical advisor to the Government NGE Technical Director and Government Network Design Lead; translate mission capability needs into actionable network architecture roadmaps, technical baseline decisions, and engineering trade studies.
Team Leadership & Engineering Oversight:
- Oversee, guide, and mentor a multidisciplinary team of network design and implementation engineers; manage technical task assignments, design reviews, peer code/config audits, and engineering deliverables.
Data Center & Fabric Architecture:
- Architect scalable multi-site Data Center fabrics utilizing Spine-Leaf topologies, Cisco Nexus (NX-OS) platforms, and EVPN-VxLAN overlay technologies; integrate with VMware NSX / VMware Cloud Foundation (VCF) to establish software-defined networking and distributed micro-segmentation.
Application Delivery & Traffic Management:
- Design enterprise load balancing, traffic distribution, and SSL offloading/decryption architectures using F5 BIG-IP (LTM/GTM/APM); establish high-availability application routing across hybrid cloud boundaries.
Edge, WAN & SD-WAN Architecture:
- Architect resilient WAN transport and secure branch interconnects leveraging Versa Networks SD-WAN/SASE solutions, MPLS, and zero-trust edge boundary controls.
DDI & IPAM Strategy:
- Govern enterprise IP address management, automated DNS resolution, and DHCP provisioning frameworks utilizing Infoblox DDI integrated with hybrid cloud orchestration pipelines.
Zero Trust & Security Architecture:
- Define network segmentation, micro-segmentation, ICAM integration, dynamic policy enforcement (802.1X/NAC), and FIPS-validated cryptography (IPsec/MACsec); align designs with DoW Zero Trust Strategy, NIST SP 800-53, and DISA STIGs to support continuous ATO (cATO).
Governance, MBSE & ARB Leadership:
- Lead Network Architecture Review Boards (ARB) and Engineering Change Boards; establish authoritative High-Level Designs (HLD), Low-Level Designs (LLD), Architecture Decision Records (ADRs), and Interface Control Documents (ICDs) leveraging Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) concepts.
The successful candidate will:
- Have excellent communication skills with the ability to brief senior leaders and translate technical concepts into mission impact.
Resumes, in month and year format, must be submitted with application in order to be considered for the position. The selected candidate may be assigned as an employee for one of our teammate companies.
Basic Requirements:
-
Must have 12, or more, years of general (full-time) work experience
- May be reduced with completion of advanced education
- Must have 6, or more, years of directly related experience designing and leading large-scale enterprise or DoW networks across data center, WAN/backbone, campus/branch domains.
- Must have 1, or more, years of experience working in a management or leadership role
- Must have expert level knowledge of routing and switching (BGP, OSPF, IS IS), EVPN VXLAN and/or MPLS, QoS, IPv6, multicast, and network resiliency patterns.
- Must have demonstrated success implementing Zero Trust segmentation, 802.1X/NAC, identity aware firewall policy, and FIPS validated cryptography.
- Must be familiary with hybrid/multi cloud networking patterns and IL4/5/6 operational constraints; strong grasp of RMF/STIG compliance.
- Must have a current IAT III or IAM II baseline certification (examples: CISSP, CASP+ CE, CISM).
- Must have an active DoW Secret Security Clearance
Desired Requirements:
- Have, or obtain, an active DoW Top Secret Security Clearance with SCI eligibility
- Have a Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in computer science, Information Technology
- Have experience performing within ITIL, TOGAF, or other architecture frameworks.
- Have experience supporting the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) or other DoW organizations.
- Have experience with software-defined networking (SDN), automation, and cross-domain solutions.
Desired Certifications:
- CCIE (Enterprise Infrastructure, Security, or Data Center)
- CCNP (Enterprise, Service Provider, or Security) or equivalent expert credentials (JNCIE, NSE 7/8, PCNSE).
- ITIL® 4 Foundation (service alignment) and an architecture framework credential (TOGAF/DoDAF familiarity).
- Cloud networking foundations (e.g., AWS/Azure associate level) helpful for hybrid designs.
This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days. If a candidate has not been selected at that time, it will continue to be posted until a suitable candidate is selected or the position is closed.
