Principal Unified Capabilities Engineer

Our client is seeking a Unified Capabilities (UC) Engineer Principal to join their team of passionate individuals at Ft. Meade, MD. In support of DISA, the Intel and Cyber Division is assembling a team to support a program that provides critical network capabilities to the Department of Defense. We are committed to recruiting and retaining this team for prototype development, test, and demonstration, as well as a long-term commitment for integration, deployment, operation, and maintenance as needed.

Candidates interested in joining the team must be critical thinkers, have a strong work ethic, and be able to work independently or as a member of a team in a dynamic environment that supports a critical and rewarding mission. We value candidates who are detail-oriented while also being able to think and react quickly to emerging and unique problem sets. A successful candidate is the type of person who strives for expertise in everything they do.

Responsibilities:

The duties and responsibilities of the UC Engineer Principal include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Responsible for contributing technical expertise and recommendations in all Unified Communications (UC) and collaboration technologies to include large-scale conferencing and session border controllers
• Lead a team of UC engineers developing a secure, scalable, and resilient UC prototype tailored for DoD use on classified networks
• Serve as a technical point of contact for all UC design and engineering activities
• Define architecture and interface specifications, ensuring compliance with DoD Unified Capabilities Requirements (UCR), STIGs, and other cybersecurity mandates
• Integrate voice (VoIP), video conferencing, instant messaging, presence, and unified messaging solutions across IP networks
• Coordinate with government stakeholders, security engineers, and network teams to ensure seamless integration with existing classified infrastructures
• Develop and execute lab-based testing, proof-of-concept demonstrations, and field evaluations
• Prepare and present engineering documentation, risk assessments, and status reports to both internal leadership and external government stakeholders
• Work closely with other team members to design, implement, and optimize UC solutions
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including network engineers, security specialists, and system architects
• Assess client needs, recommend architecture improvements, and ensure seamless communication across domains
• Specialize in UC technologies such as Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), Cisco Unified Computing Systems, Cisco Unified Border Element, Cisco Expressway, and Cisco Meeting Server
• Design and manage VQ Conference Manager or other conference management tools
• Advise the UC, Network, and Systems engineering teams, and cyber security experts on voice and video communications technologies, operational paradigms, and identify potential problem areas and interoperability issues.
• Ensure communication tools are integrated seamlessly and meet security requirements
• Address challenges related to data flow, security policies, and interoperability

Requirements:

• Subject Matter Expert in UC design, Edge services, Endpoints and user management, Configuration, Troubleshooting, and Integration with other systems
• Expert with Microsoft Office applications such as Excel, Word, Outlook, and SharePoint.
• Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, or related technical field, or equivalent work experience
• Demonstrated experience architecting and deploying secure UC solutions in classified or DoD environments
• Understanding of Cisco IOS/IOX command line router and switch configuration as it relates to UC
• Strong understanding of protocols and technologies such as SIP, RTP, SRTP, VoIP, H.323, XMPP, TLS, and PKI
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing general call plan concepts.
• Deep familiarity with UC platforms such as Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), Microsoft Teams (GCCH/DoD), Cisco Meeting Server, Avaya Aura, or similar
• Experience implementing solutions aligned with the DoD Unified Capabilities Approved Products List (APL)
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, especially in briefing technical concepts to senior leadership and DoD stakeholders
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a dynamic environment
• Ability to travel up to 20%

Clearance Required:

• Must have active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibility

Minimum Education:

• Bachelor's Degree in an IT related field – additional years of relevant experience and certifications can be substituted for the college degree.

Minimum Years of Experience:

• 12 years

Required Certifications:

• Must meet DoD 8570.01-M IAT-II or IAM-I baseline certification requirements

Preferred:

• Experience implementing VQCM solution.
• Familiarity with classified cloud environments (e.g., AWS Secret Region, Azure Government Secret)
• Certifications: CCNP Collaboration, Microsoft Certified: Teams Administrator Associate, CISSP, Security+, or equivalent
• Experience working on DoD prototype or rapid acquisition programs
• Familiarity with DevSecOps, Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC), or CI/CD pipelines supporting UC deployment automation
• Knowledge of cybersecurity compliance frameworks including NIST SP 800-53, RMF, and DISA STIGs, as well as compliance software like ACAS
• Strong understanding of networking fundamentals, including LAN/WAN, QoS, and MPLS
• Experience with Cisco routers, switches, and firewalls, particularly in relation to voice and video integration
• Experience with voice gateways, SIP session border controllers, SIP trunks, and ISDN circuits
• Ability to explain technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders
• Experience developing complex design documentation, IT checklists, SOPs, guides, etc.
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) - Collaboration certification
• Subject Matter Expert of Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), Cisco Meeting Server, Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (UCCX) or Enterprise (UCCE)