Senior Network Engineer and BIG-IP F5 SME with Security Clearance

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Job description

Bring your skills and passion to our ITility team. ITility is seeking talented Senior Network Engineer & BIG-IP F5 Subject Matter Expert (SME) to provide overall support to USMEPCOM Network infrastructure. USMEPCOM is a Major Command of the United States (U.S.) Department of Defense (DoD), which screens and processes applicants into the U.S. Armed Forces. USMEPCOM is the vital link between recruiting and training armed forces and operates 67 Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS) located throughout the U.S. This position is a hybrid role, expectation of 2-3 days onsite per week, in Waukegan, IL. This is the current onsite schedule that this team works on, but it is subject to change. At ITility, we help our customers command the future by thinking beyond perceived limits to create new, unexpected ways to protect and defend our nation. We inspire and empower people to create significant solutions that secure what matters to our customers and communities, here and around the globe. We Value:
The Drive to Perform Beyond Perceived Limits.
The Desire to Find Significance in All We Do.
The Passion and Compassion That Powers Both. This position requires the successful candidate to be able to pass a Tier 3-Background Investigation. The criteria for passing a Tier 3-Background Investigation are driven by US government requirements. You must be a US citizen to pass a Tier 3-Background Investigation. Selected candidates will receive a contingent offer, and the start date will be delayed until clearing the Tier 3-Background Investigation. Responsibilities:
F5 BIG-IP Deployment & Management: Design, implement, and manage F5 BIG-IP solutions, including LTM (Local Traffic Manager), GLBT (Global Load Balancing Technology), GTM (Global Traffic Manager), ASM (Application Security Manager), and APM (Access Policy Manager).
Network Design & Architecture: Develop scalable and secure network architectures, including LAN/WAN, and cloud environments, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
Load Balancing & Traffic Management: Configure and optimize F5 load balancers to distribute application traffic, improve application availability, and ensure high performance across multi-site and cloud environments.
Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN): Knowledge of SD-WAN architecture (controller, edge, and orchestration layers. Site-to-site and cloud integration. Understanding of overlay/underlay networks, application-aware routing, and redundancy and high availability
Security Integration: Implement and manage F5 ASM for application-layer security, WAF (Web Application Firewall), and DDoS protection, working closely with security teams to protect critical applications within the DoD environment.
Cloud & Hybrid Environment Support: Integrate F5 BIG-IP solutions in hybrid AWS cloud environments, supporting load balancing and application delivery in cloud-native architectures.
Network Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve complex network and application issues, leveraging F5 and other network tools for troubleshooting and optimization.
Automation & Scripting: Automate F5 configuration and management using tools like Ansible, Python, and iRules to streamline processes and improve efficiency.
Performance Monitoring & Optimization: Continuously monitor network and F5 performance, identifying areas for improvement and implementing optimizations to ensure maximum uptime and reliability.
Cross-Team Collaboration: Work with application, security, and cloud teams to align F5 solutions with broader network and security strategies, ensuring that all solutions meet business and technical requirements.
Documentation & Compliance: Maintain detailed documentation of F5 configurations, policies, and network diagrams, ensuring compliance with organizational standards and regulatory requirements. Required Qualifications:
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
CompTIA Security+ and F5 Certified Technology Administrator (201)/Specialist (CTS) certifications.
5+ years of experience in network engineering with a focus on designing, implementing, and troubleshooting large-scale enterprise networks.
Expertise in F5 BIG-IP: Hands-on experience with F5 BIG-IP solutions, including LTM, GTM, ASM, APM, iRules, and iApps, and F5 hardware/software platforms.
Networking Protocols: Strong knowledge of networking technologies and protocols such as TCP/IP, DNS, BGP, OSPF, VLANs, MPLS, VPNs, NAT, and SDN.
Cloud Experience: Experience integrating and supporting F5 technologies in an AWS cloud environment.
Automation Skills: Experience with automation and orchestration tools (e.g., Ansible, Python) to manage network devices and F5 systems.
Load Balancing & Traffic Management: Proficiency in designing and optimizing load balancing, SSL offloading, and traffic management solutions for high-availability environments.
F5 Certifications: F5 Certified BIG-IP Administrator (201), F5 Certified Technology Specialist (CTS), or F5 Certified Solution Expert (CSE) certifications. Soft Skills:
Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
Strong written and verbal communication skills to explain complex technical solutions to non-technical stakeholders.
Ability to lead projects and mentor junior engineers.
Adaptable to dynamic, fast-paced environments. Preferred Qualifications:
Familiarity with application delivery in containerized environments.
Knowledge of DoD STIG processes and communicating findings with CSO.
Experience with next-gen network automation tools and frameworks.
Advanced troubleshooting with Wireshark or similar network analysis tools.
Familiarity with DevSecOps practices and CI/CD pipelines for network changes. Position Responsibilities:
ITility is committed to providing a work environment that is non-discriminatory, harassment free, fair, ethical and inclusive. ITility is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity, and complies with all applicable laws which prohibit discrimination and harassment in the workplace. ITility strictly prohibits discrimination or harassment based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability or any other characteristic protected by law in all terms, conditions and privileges of employment, including without limitation, recruiting, hiring, assignment, compensation, promotion, discipline and termination. This policy covers conduct occurring at ITility's offices, client sites, other locations where ITility is providing services, and to all work-related activities.

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