Network Security Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Network Security Engineer jobs in Virginia rank among the most active markets in the country, concentrated in defense contracting, federal agency support, and commercial cloud infrastructure, with openings at every level from junior analyst-track engineers through principal architects. Northern Virginia, particularly the Tysons Corner and Reston corridor, drives the largest share of demand, followed by Richmond and Hampton Roads, where Leidos, Booz Allen Hamilton, and General Dynamics Information Technology maintain deep technical workforces. The most sought-after specialties are zero-trust architecture, cloud network security, and identity and access management. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Norfolk, VAWork Shift
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Overview
We are seeking an experienced Senior Cybersecurity Engineer to join our Cybersecurity Engineering team and help design, implement, optimize, and support enterprise security technologies across a large, complex environment.
This role will have an immediate focus on Secure Service Edge (SSE), Zero Trust, and Zscaler technologies, while also working across network security, cloud, identity, and endpoint security initiatives.
The ideal candidate is a highly capable hands-on engineer who combines deep technical troubleshooting skills, strong networking fundamentals, security expertise, and technical leadership. This individual should be comfortable taking ownership of complex problems, working across multiple technology domains, and driving initiatives from architecture and design through implementation, production stabilization, and operational handoff.
We are looking for someone who does more than configure technology—we want an engineer who understands how and why the technology works, can determine why it isn’t working when problems occur, and can collaborate across teams to drive issues to resolution.
Technical Leadership & Collaboration
- Takes ownership of complex technical issues, using a methodical, evidence-based approach to drive root-cause identification and resolution.
- Translates architectural direction into scalable technical solutions, identifying risks, dependencies, and operational considerations throughout implementation.
- Leads cross-functional technical discussions and troubleshooting across cybersecurity, network, cloud, identity, endpoint, and infrastructure teams.
- Communicates complex technical findings, risks, and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders, leadership, and vendors.
- Mentors engineers, promotes knowledge sharing, and identifies opportunities to improve automation, reliability, processes, and operational support.
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology, or a related field preferred.
Certification/Licensure
- Zscaler, CCNP/CCIE, PCNSE, Microsoft Security/Azure, CISSP, or Security+ certifications preferred.
Experience
- Extensive hands-on cybersecurity engineering experience supporting SSE/SASE, Zero Trust, network security, cloud security, or related enterprise security technologies.
- Strong experience with Zscaler technologies, including ZIA, ZPA, ZCC, ZDX, GRE/IPsec tunnels, SSL/TLS inspection, proxy/traffic forwarding, and policy troubleshooting.
- Strong networking and troubleshooting expertise across TCP/IP, DNS, routing, firewalls, VPN, PKI/certificates, HTTP/HTTPS, proxies, and application connectivity, including packet and log analysis.
- Experience with enterprise identity and cloud technologies, including Microsoft Entra ID/Active Directory, SAML, OAuth/OIDC, MFA, Conditional Access, and Azure or comparable cloud platforms.
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex security implementations and production troubleshooting from architecture/design through implementation, stabilization, documentation, and operational handoff.
We provide market-competitive compensation packages, inclusive of base pay, incentives, and benefits. The base pay range for full-time employment is $126,152.00 - $198,161.60 annually. Additional compensation may be available for this role, such as shift differentials, on-call pay, shift premiums, extra-shift incentives, or bonus opportunities. Compensation within the range may vary based on qualifications, experience, location, market conditions, and business needs. Note: If an annual salary is posted, it is based on a full-time colleague working 2,080 hours annually. Sentara offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance; 401(k)/403(b) with employer match; paid time off (vacation, sick time, and holidays); paid parental and military leave; educational assistance or student loan repayment; and voluntary benefits.
