Senior Network & Infrastructure Engineer

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) delivers high-impact, technical solutions to complex national security issues. With over 50 years of business expertise and consistent growth, we are known for continuous innovation for our government customers, in both the US and abroad. Our exceptionally talented team is highly collaborative in spirit and practice, producing Results that Matter. Come work with the best! We offer opportunity, unique challenges, and clear-sighted commitment to the mission. SPA: Objective. Responsive. Trusted.

The Space and Intelligence Division provides professional services to the US Space Force, Combatant Commands, Intelligence Community, and NASA. Our work includes enterprise architectural assessments, systems engineering and integration, test, planning and execution, cost estimating and analysis, acquisition support, and cybersecurity. We are trusted partners developing approaches and concepts to meet emerging high priority needs, assessing cutting-edge technologies, and supporting capabilities for our National Defense. Come join the fastest growing Division at Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.!

The Space Systems Group (SSG), part of SPA's Space and Intelligence Division, provides timely and objective assessments and recommendations integrating technical, operational, programmatic, policy and business analysis. We focus on our key clients in the Space community including the US Space Force's Space Systems Command (USSF/SSC), one of the three designated Field Commands under USSF. We work tirelessly to provide integrated solutions based on information and communications throughout the chain of command. We provide clear and consistent analysis and recommendations which are aligned to strategic and leadership goals while balancing the ability to execute on time and on budget within the technical communities. Come join an organization responsible for being a key enabler of Spacepower!

SPA has an immediate need for a Senior Network & Infrastructure Engineer.

SPA is seeking a Senior Network & Infrastructure Engineer to design, develop, operate, and improve the secure on-premises infrastructure supporting our platform as a service solution for Space Systems Command. This role serves as the team's hands-on networking specialist while contributing across servers, virtualization, storage, automation, and cloud-native infrastructure. You will configure and troubleshoot enterprise networks, maintain reliable connectivity and platform services, and resolve complex issues affecting mission-critical software delivery. As a Senior Network & Infrastructure Engineer, the successful candidate will work alongside established platform, Kubernetes, systems, and cybersecurity engineers to sustain operational performance, strengthen security, and modernize infrastructure capabilities. The ideal candidate is a versatile, hands-on engineer with deep networking expertise and practical experience across Windows and Linux systems, enterprise virtualization, and infrastructure automation. Success in this role requires sound engineering judgment, the ability to independently resolve production challenges, and effective collaboration within an established engineering team.

This is a full-time, on-site position at Vandenberg Space Force Base, CA, working a standard five-day, eight-hour schedule with participation in rotating 24/7/365 on-call incident response.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Engineer, configure, secure, and maintain enterprise networks supporting the on-premises platform, including switching, routing, VLANs, firewalls, network segmentation, and secure connectivity.
• Own network troubleshooting, performance optimization, and root-cause analysis to maintain reliable connectivity across compute, storage, and platform services.
• Install, administer, and troubleshoot Windows and Linux servers, including system configuration, patching, access controls, and operational maintenance.
• Support physical and virtualized infrastructure across compute, storage, and private cloud technologies, including VMware vSphere/vCenter, VMware Cloud Foundation, Azure-based systems, and enterprise storage.
• Work closely with Kubernetes engineers to diagnose cluster networking, ingress, DNS, load balancing, and connectivity issues affecting containerized mission workloads.
• Implement Infrastructure as Code and automation using technologies such as PowerShell, Terraform, Ansible, Bicep, and enterprise configuration management tools.
• Monitor and improve infrastructure health, availability, capacity, and observability to detect and prevent network and platform disruptions.
• Troubleshoot complex production incidents spanning networking, operating systems, virtualization, storage, Kubernetes, and application infrastructure dependencies.
• Apply secure configuration, system hardening, vulnerability remediation, and change management practices in coordination with cybersecurity and platform engineering teams.
• Execute engineering improvements that stabilize existing services, reduce operational risk, and advance infrastructure reliability and modernization.
• Develop network diagrams, configuration baselines, operating procedures, troubleshooting guides, and technical documentation.
• Collaborate with platform engineers, cybersecurity specialists, and mission stakeholders to implement integrated infrastructure solutions that support dependable software delivery.

Expected Outcomes:

• Maintain a secure, reliable, and highly available on-premises network and infrastructure foundation for mission software delivery.
• Reduce recurring infrastructure disruptions through proactive troubleshooting, monitoring, automation, and root-cause remediation.
• Improve network performance, platform resilience, and operational consistency across physical and virtualized systems.
• Deliver infrastructure improvements that simplify sustainment, strengthen security, and support modernization.
• Serve as a trusted hands-on network and infrastructure specialist within the broader platform engineering team.

About the Must Haves

• Active Secret clearance at time of application
• Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Network Engineering, Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent professional experience
• Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible experience engineering and operating enterprise networks and production on-premises infrastructure
• Current CompTIA Security+ certification or equivalent Department of Defense approved Information Assurance certification
• Strong hands-on experience administering and troubleshooting enterprise networking, including switching, routing, firewalls, VLANs, network segmentation, and TCP/IP services
• Demonstrated proficiency administering Windows and Linux servers, including scripting and operational troubleshooting
• Experience supporting virtualization, compute, and enterprise storage infrastructure; familiarity with VMware vSphere/vCenter, VMware Cloud Foundation, Azure Stack Hub, or comparable platforms
• Working knowledge of Kubernetes and container networking with the ability to support cluster infrastructure and diagnose workload connectivity issues
• Experience with automation, Infrastructure as Code, and configuration management, including PowerShell and tools such as Terraform, Ansible, Bicep, or Microsoft Configuration Manager
• Demonstrated ability to independently resolve production issues, document solutions, and contribute effectively within a multidisciplinary engineering team