Network Architect

End Client: State of New York Job Title: Network Architect Duration: 24 Months Location: Albany, NY 12233 (Hybrid) Position Type: Contract Ceipal ID: SNY_CISCO915_KV Job Code: HBITS-08-14915 Scope of Project The incumbent will act as an Expert Network Architect for the Department of Transportation (DOT) Transportation Safety Management and Operations (TSMO) Technology Program. The selected candidate will focus on the overall design, structure, and future direction of the network infrastructure that seamlessly and securely integrates Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) systems. The role is responsible for ensuring the secure, reliable, and efficient operation of complex transportation networks supporting mission-critical transportation services. Responsibilities: Define and articulate the long-term vision for IT/OT network infrastructure aligned with transportation system goals and business objectives. Develop and maintain a multi-year network roadmap, identifying technology investments and migration strategies. Assess existing network infrastructure to identify risks, gaps, and opportunities for improvement. Guide the design and architecture of highly available, scalable, secure, and resilient network solutions supporting transportation systems such as Traffic Management, Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), and Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS). Create detailed logical and physical network designs, IP addressing schemes, routing protocols, and Quality of Service (QoS) policies. Design network segmentation strategies to isolate critical Operational Technology (OT) systems from enterprise IT environments. Architect secure IT/OT convergence solutions supporting seamless data exchange across operational domains. Evaluate and recommend enterprise network hardware, software, and technology solutions. Establish and enforce robust network security policies following industry best practices and NIST standards. Design and implement firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs, Network Access Control (NAC), encryption, and Zero Trust security architecture. Conduct security risk assessments, vulnerability assessments, and penetration testing. Ensure optimal network availability, reliability, and performance across transportation infrastructure. Develop monitoring strategies utilizing enterprise monitoring tools to proactively identify and resolve issues. Troubleshoot complex network problems and support disaster recovery and business continuity planning. Evaluate emerging technologies including 5G, IoT, AI/ML, Software-Defined Networking (SDN), and cloud networking. Lead network-related projects while collaborating with cross-functional technical, security, business, and vendor teams. Produce architecture documentation, network diagrams, operational procedures, and technical knowledge transfer documentation. Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineering teams. Required Skills: 84+ months of experience in enterprise IT and OT networking. Strong experience with Cisco, Palo Alto, Fortinet, routing, switching, wireless technologies, and enterprise networking. Experience with Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and Advanced Traffic Management Systems (ATMS). IT/OT convergence architecture and secure network segmentation. Network security including Firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPN, NAC, Zero Trust Architecture, and NIST compliance. Incident response, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and operational support. High Availability (HA), Disaster Recovery (DR), and Business Continuity planning. Network monitoring and troubleshooting using enterprise monitoring platforms. SDN, Cloud Networking, IoT, AI/ML, and emerging networking technologies. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams and vendors. Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or a closely related field. Preferred certifications include CCIE Enterprise, PCNSE, CISSP, or equivalent advanced networking certifications. #J-18808-Ljbffr