Lead Network Systems Engineer
Peraton
Annapolis Junction, MD · Posted October 21, 2026
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Where Annapolis Junction, MD ranks
Where Annapolis Junction, MD placed in our monthly rankings, month by month. Each month stays online at its own address.
November 2026
- #15Best cities for software and engineering jobs in the Mid-Atlantic147 openings · of 68
- #17Best cities for mid-career professionals in the Mid-Atlantic60% · of 85
- #20Best cities for mid-career professionals60% · of 100
- #24Best cities for junior jobs in the Mid-Atlantic33% · of 85
- #25Best cities for AI-skill jobs in the Mid-Atlantic9% · of 85
Rankings about engineering jobs
- Best cities for software and engineering jobs #1 San Francisco (3,412 openings)
- Best cities for engineering pay after cost of living #1 San Mateo ($216k)
- Most requested AI skills in engineering jobs #1 AI tools in daily work (6.1%)
- AI tools named most often in engineering jobs #1 Claude (1.7%)
- Employers with the most engineering jobs #1 Amazon (2,992 roles)
How AI is used in this kind of work
Among computer network architects, AI is already used for some of the tasks. Measured exposure for computer network architects: 20% (some).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
Peraton has filed 3 layoff notices in the last twelve months, covering 133 workers, most recently October 2026. These are public filings with state labor departments, and an open role can sit alongside them. See the filings
About the job
Peraton Overview
Peraton is a next-generation national security company that drives missions of consequence spanning the globe and extending to the farthest reaches of the galaxy. As the world’s leading mission capability integrator and transformative enterprise IT provider, we deliver trusted, highly differentiated solutions and technologies to protect our nation and allies. Peraton operates at the critical nexus between traditional and nontraditional threats across all domains: land, sea, space, air, and cyberspace. The company serves as a valued partner to essential government agencies and supports every branch of the U.S. armed forces. Each day, our employees do the can’t be done by solving the most daunting challenges facing our customers. Visit peraton.com to learn how we’re keeping people around the world safe and secure.
Responsibilities
Job Description:
Collaborate with engineering and network teams to analyze and understand customer requirements, translating them into effective technical solutions.
Job Duties:
Design, configure, monitor, maintain, and optimize networks to meet mission requirements.
Develop network architecture specifications, detailed schematics, and technical designs.
Recommend network hardware, implementation techniques, and tools to deliver efficient solutions that address current and future capacity requirements.
Design and implement network failover, redundancy, and resiliency solutions for major customers.
Develop and implement network solutions to support server requirements, including traffic management, load balancing, VPNs, firewall contexts, NAT, GRE tunnels, and MPLS.
Configure network equipment and conduct redundancy and failover testing to validate network reliability and performance.
Analyze user requirements, CONOPS documents, and high-level system architectures to develop system requirements specifications.
Lead system requirements analysis, design, and development activities.
Guide users in defining and developing requirements, recommend alternative approaches, and conduct feasibility studies to determine effective technical solutions.
Provide technical leadership in integrating system requirements, design, and technology.
Incorporate new plans, designs, and systems into ongoing operations.
Develop comprehensive technical documentation, including system architecture and system design documentation, for customers and stakeholders.
Lead system development and implementation planning by assessing, developing, and executing SEMPs and SITPs.
Engage with government stakeholders regarding systems engineering technical considerations, issues, and conflicts.
Ensure the technical integrity and quality of systems engineering deliverables within the assigned area of responsibility.
Coordinate with program personnel, government representatives, and senior executives to communicate technical information and resolve issues.
Required Skills
Demonstrated experience in network engineering, including network design, configuration, monitoring, maintenance, and troubleshooting.
Expertise in network hardware, interconnections, and interfaces, including routers, multiplexers, firewalls, hubs, bridges, and gateways.
Experience designing and implementing network failover and redundancy solutions using Cisco and related network appliances.
Experience with Cisco ASA appliances, Cisco Nexus 9000 series, Cisco 9348GC Layer 2 switches, Cisco Catalyst 6500 series, Cisco 9336 and 9508 switches, and ASR 1000 series routers.
Knowledge of F5 traffic management and load balancing, VPNs, firewall contexts, network address translation (NAT), GRE tunnels, and MPLS.
Experience conducting redundancy and failover testing across multiple Cisco network devices.
Experience analyzing user requirements, concept of operations (CONOPS) documents, and high-level system architectures to develop system requirements specifications.
Experience with systems engineering, system architecture, and system design documentation.
Knowledge of system development, integration, implementation planning, and testing processes, including System Engineering Management Plans (SEMPs) and System Integration and Test Plans (SITPs).
Ability to assess technical feasibility, evaluate alternative solutions, and recommend approaches that meet mission requirements.
Strong technical leadership, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to develop technical documentation and communicate effectively with customers, government stakeholders, program personnel, and senior leadership.
Qualifications
Basic Qualifications:
Active TS/SCI security clearance with current polygraph required
Twenty (20) years of experience in planning and leading Systems Engineering efforts.
Bachelor’s degree in technical discipline from an accredited college or university is required
Five (5) years of additional systems engineering experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree
Benefits: Peraton offers enhanced benefits to employees supporting this critical National Security program, which include heavily subsidized employee benefits coverage for you and your dependents, 25 days of PTO accrued annually up to a generous PTO cap, and eligibility to participate in an attractive bonus plan.
Target Salary Range $176,000 - $282,000. This represents the typical salary range for this position. Salary is determined by various factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the individual’s experience, education, knowledge, skills, and competencies, as well as geographic location and business and contract considerations. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay.
Benefits Statement
Peraton offers eligible employees a variety of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, health savings account, short/long term disability, EAP, parental leave, 401(k), paid time off (PTO) for vacation, and company paid holidays. A full listing of available benefits can be viewed at https://www.careers.peraton.com/benefits.
Application Statements The application period for the job is estimated to be 30 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in the role and the Company. During the review of your application, you may be required to participate in an on-camera interview, as well as participate in a process to verify your identity. Use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools of any kind during Peraton interviews is strictly prohibited unless the candidate has obtained prior written authorization. All interview responses must be the candidate’s own.
EEO EEO: Equal opportunity employer, including disability and protected veterans, or other characteristics protected by law.