Network Architect - Telecom

Network Architect PositionThe Contractor will provide support to the Infrastructure Operations team supplementing existing staff for the purpose of reviewing the current network design and strategy and develop recommendations to ensure that the customer is adhering to network security and operational best practices. The network architect will also make recommendations to improve segmentation strategies, harden systems, and ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information that is critical to ensuring the execution of the mission. The Network Architect will assist the telecommunications team in reviewing the potential migration to a telephony cloud provider. The Contractor, through its selected candidate must perform all tasks and complete the deliverables identified in this Statement of Work (SOW).To accomplish the work outlined above, the customer requires an experienced Network Architect with the following skills and experiences listed below. This list is not exhaustive; nor are all skills required. Technical skills, written and verbal communication, and experiences will be the basis for evaluation of responses to the RFQ.Minimum Qualifications:A minimum of 7 years of IT work experience in infrastructure/network environments performing network planning, architecture design, engineering (hardware and software) and optimizationAbility to communicate effectively (verbally and in writing) with staff.Experience designing Layer 2 and Layer 3 networks.Experience maintaining and troubleshooting routing and switching.Experience configuring and administering Next Generation Firewalls.Preferred Experience:Experience in assessing network topology and architecture.Experience with wireless infrastructure design, management, and troubleshooting.Experience designing Zero Trust Architecture.Experience with hybrid and cloud telephony/VoIP architecture and design.Experience with Azure networking architecture and design.Experience with Palo Alto hardware.Experience with remote access solutions.Educational qualifications meeting at least one of the following levels:Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, or other related field. Or equivalent work experience.Contractor Responsibilities:Perform a detailed analysis of the network topology and security strategies.Produce a detailed report of architectural, design and security deficiencies.Develop enhanced network security strategies.Present recommendations for improvement in the areas of network security, scalability, and resiliency.Assess the feasibility, pros & cons of upgrading our remote sites to use SD-WAN appliances instead of the current configuration.Drive continuous improvement and optimization.Create technical documentation of the proposed design and facilitate the transfer of knowledge to staff.