Senior Network & Infrastructure Engineer

Position Summary

Karthik Consulting (KC) is seeking a Senior Network & Infrastructure Engineer to design, develop, operate, and improve secure on-premises infrastructure supporting a platform as a service solution for Space Systems Command. The role serves as the team’s hands-on networking specialist while contributing across servers, virtualization, storage, automation, and cloud-native infrastructure. The engineer configures and troubleshoots enterprise networks, maintains reliable connectivity and platform services, and resolves complex issues affecting mission-critical software delivery.

Work Environment

• Work Location: Vandenburg AFB, CA. On-site
• Security Clearance: Active Secret
• Salary: $160K-$180K

Compensation

Karthik Consulting is committed to providing competitive compensation based on the responsibilities of the role, required qualifications, security clearance level, relevant experience, certifications, customer requirements, geographic location, and overall business needs. The salary range listed for this position represents a good-faith estimate of the current compensation range for this role.

At Karthik Consulting, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range. Final compensation decisions are based on the facts and circumstances of each candidate’s experience, qualifications, certifications, clearance level, contract requirements, and overall alignment with the role.

Employees may be eligible for company benefits and additional compensation programs, subject to company policy, contract requirements, and individual eligibility.

Program Context

Program Description

The effort sustains and modernizes the infrastructure supporting mission-critical software delivery for Space Systems Command. The engineer works alongside established platform, Kubernetes, systems, and cybersecurity engineers to sustain operational performance, strengthen security, and modernize infrastructure capabilities.

Program Scope

The scope includes enterprise networking, Windows and Linux systems, virtualization, storage, infrastructure automation, and cloud-native infrastructure. The role requires deep networking expertise, sound engineering judgment, independent resolution of production challenges, and effective collaboration within an established engineering team.

Key Responsibilities

Network Engineering and Connectivity

•  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.

•  Work closely with Kubernetes engineers to diagnose cluster networking, ingress, DNS, load balancing, and connectivity issues affecting containerized mission workloads.

Systems and Infrastructure Operations

•  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.

•  Monitor and improve infrastructure health, availability, capacity, and observability to detect and prevent network and platform disruptions.

Infrastructure Automation and Modernization

•  Implement Infrastructure as Code and automation using technologies such as PowerShell, Terraform, Ansible, Bicep, and enterprise configuration management tools.

•  Execute engineering improvements that stabilize existing services, reduce operational risk, and advance infrastructure reliability and modernization.

Security and Incident Resolution

•  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.

Technical Documentation and Collaboration

•  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.

Qualifications

Education

Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Network Engineering, Engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent professional experience.

Professional Certifications

Current CompTIA Security+ certification or equivalent Department of Defense approved Information Assurance certification.

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years of progressively responsible experience engineering and operating enterprise networks and production on-premises infrastructure.
• United States citizenship with Active Secret security clearance.
• 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.