Network System Architect
CAE · Arlington, TX ·
- Seniority
- Junior
- Employment
- Contract
- Category
- Architecture
- Experience
- 8+ years
CAE · Arlington, TX ·
Who We Are:
CAE Vision: Our vision is to be the worldwide partner of choice in defense and security, and civil aviation by revolutionizing our customers’ training and critical operations with digitally immersive solutions to elevate safety, efficiency and readiness.
CAE Defense & Security Mission: CAE's Defense and Security business unit focuses on helping prepare military customers to develop and maintain the highest levels of mission readiness.
CAE Values: Empowerment, Innovation, Excellence, Integrity and OneCAE make us who we are and we strive to make a difference in the world while helping each other succeed.
What We Have to Offer:
Comprehensive and competitive benefits package and flexibility that promotes work-life balance
A work environment where all employees are valued, respected and safe
Freedom to succeed by enabling team members to deliver, take initiatives and make decisions
Recognition, professional development, advancement and having fun!
Summary
CAE Defense &Security is seeking an experienced Enterprise Network Architect to lead the design and implementation of a robust wide area network (WAN) supporting the US Air Force Training, Modeling and Simulation Community’s mission-critical operations. The successful candidate will develop scalable, secure network architectures, integrate emerging technologies, and collaborate with cross functional teams including simulation developers, cybersecurity specialists, and logistics planners to ensure high availability, low latency, and compliance with DoD standards. Candidates should possess deep expertise in WAN technologies (MPLS, SDWAN, VPN), proven experience in largescale defense or aerospace deployments, and strong analytical and communication skills to translate complex requirements into actionable designs.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Architectural Design
Develop end to end WAN architecture that meets performance, scalability, and security requirements for the Air Force Training, Modeling and Simulation Community.
Translate mission critical operational needs into detailed network design documents, including topology, routing protocols, and redundancy strategies.
Implementation & Deployment
Lead the installation, configuration, and testing of WAN components (MPLS, SDWAN, VPN, satellite links, edge routers, firewalls, and load balancers).
Coordinate with field teams to ensure seamless integration with existing LAN, data center, and cloud environments.
Performance & Reliability Management
Define and enforce key performance indicators (KPIs) such as latency, jitter, packet loss, and uptime.
Conduct capacity planning, traffic engineering, and fault tolerance assessments to guarantee mission availability.
Security & Compliance
Design and implement secure network boundaries, segmentation, and encryption mechanisms in line with DoD and CAE security policies.
Perform regular vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and compliance audits.
Stakeholder Collaboration
Work closely with simulation developers, cybersecurity teams, logistics planners, and senior leadership to align network solutions with operational goals.
Provide technical guidance and training to internal teams and external partners.
Documentation & Knowledge Management
Produce and maintain comprehensive network diagrams, configuration baselines, change-management records, and troubleshooting guides.
Capture lessons learned and best practices for future projects.
Vendor & Budget Management
Evaluate and select networking equipment, software, and service providers.
Prepare cost estimates, manage project budgets and timelines.
Continuous Improvement
Monitor emerging WAN technologies (e.g., SDWAN, edge computing) and recommend enhancements to keep the network state of the art.
Lead post deployment reviews and iterative optimization cycles.
Qualifications and Education Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Electrical Engineering, or a closely related field.
8 years of progressive experience in network design, implementation, and management.
Proven track record designing large scale, multi-site enterprise networks (LAN/WAN, SD WAN, MPLS, VPN, etc.).
Experience with cloud networking (AWS, Azure, GCP) and hybrid cloud architectures.
Hands-on experience with network security (firewalls, IDS/IPS, Zero Trust, segmentation).
Familiarity with virtualization (VMware, Hyper V, KVM) and software defined networking (SDN, NFV).
Deep knowledge of routing protocols (OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, IS-IS).
Switching technologies (VLANs, STP, MSTP, EtherChannel, QOS).
Network design tools (SolarWinds, Lucidchart, Visio).
Network monitoring & troubleshooting (Wireshark, NetFlow, sFlow, SNMP).