Benefits: Caring For Your Family and Your Career
- Medical, Dental, Vision plans
- Adoption, Fertility and Surrogacy Reimbursement up to $10,000
- Paid Time Off and Sick Leave
- Paid Parental & Family Caregiver Leave
- Emergency Backup Care
- Long-Term, Short-Term Disability, and Critical Illness plans
- Life Insurance
- 401k/403B with Employer Match
- Tuition Assistance – $5,250/year and discounted educational opportunities through Guild Education
- Student Debt Pay Down – $10,000
- Pet Insurance
- Legal Resources Plan
- Colleagues have the opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus if established system and employee eligibility criteria is met.
Sentara Health is an equal opportunity employer and prides itself on the diversity and inclusiveness of its close to an almost 30,000-member workforce. Diversity, inclusion, and belonging is a guiding principle of the organization to ensure its workforce reflects the communities it serves.
In support of our mission “to improve health every day,” this is a tobacco-free environment.
For positions that are available as remote work, Sentara Health employs associates in the following states:
Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
See All 20 Network Security Engineer Jobs in Virginia
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Find JobsNetwork Security Engineer Jobs by City in Virginia
Where Virginia roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Network Security Engineer Job Market in Virginia
A snapshot from current Virginia openings, updated as new roles post.
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Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
What Virginia Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in network security engineer jobs across Virginia.
- Active DoD Secret or Top Secret clearance or clearance eligibility required
- Bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or a closely related field
- Industry certification such as CISSP, CEH, or CompTIA Security+ required or strongly preferred
- Hands-on experience with firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and SIEM platforms
- Proficiency in network protocols, VPNs, and cloud security frameworks such as AWS or Azure
- Familiarity with NIST, RMF, or FedRAMP compliance standards relevant to Virginia federal clients
Network Security Engineer Jobs in Virginia: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a network security engineer in Virginia?
Virginia does not require a state-issued license to work as a network security engineer, so the path runs through education and industry credentials. Most roles expect a bachelor's degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or information technology, followed by certifications such as CompTIA Security+, CISSP, or Certified Ethical Hacker. Because much of Virginia's market is tied to federal contracting, obtaining a DoD security clearance early gives candidates a significant advantage over applicants who have yet to start that process.
How much do network security engineers make in Virginia?
Network security engineers in Virginia earn a median of about $134,900 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $81,410 for the lowest 10% to over $205,750 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire network security engineers in Virginia?
Employers hiring network security engineers in Virginia right now include General Dynamics Information Technology, TIAG, and Visa, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Virginia's dense federal contracting ecosystem means many of the largest and most consistent openings come from defense and intelligence-sector firms headquartered in the Northern Virginia corridor.
Which Virginia cities have the most network security engineer jobs?
Ashburn, Herndon, and Norfolk have the most network security engineer openings in Virginia. Northern Virginia dominates because it sits adjacent to the Pentagon, major intelligence agencies, and a concentration of defense contractors, while Richmond and Hampton Roads pull demand from state government IT infrastructure, financial services firms, and military installation support contracts based in those regions.
Are there remote network security engineer jobs in Virginia?
Yes, and more than many technical fields, since a significant portion of network security work involves monitoring, analysis, and policy rather than physical hardware access. About 20% of network security engineer openings tied to Virginia are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, though roles involving classified networks or government facility access typically require on-site work. Governance, cloud security review, and threat intelligence positions are the sub-areas most likely to offer fully remote arrangements.
How can I get hired as a network security engineer in Virginia with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is a junior security analyst or IT support role at a Virginia-based federal contractor, where clearance sponsorship and internal certification programs create a structured path toward network security engineering. Large contractors such as Leidos and Booz Allen Hamilton run new-graduate hiring programs and internship pipelines specifically targeting cleared or clearance-eligible candidates. Earning CompTIA Security+ before applying removes a common screening barrier, and candidates transitioning from network administration or systems administration roles are frequently competitive for junior engineer openings.
Where can I find and apply to network security engineer jobs in Virginia?
You can find and apply to network security engineer jobs in Virginia on Migrate Mate, which lists current Virginia openings updated regularly. Search the listings for roles that match your experience level and specialization, then apply directly to the positions that fit.
See All 20 Network Security Engineer Jobs in Virginia
Find roles in Virginia that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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