Senior Network Architect (, MD, United States)

Overview

As a senior member of the Network Architecture team, you will design, document and deploy services within a global Managed Service Provider IP/MPLS network. Your primary focus will be on large‑scale SD‑WAN, IPSec and MPLS VPN, IP multicast solutions, and wired and wireless communications. The role emerges at a moment when we are integrating services into private‑ and public‑cloud environments, emphasizing automation, orchestration, and a transition to a NetDevOps model.

Responsibilities

• Design and test new technologies, features, and solutions, documenting the results so they can be replicated by the Implementations team and supported by the Network Operations Center.
• Collaborate closely with Pre‑Sales Engineers and Product Marketing to understand customer requirements and develop scalable, consistent, and supportable technical solutions.
• Work with existing and new vendors to evaluate platforms and solutions for integration into TNS’ product suite.
• Provide third‑level support to TNS’ Network Operations Center staff and Implementations teams.
• Develop and document detailed lab test plans and reports, operating procedures, and new configurations; provide training for operations departments and other engineers.
• Interact with vendors to resolve problems and bugs, performing hands‑on testing, configuration, and troubleshooting.

Essential Skills

• Experience with the architecture and provisioning of MPLS or SD‑WAN based environments.
• Hands‑on expertise designing and configuring Fortinet FortiGate devices, particularly within SD‑WAN topologies.
• Proficiency with network automation and orchestration tools and DevOps methodologies (Terraform, Ansible, JSON, Nautobot, Arista CloudVision, Cisco DNA Center).
• Strong knowledge of IPSec (including DMVPN and RRI) design, configuration, operation, and troubleshooting.
• Experience designing cloud‑based architectures in AWS, Azure, or GCP.
• Expertise in IP multicast design, configuration, operation, and troubleshooting.
• Ability to design and implement network solutions based on high‑level customer requirements.
• Extensive TCP/IP and routing knowledge (BGP, OSPF, ISIS, EIGRP, PIM, BFD).
• Experience with Customer Edge features such as Network Address Translation and VRRP/HSRP.
• Proven ability to create and maintain comprehensive documentation for all implemented solutions.
• Expert‑level troubleshooting and debugging skills.
• Experience evaluating vendor products (hardware, software, service provider).
• Knowledge of broadband service deployments (xDSL, Cable).
• Capability to design, plan, and coordinate network maintenance and installation windows.
• Hardworking, focused, thorough, and punctual.
• Ability to provide written and verbal presentations on technical topics to corporate peers and management.
• Experience supporting Tier1 and Tier2 environments.
• Self‑motivated; able to work independently or within a team environment with minimal instruction from management.
• Flexible to work required hours and provide on‑call support.

Desirable Skills

• Fortinet, Cisco, and/or Juniper certifications (NSE Level 4/5/6/7, CCIE/CCNP‑SP, JNCIE, JNCIP).
• Experience with AAA, Tacacs+, Radius, and CA/PKI.
• Experience with Voice over IP, Dial Services (Async/PPP, ISDN), Wireless services (CDMA, EVDO, GPRS, EDGE, 802.11b/g/n), Server Load‑Balancing (F5).
• Data Center design and support (Cisco Nexus, Arista, Juniper).
• Experience with F5, Netscaler, AWS ALB/SLB for load balancing.
• Experience with GIT, Jenkins, and other DevOps tools and Agile practices.
• Creation and deployment of CloudFormation templates.
• Automation using scripting/automation languages such as Python, Ansible, and vendor‑specific tools (Arista CloudVision, Cisco DNA Center).
• Firewall configuration experience (PIX/ASA, IOS, or Netscreen/JunOS).
• Experience designing, building, and automating AWS/GCP/Azure architecture.
• Experience designing, building, and automating NSX‑V and/or NSX‑T networking.
• Experience designing, building, and automating OpenStack (Canonical or RedHat).
• UNIX/Linux Experience.

For this role in the United States, we anticipate a salary range of $140,000 – $180,000 per year. The role is eligible for variable pay, issued as a monetary bonus or in another form. Any compensation range provided is an estimate based on available market data.

TNS offers a competitive benefits package, including medical and dental coverage, life insurance, paid holidays and vacations, and a 401(k) plan with company match.

TNS is an equal opportunity employer. TNS evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status, or any other legally protected characteristic.