Network Architect

The Network Architectis responsible for designing, building, implementing, and supporting enterprise network infrastructure across corporate, data center, cloud, and remote environments. This role requires extensive hands‑on experience architecting networks from the ground up, with expertise in SD‑WAN, advanced routing and switching, VLAN design, network security, and multi‑vendor technologies. The ideal candidate is a technical leader capable of driving network modernization initiatives while ensuring high availability, scalability, performance, and security. Essential Responsibilities Architect, design, implement, and support enterprise LAN, WAN, WLAN, SD‑WAN, and data center network infrastructure. Build greenfield network environments, including IP addressing schemes, VLAN architecture, Layer 2/Layer 3 design, routing, switching, and segmentation. Design, configure, and optimize SD‑WAN solutions utilizing application‑aware routing, QoS, traffic engineering, and high availability. Implement and troubleshoot advanced routing and switching technologies including BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, VLANs, VRF, HSRP/VRRP, STP, EtherChannel, and multi‑layer switching. Deploy and administer Cisco ACI, Cisco Meraki, Juniper, Palo Alto, Azure, AWS, and GCP networking solutions. Design and maintain secure network infrastructure including firewalls, VPNs, IDS/IPS, network segmentation, Zero Trust, and access control policies. Lead data center network deployments, cloud connectivity, infrastructure refreshes, branch rollouts, and enterprise network transformation projects. Perform capacity planning, network performance optimization, root cause analysis, and advanced troubleshooting across Layer 1–7. Develop and maintain network documentation including topology diagrams, IP addressing plans, VLAN assignments, routing documentation, and operational procedures. Collaborate with vendors, carriers, business stakeholders, and third‑party partners to deliver reliable, secure connectivity solutions. Mentor junior engineers, establish engineering standards, and provide technical leadership for infrastructure initiatives. Required Experience Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Network Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience). 7+ years of enterprise network engineering experience with proven success designing and implementing networks from the ground up. Extensive hands‑on experience with SD‑WAN architecture and deployment. Strong experience with Cisco, Juniper, Palo Alto, Cisco Meraki, Cisco ACI, Azure, AWS, and GCP networking. Experience designing and supporting enterprise data center and hybrid cloud networking environments. Previous leadership or technical lead experience preferred. Required Technical Skills Advanced Routing: BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, Static Routing, Route Redistribution, VRF, Policy-Based Routing Advanced Switching: VLAN Design, Inter-VLAN Routing, Multi-Layer Switching, STP/RSTP/MSTP, EtherChannel/LACP, HSRP/VRRP SD‑WAN: Design, deployment, optimization, QoS, WAN failover, application-aware routing, traffic engineering Data Center: Cisco ACI, Spine-Leaf architectures, virtualization, high availability Cloud Networking: Azure, AWS, GCP, ExpressRoute, Direct Connect, VPN, hybrid connectivity Security: Palo Alto Firewalls, VPNs, IDS/IPS, NAC, Zero Trust, network segmentation Strong troubleshooting, packet analysis, capacity planning, and network performance optimization skills. Preferred Certifications Cisco CCNP Enterprise or CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure Juniper JNCIP-ENT or JNCIE-ENT Palo Alto PCNSE (preferred) Azure Network Engineer Associate or AWS Advanced Networking Specialty (preferred) Success Metrics Network availability exceeding 99.9% (excluding planned maintenance) Network packet loss below 2% Average network latency below 100 ms Successful delivery of enterprise infrastructure projects on time with minimal service disruption Secure, scalable, and highly available enterprise network infrastructure supporting business growth. #J-18808-Ljbffr