Lead Network Engineer (WAN Design and Implementation)

Lead Network EngineerLocation: Fairfax, VA Work Model: On-site Type: Contract Compensation: $100 - $120 per hourLead the design and implementation of a global Wide Area Network (WAN) and serve as the senior customer-facing technical authority for the program. This role will manage a team of seven network engineers across multiple time zones, drive technical decisions, and partner closely with customer stakeholders and engineering leadership to ensure successful delivery.Responsibilities:Own WAN architecture, design, and implementation through customer acceptance.Lead the design of the network connecting reference stations, processing centers, and satellite uplink facilities.Manage and mentor a team of seven network engineers (3 domestic, 4 international).Serve as the primary technical interface to government customers and program leadership.Establish design standards, review engineering deliverables, and maintain the technical baseline.Provide expertise in routing and WAN technologies including BGP, OSPF, MPLS, SD-WAN, IPsec/GRE, QoS, and high availability.Partner with Test and QA teams to support verification and acceptance activities.Requirements:8+ years of network engineering experience, including WAN design and implementation.Experience leading network engineering teams and large-scale network deployments.Deep expertise in BGP, OSPF, MPLS, SD-WAN, IPsec, GRE, QoS, and high-availability architectures.Experience with satellite ground station networks, uplink facilities, or remote site connectivity preferred.Strong customer-facing and technical leadership skills.CCIE, JNCIE, or equivalent advanced networking expertise preferred.Flexible working off hours across time zones as needed