Senior Lead Software Engineer (Network Infrastructure)

TL;DR

Senior Lead Software Engineer (Network Infrastructure): Designing and developing resilient, scalable software-defined networking (SDN) and automation systems for critical national security missions with an accent on network orchestration, infrastructure-as-code, and AI-driven operational intelligence. Focus on building high-performance microservices, automating large-scale infrastructure workflows, and integrating AI for anomaly detection and predictive maintenance.

Location: Onsite in Annapolis Junction, MD

Salary: $122,000–$253,000

Company

hirify.global provides technically advanced cyber, data operations, and systems integration services for the intelligence community, defense, and commercial markets.

What you will do

• Lead the development and delivery of software-defined networking (SDN) solutions to ensure performance and scalability across resilient infrastructure.
• Design and implement network automation platforms and infrastructure management systems using Python and modern web technologies.
• Develop infrastructure-as-code (IaC) frameworks, APIs, and tooling to integrate network devices, controllers, and monitoring systems.
• Integrate AI-driven analytics and automation to improve performance monitoring, anomaly detection, and predictive maintenance.
• Build and optimize containerized network applications using Kubernetes and Helm within microservices architectures.
• Mentor engineers on network automation principles and evaluate emerging SDN technologies and DevSecOps methodologies.

Requirements

• Active TS/SCI clearance with polygraph and U.S. citizenship required.
• Must be based onsite in Annapolis Junction, MD.
• 5+ years of experience in network infrastructure development and DevOps networking engineering.
• Strong proficiency in Python and Shell Scripting for network automation and infrastructure management.
• Deep understanding of networking protocols including BGP, VRF, MPLS, IP, TCP, and UDP.
• Experience with VMware NSX-T or similar SDN platforms and containerization tools like Kubernetes and Docker.

Nice to have

• Experience with network virtualization platforms like Cisco ACI, Calico, OVN, or Cilium.
• Knowledge of event-driven architectures, Kafka, and network APIs (gRPC, NETCONF/RESTCONF).
• Familiarity with machine learning frameworks applied to network analytics and traffic analysis.
• Experience leveraging AI-assisted development tools such as GitHub Copilot or Claude Code.

Culture & Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance coverage.
• 401k retirement plan.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Holidays.
• Opportunity to work with state-of-the-art tools on projects with real-world impact on national security.