Jr. Cisco Network Engineer

Our client is a minority-owned, founder-led cybersecurity and IT infrastructure firm headquartered in the Washington, D.C. metro area. We serve Federal Civilian, Higher Education, and SLED clients across consulting, engineering delivery, and technology resell, generating over $57M in annual revenue across a lean, high-performing team. Our work touches mission-critical infrastructure for institutions including Georgetown University and multiple federal agencies.

We are hiring a Jr. Network Engineer to support our hardware staging, configuration, and on-site delivery practice. This is a hands-on, technical role focused on the physical and logical preparation of network infrastructure — primarily Cisco Catalyst switches, Meraki access points, and associated gear — before and during deployment at client sites.

• Receive, inventory, and inspect inbound hardware shipments against purchase orders; document discrepancies and condition on arrival
• Unbox, label, and physically prepare Cisco Catalyst switches, Meraki access points, and related infrastructure for staging
• Apply base configurations to switches and access points including hostname, management IP, VLANs, spanning tree, and NTP settings per project-specific runbooks
• Register and claim Meraki devices to client dashboard organizations; apply network and device-level templates
• Stage and validate configurations in a lab environment prior to shipment, simulating production network conditions where possible
• Update and maintain accurate asset records throughout the staging lifecycle including serial numbers, firmware versions, and configuration status
• Perform firmware upgrades and verify software versions against project requirements before equipment leaves the staging facility

• Coordinate repackaging and outbound logistics for staged equipment, ensuring hardware is protected and properly labeled for transport to client premises
• Travel to client sites across the DMV to support scheduled cutover windows, working alongside senior engineers and project managers
• Physically install and rack equipment at client locations including mounting switches, running patch cables, and labeling infrastructure per as-built standards
• Assist with on-site bring-up: connecting devices to production networks, verifying management access, and confirming that pre-staged configurations load correctly
• Support structured cutover activities including pre-maintenance checklists, port-by-port validation, and post-cutover health checks
• Serve as the on-site point of contact for hardware logistics during active deployment windows, coordinating with the PM and senior engineer remotely or in person
• Document as-built changes and site observations for inclusion in project closeout deliverables

• Develop and follow staging runbooks and checklists to ensure consistent, repeatable configuration and validation outcomes across projects
• Conduct pre-shipment quality checks against project requirements and flag any configuration gaps or hardware issues before equipment is dispatched
• Coordinate with senior engineers and project managers to receive, interpret, and execute project-specific configuration requirements
• Track and report staging progress against project milestones, escalating blockers to the PM or lead engineer immediately
• Work with Cisco Catalyst 9300 series switches as the primary platform for staging and configuration activities
• Operate within Cisco Meraki dashboard for device claiming, template application, and network provisioning
• Maintain working familiarity with basic IOS-XE CLI for configuration verification, troubleshooting, and runbook execution