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 controllersLead a team of UC engineers developing a secure, scalable, and resilient UC prototype tailored for DoD use on classified networksServe as a technical point of contact for all UC design and engineering activitiesDefine architecture and interface specifications, ensuring compliance with DoD Unified Capabilities Requirements (UCR), STIGs, and other cybersecurity mandatesIntegrate voice (VoIP), video conferencing, instant messaging, presence, and unified messaging solutions across IP networksCoordinate with government stakeholders, security engineers, and network teams to ensure seamless integration with existing classified infrastructuresDevelop and execute lab-based testing, proof-of-concept demonstrations, and field evaluationsPrepare and present engineering documentation, risk assessments, and status reports to both internal leadership and external government stakeholdersWork closely with other team members to design, implement, and optimize UC solutionsCollaborate with cross-functional teams, including network engineers, security specialists, and system architectsAssess client needs, recommend architecture improvements, and ensure seamless communication across domainsSpecialize in UC technologies such as Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), Cisco Unified Computing Systems, Cisco Unified Border Element, Cisco Expressway, and Cisco Meeting ServerDesign and manage VQ Conference Manager or other conference management toolsAdvise 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 requirementsAddress challenges related to data flow, security policies, and interoperabilityRequirements:Subject Matter Expert in UC design, Edge services, Endpoints and user management, Configuration, Troubleshooting, and Integration with other systemsExpert 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 experienceDemonstrated experience architecting and deploying secure UC solutions in classified or DoD environmentsUnderstanding of Cisco IOS/IOX command line router and switch configuration as it relates to UCStrong understanding of protocols and technologies such as SIP, RTP, SRTP, VoIP, H.323, XMPP, TLS, and PKIDemonstrated 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 similarExperience 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 stakeholdersAbility to work both independently and as part of a team in a dynamic environmentAbility to travel up to 20%Clearance Required: Must have active Top Secret clearance with SCI eligibilityMinimum 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 yearsRequired Certifications:Must meet DoD 8570.01-M IAT-II or IAM-I baseline certification requirementsPreferred: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 equivalentExperience working on DoD prototype or rapid acquisition programsFamiliarity with DevSecOps, Infrastructure-as-Code (IaC), or CI/CD pipelines supporting UC deployment automationKnowledge of cybersecurity compliance frameworks including NIST SP 800-53, RMF, and DISA STIGs, as well as compliance software like ACASStrong 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 stakeholdersExperience developing complex design documentation, IT checklists, SOPs, guides, etc.Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) - Collaboration certificationSubject Matter Expert of Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM), Cisco Meeting Server, Cisco Unified Contact Center Express (UCCX) or Enterprise (UCCE)