Lead Telecom Network Architect

Lead Telecom Network Architect

The role of a Lead Telecommunication Network Architect is to design, optimize, and orchestrate services for a complex telecom network spanning 1,000+ locations. Define enterprise standards for Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS), dedicated point-to-point carrier services, extranet services, dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM), microwave transport, flow/proxy-based firewalls and layer 2 and layer 3 VPN encryption (IPSec & MACSEC). Develop standardized processes and designs for implementation by engineering and deployment.

Prepare migration strategies for consolidating and converting networks to advanced dynamic routing BGP extensions with segment-routing (SR/SR-TE) and EVPN, as well as security policies (NATs and Route Maps) and network automation. Lead Network Standards and Request For Proposal (RFP) Avangrid efforts to establish procurement vehicles for Telecom products and services, participate in global Network Standards and Request For Proposal efforts representing Avangrid.

A candidate will be responsible for communicating network architecture and deployment decisions to the entire Operation Smart Grids organization and develop performance analysis, security operations and proactive network monitoring in conjunction with monitoring and management organizations. Analyze network flows, performance, and disaster recovery optimization starting at the data center through to the MPLS core, designing for a successful scaling of network deployments as well as packet transition efforts to migrate communication services to modern and future platforms.

The ideal candidate will have experience in preparing business use cases, cost justifications, and presenting to executive leadership. The ideal candidate will have experience in preparing RFPs that meet the business needs with for forecasting, budgeting, evaluate usage criteria to determine successful adoption, and execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the architecting and deployment of a scalable, highly available, and secure enterprise network expanding to over 1000 locations.
• Develop designs for implementation by engineering and deployment organizations.
• Acquisition, analysis, documentation, implementation, scheduling, and support of layer 1 to layer 3 communications hardware, software, and their facilities.
• Design advanced MPLS networks for both Core and Data Centers and passing traffic between environments by swapping labels or Binding SID.
• Resolve complex technical facility, hardware, and software problems utilizing a variety of hardware and software testing tools.
• Manage and maintain up-to-date documentation and procedures that define the inter-operability of telecommunication, routing, switching, and optical systems.
• Identify and evaluate new technologies and products.
• Monitor system performance and capacity planning by assessing reports and crafting recommendations for improvement.
• Interface with engineering, field, and Network Operations Centers to ensure proper escalation procedures are in place for outages or degraded system performance.
• Design advanced routing policies to deliver services across a variety of wireless and wireline networks.
• Lead Global Telecom Request for Proposal (RFP) efforts.
• Lead standardization efforts to establish processes and documentation for use by internal employees and external engineering/contracting firms.
• Work closely with Avangrid standards organizations, technical writing, and drafting teams to publish solutions to be utilized by Avangrid Operating Companies.
• Lead efforts to provide guidance, coordination, and training for teams.
• Collaborate with departments external to Telecom establishing and strengthening processes and procedures.
• Optimize and implement QoS policies and traffic engineering for wired and wireless networks across WAN and LAN deployments.
• Communicate standardized solutions, solicit feedback and perform iterative improvements.
• Provide mentorship to network engineers and cross-functional teams from corporate security to data centers.
• Lead network traffic and performance analysis efforts to design system upgrades ensuring capacity planning and high availability succeed.
• Direct network planning and automation and interaction with tools such as Infoblox, Netbox, Cisco ISE, and Aruba Clearpass.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree and six (6) years, or Bachelor's degree and eight (8) years, or Associate's degree and ten (10) years, or twelve (12) years of work experience in designing, standardizing, configuring, managing, maintaining, transitioning technologies and troubleshooting telecommunications networks.
• Demonstrated knowledge of engineering and maintaining networks operating TCP/IP IPv4/IPv6, OSPF/IS-IS, BGP, and MPLS TE.
• Demonstrated knowledge of DWDM, IP/MPLS, ATM, Microwave and SONET systems.
• Proficiency in DHCP, DNS, IP Administration, NTP, VPNs (DMVPN, SD-WAN), ACLs, and Policy Based Routing.
• Experience with network operating systems IOS/IOS-XE/IOS-XR, JUNOS/JUNOSe, and TiMOS.
• Experience in creating network standards and documentation.
• Experience in scheduling, development of task plans and progress reporting.
• Thorough understanding of TCP/IP networking using IPv4/IPv6 routing.
• Thorough understanding of MPLS networking using at least four (4) of the following protocols: LDP, RSVP-TE, SR, SR-TE, VPRN, VPLS, VLL, VPWS, EVPN, and VXLAN.
• Thorough understanding of PTP, LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+ protocols.
• Demonstrated knowledge in scripting and network automation with at least three (3) of the following: Perl, Python, Ansible, Puppet, Terraform and bash/korn shell scripting.
• Proficiency in analyzing packet captures from Netflow and real-time network telemetry.
• Participation in RFP preparation and evaluation including budgeting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in operating and designing MPLS and DWDM networks.
• Experience in optical network planning with ROADM, FOADM, 400ZR/OpenZR+/400ZR+, or CDC/CDC-F technologies.
• Experience in IT best practice frameworks (ITIL, COBIT) and Operational Excellence concepts or methodologies.
• Experience in automating system record creation for DNS, DHCP, and IPAM.
• Infoblox Core DDI certification
• Cisco CCIE (Enterprise, Security, or Service Provider) certification
• Juniper JNCIE (Data Center, Enterprise or Service Provider) certification
• Nokia SRA certification
• Green Belt or above Lean Six Sigma Certification.
• Experiencing in leading industry working groups.
• Experiencing in leading procurement processes.
• Willingness to seek additional advanced certifications.

Competencies

• Growth & Continuous Improvement
• Initiative & Change
• Focused on Results
• Customer Centric (internal and/or External)
• Communication
• Collaboration
• Leadership (people managers/leaders)

What We Offer:

• Competitive benefits and growth opportunities
• Generous performance‑based bonuses
• 12% 401(k) match
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Professional development and clear career‑advancement pathways