Network Architect (TS Clearance)

Network Architect (TS Clearance)Company OverviewWe are located near San Diego, CA and we are a publicly traded communications company that has proudly been in business for over 20 years! We are on a mission to provide the highest quality service possible and bridging the digital divide across the globe. We work across a variety of different industries and we are one of the global leaders in our space that is constantly innovating and working with the latest technologies.Position OverviewWe are seeking an experienced Network Architect with an active Top Secret (TS) clearance to design, build, and optimize secure enterprise and mission-critical networks. The ideal candidate will lead network architecture for WAN/LAN, data center, and cloud environments, ensure compliance with security requirements, and collaborate with engineering, operations, and stakeholders to deliver resilient, scalable network infrastructure solutions.Key ResponsibilitiesLead design and architecture of enterprise and mission-critical networks (WAN/LAN, L2/L3, MPLS, SDN) to meet performance, availability, and security requirements.Develop detailed network designs, diagrams, and implementation plans for data center and cloud networking solutions, including overlay/underlay and hybrid cloud connectivity.Evaluate, select, and integrate vendor solutions (Cisco, Juniper, and others) and guide configuration standards and best practices.Define routing and switching topology, implement networking protocols (BGP, OSPF, ISIS, VRF) and optimize traffic engineering across MPLS and WAN links.Work closely with security teams to ensure network designs meet DoD/compliance and hardening requirements, including segmentation, access controls, and monitoring.Lead network migrations and technology refresh projects, including testing, cutover planning, and rollback procedures to minimize operational impact.Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams, develop runbooks and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and support incident response and troubleshooting for escalated network issues.Collaborate with cloud, storage, and application teams to design network integration with public/private cloud environments and support cloud-native networking requirements.Maintain accurate architecture documentation, asset inventories, and configuration baselines; review and approve change requests affecting network infrastructure.Coordinate with vendors and contractors for procurement, installation, and ongoing maintenance; manage technical vendor relationships and performance.Continuously evaluate emerging networking technologies and propose architecture improvements to increase automation, reliability, and cost-efficiency.QualificationsProven experience as a Network Architect or senior network engineer responsible for enterprise-scale network design and delivery.Active Top Secret (TS) clearance required; ability to maintain clearance and comply with security policies.Strong hands-on experience with Cisco and Juniper platforms; CCNP or equivalent certification preferred.Deep knowledge of L2/L3 switching and routing, WAN/LAN technologies, MPLS, SDN, and traffic engineering.Proficient with networking protocols and standards (BGP, OSPF, ISIS, VLAN, STP, VRF) and network infrastructure design principles.Experience designing and operating data center networks and integrating on-premise networks with cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP) and cloud-native networking services.Experience with network automation and orchestration tools (Ansible, Python scripting, or equivalent) and infrastructure-as-code principles is desirable.Bachelors degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, or related field, or equivalent experience; 8+ years of relevant experience preferred.Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder-management skills; ability to produce clear architecture documentation and present technical designs to leadership.Nice to have: Top Secret with SCI eligibility, CCNP certification, hands-on experience with SD-WAN, MPLS design, data center spine-leaf architectures, and advanced network security/infrastructure solutions.BenefitsMedicalDentalVisionPTO401k w/ matchPotential for RSUs