Network Cloud Solution Architect

Join the ECI Group's Professional Technical Services Network as a Solution Architect . This is a Houston-based contract role with an anticipated 7-month duration with an estimated start on May 25, 2026. Note: You must be a US Citizen or Permanent US Resident to qualify for this position. Only candidates with the ability to work on a W2 or 1099 contract vehicle will be considered for this opportunity.

About the Role

The Solution Architect is responsible for delivering high‑quality solution designs that are fit for purpose, aligned with enterprise architecture standards, and optimized for total cost of ownership across the solution lifecycle. The role ensures technical integrity, security, and alignment with Shell's IT technology direction. The resulting High‑Level Designs have a measurable impact on business effectiveness and profitability. The Solution Architect is accountable to the Project Manager for the solution architecture from design through successful deployment.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the single point of contact for all solution architecture aspects of IT projects.
• Design and integrate Business Process, Data, Application, Infrastructure, and Information Security aspects into end‑to‑end solutions.
• Ensure solution architecture is documented using approved templates, tools, and standards.
• Review, assure, and approve detailed designs produced by designers and business analysts.
• Coach project teams on architecture standards and best practices.
• Support Segment Architects and participate in Architecture Review Boards as required.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of Reference Models in Bizzdesign, elevating project deliverables to conceptual and logical levels.
• Monitor technology trends and ensure solutions are future‑proof and aligned with evolving IT standards and services.
• Actively contribute to the Architecture community and serve as an ambassador for architecture excellence.
• Ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and data privacy requirements (e.g., GDPR).
• Champion Security by Design and Privacy by Design, working closely with Information Risk Management, Security, and Compliance teams.

Solution Scope (Automation & Connectivity)

• Enterprise network automation solutions.
• Enterprise connectivity tooling, including Single Source of Truth implementation.
• Tool evaluation, integration, and data model alignment.
• Technical architecture, design, and service operations solutions.

Special Challenges

• Proactively identify, balance, and reconcile competing stakeholder requirements. Escalate architectural conflicts appropriately and in a timely manner.

Skills & Requirements (Critical)

• 7–10 years of IT experience, including some IT leadership exposure.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in an IT‑related discipline.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills (written and verbal).
• Ability to articulate architectural decisions to both technical and business audiences.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to link business value to technical architecture.

Required Technical Expertise

• Vendor engagement and product selection in collaboration with portfolio, operations, and procurement teams.
• Deep expertise in networking technologies (Routing, TCP/IP, SSL).
• Strong experience with AWS and Azure cloud networking (VPC/VNET, VPN, Transit Gateway, virtual Palo Alto firewalls).
• Knowledge of Cisco data center design.
• Knowledge of Aruba ESP, including Central, ClearPass, and wireless platforms.
• In‑depth knowledge of network automation (Infrastructure as Code, APIs, GitHub).
• Identity and authentication: SAML, PingID, Entra ID.
• Service solution and operational documentation delivery.
• In‑depth Ansible integration for infrastructure networks, including playbook development.
• Workflow integration for infrastructure networks.
• CI/CD pipeline creation for infrastructure networks, including virtual and physical testing.
• Smart inventory systems (e.g., NetBox) and integration with Ansible and GitHub pipelines.

Please Note: The ECI Group uses AI-assisted tools in the early stages of application review, with all decisions guided by human oversight and fully compliant with General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and ECI Group's applicable data protection policies and Privacy Notice.