Systems Engineer- Networking/Switch

Due to the classified nature of our work, U.S. citizenship is required. Candidate must meet the eligibility to obtain and maintain a DoD Top Secret / SCI Security Clearance. 

About Us 

Pacific Defense is a leading developer of advanced electronics systems for the U.S. Department of Defense and commercial customers. Our team specializes in Open Systems Architecture solutions for the non-kinetic fight, providing customers with cost-effective, modular, and rapidly reconfigurable systems in record time. We deliver sensing and effects solutions for land, air, sea, and space domains, leveraging open standards and rapid prototyping methodologies to bring innovative capabilities to the market. Pacific Defense has built an excellent reputation in the defense industry and is expanding our team to tackle new challenges and opportunities. Join us and accelerate your career! 

As a Systems Engineer with a strong background in networking and switch technologies you will support the design, integration, and sustainment of advanced switch products for defense applications. In this role, you will collaborate closely with software, hardware, and operations teams to ensure the successful delivery of reliable, high-performance network solutions. Your technical expertise will directly influence product development and roadmaps, helping to drive innovation and ensure our solutions meet the evolving needs of mission-critical defense programs. 

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering, or related field. 

• Hands-on experience with enterprise and embedded switches/routers (e.g., Cisco, Juniper, Curtiss-Wright, VICTORY standards). 

• Strong knowledge of Layer 2/3 networking protocols (TCP/IP, VLANs, STP, OSPF, etc.). 

• Experience with network configuration tools, packet analyzers, and diagnostic equipment. 

• Understanding of DoD systems, requirements, and acquisition lifecycle. 

• U.S. Citizenship required; ability to obtain and maintain a [Secret/Top Secret] security clearance. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• 5+ years of experience in systems or network engineering, ideally in a defense or aerospace environment. 

• Experience with VICTORY or CMOSS standards. 

• Experience developing custom switch hardware solutions. 

• Familiarity with embedded systems and real-time environments. 

• Prior work on ground vehicles, avionics, or tactical systems. 

• Certifications such as CCNA, CCNP, Security+, or CISSP. 

• Experience supporting RMF/IA activities for networked systems. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Design, configure, and implement network and switching solutions in mission-critical defense systems. 

• Evaluate and integrate commercial and custom switch/router hardware into secure system architectures. 

• Own roadmaps for our commercial switch products, taking in requirements from multiple stakeholders in the organization. 

• Drive development of our switch products to a production schedule, working with the engineering team to overcome obstacles, make implementation trade-offs, and provide technical direction. 

• Develop and document system architectures, network diagrams, and data flows. 

• Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to ensure network security compliance (RMF, STIGs, etc.). 

• Support lab and field testing, including test plan development and execution. 

• Analyze performance and reliability metrics, recommending enhancements where needed. 

• Interface with customers and stakeholders for technical discussions, design reviews, and requirement clarifications. 

Benefits

Pacific Defense provides competitive salaries and immediately vested 401K match. We provide 100% coverage options for the employee, and 75% coverage for dependents’ medical, dental, vision, and life insurance premiums, as well as a flexible spending account for incidental health care expenses. We offer paid time off and federal holidays to spend time with family, pursue outside interests, or just get some extra rest. 

Pacific Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected factor.