Security technologies (Cisco ASA/Firepower, Fortinet, Palo Alto, Check Point).
Cloud networking services (AWS VPC, Azure VNets, GCP VPC, Direct Connect, ExpressRoute).
Experience with network automation frameworks (Ansible, Terraform, Python).
Knowledge of Zero Trust architecture and micro segmentation.
Familiarity with network performance monitoring and capacity planning tools.
Previous DoD/government cyber security experience
Guidance on proper diagrams and documentation required
Experience with Risk Management Framework (RMF) and Authorizing Officials (AO)
Proven experience designing network architectures that directly support NIST SP 800-53 Rev.5 controls including boundary definition, segmentation, encryption in transit, auditing, and least-privilege enforcement across developmental and operational networks
Ability to produce and maintain RMF-ready architecture artifacts such as layer 3 network diagrams, data flows, trust boundaries, etc that support the RMF SSP, SCTM, and other control validation tasks
Demonstrated ability to translate NIST Rev 5 requirements into technical network designs, including evaluating control tradeoffs, proposing compensating controls, and supporting risk-based decisions with cyber compliance teams
Experience with applying applicable Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIG) guidance
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) implementation in a classified environment
Implementation of Active Directory Domain solutions across enterprise networks
Experience with Cross-Domain System (CDS) and Data Guard configuration and authorization.
Strong analytical and problem solving abilities.
Excellent communication skills (technical and non-technical stakeholders).
Project management experience (Agile/Scrum and Waterfall).
Ability to mentor junior engineers and lead cross functional teams.
Preferred Skills
Master’s degree (e.g., MBA, MS in Network Engineering)
Cisco Certified Inter-network Expert (CCIE) – Routing & Switching (or CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure).
Cisco Certified Design Professional (CCDP).
Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) – Enterprise (Routing & Switching, Security, Data Center).
Juniper Networks Certified Internet Expert (JNCIE) – Routing or Switching.
VMware Certified Professional – Network Virtualization (VCP NV).
AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty or Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate.
CompTIA Network+ (entry level baseline).
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Understanding of regulatory compliance (HIPAA, PCI DSS, GDPR) as it applies to network design.
Demonstrated ability to translate NIST Rev 5 requirements into technical network designs, including evaluating control tradeoffs, proposing compensating controls, and supporting risk-based decisions with cyber compliance teams
Security Responsibilities
Must comply with all company security and data protection / usage policies and procedures. Personally responsible for proper marking and handling of all information and materials, in any form. Shall not divulge any information, or afford access, to other employees not having a need-to-know. Shall not divulge information outside company without management approval. All government and proprietary information will be accessed and stored electronically on company provided resources.
Incumbent must be eligible for DoD Personal Security Clearance.
Due to U.S. Government contract requirements, only U.S. citizens are eligible for this role.
Work Environment
Duties performed in an office environment and manufacturing facility.
Must be able to work overtime on and off-shifts as required.
The employee is on call 24x7 for the resolution of problems and issues.
Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
Ability to sit for extended periods of time
Ability to stand for extended periods of time
Ability to lift 25 lbs. to various height
Other Duties
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for their job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
CAE USA Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to any protected characteristic, including disability and protected veteran status, as defined under federal, state, or local laws.
Applicants needing reasonable accommodations should contact their recruiter at any point in the recruitment process. If you need assistance to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at [email protected]
At CAE, our mission is clear: to help make the world a safer place. For nearly 80 years, we’ve driven innovation in simulation, training, and mission readiness to support critical operations worldwide. By leveraging advanced technologies, we empower our customers to operate smarter, faster, and more sustainably. Join a purpose-driven organization where bold ideas are encouraged, collaboration drives progress, and your growth fuels our shared success.
CAE is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. At CAE, everyone is welcome to contribute to our success. Applicants needing reasonable accommodations should contact their recruiter at any point in the recruitment process. If you need assistance to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at [email protected].
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CAE thanks all applicants for their interest. However, only those whose background and experience match the requirements of the role will be contacted.