Compensation Details:
$175,000 – $225,000
The compensation range or hourly rate listed for this position is provided as a good-faith estimate of what the company intends to offer for this role at the time this posting was issued. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as job responsibilities, education, experience, skills, internal equity, market data, applicable collective bargaining agreements, and relevant laws.
Benefits Overview:
Our health and welfare benefits are designed to support you and your priorities. Offerings include:
Health, dental, and vision insurance
Paid time off and holidays
Retirement benefits (including 401(k) matching)
Educational reimbursement
Parental leave
Employee stock purchase plan
Tax-saving options
Disability and life insurance
Pet insurance
Note: Benefits may vary based on employment type, location, and applicable agreements. Positions governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), the McNamara-O'Hara Service Contract Act (SCA), or other employment contracts may include different provisions/benefits.
Original Posting:
09/16/2026 - 09/24/2026Amentum anticipates this job requisition will remain open for at least three days, with a closing date no earlier than three days after the original posting. This timeline may change based on business needs.
Amentum is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our hiring practices provide equal opportunity for employment without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or medical conditions related to pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding), age, ancestry, United States military or veteran status, color, religion, creed, marital or domestic partner status, medical condition, genetic information, national origin, citizenship status, low-income status, or mental or physical disability so long as the essential functions of the job can be performed with or without reasonable accommodation, or any other protected category under federal, state, or local law. Learn more about your rights under Federal laws and supplemental language at Labor Laws Posters.
See All 20 Network Architect Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Network Architect JobsNetwork Architect Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Network Architect Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring



What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in network architect jobs across Virginia.
- Active security clearance or clearance eligibility required by most federal contracting employers in Virginia
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a related engineering field
- Cisco CCIE, CCNP, or equivalent vendor certification demonstrating advanced network design expertise
- Seven or more years of hands-on network engineering experience progressing toward architecture responsibilities
- Demonstrated experience designing enterprise or hybrid cloud networks using AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud
- Proficiency with zero-trust frameworks, SD-WAN platforms, and network automation tools such as Ansible or Terraform
Network Architect Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a network architect in Virginia?
Network architecture in Virginia does not require a state-issued license, so the path runs through education, certifications, and clearance eligibility. Most Virginia employers expect a bachelor's degree in computer science or information technology, followed by progressive network engineering experience. Earning a Cisco CCIE or CCNP certification is widely treated as the professional benchmark. Given how much of Virginia's market is federal contracting, pursuing a security clearance early gives candidates a significant hiring advantage.
How much do network architects make in Virginia?
Network architects in Virginia earn a median of about $141,340 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $85,050 for the lowest 10% to over $210,180 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire network architects in Virginia?
Employers hiring network architects in Virginia right now include SES, SAIC, and Leidos, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Virginia's deep concentration of federal agencies and defense contractors means many of these employers require or strongly prefer candidates with existing security clearances.
Which Virginia cities have the most network architect jobs?
McLean, Fort Belvoir, and Chantilly have the most network architect openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia dominates because it hosts the highest concentration of federal agencies, intelligence community contractors, and major data center campuses in the country, while Richmond and Hampton Roads draw steady demand from state government, military installations, and regional enterprise employers.
Are there remote network architect jobs in Virginia?
Yes, and more than many technical roles, because network architects spend much of their time on design, documentation, and stakeholder planning rather than physical installation. About 14% of network architect openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of September 2026. The tasks most commonly done remotely are network design reviews, architecture documentation, and cloud configuration work, while on-site presence is typically required during initial deployment or for classified federal engagements.
How can I get hired as a network architect in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving up from a network engineer or systems administrator role, which is how most Virginia architects start. Large federal contractors like Leidos and Booz Allen Hamilton regularly hire associate or junior network engineers and develop them internally toward architecture responsibilities. Earning a CCNP certification and gaining hands-on experience with cloud platforms like AWS or Azure signals readiness for that transition. Building a clearance-eligible background early makes a candidate substantially more competitive in Virginia's market.
Where can I find and apply to network architect jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to network architect jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings across federal contracting, defense, and enterprise sectors. Find the roles that fit your experience and clearance status, and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 20 Network Architect Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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