Network Architect

We have an outstanding Contract to Hire position for a Network Architectto join a leading Company located in the Honolulu, HI surrounding area. Pay Rate: $96.15 - $103.36 US Citizenship is required. Candidate must possess an Active Top Secret/SCI Security Clearance. This role is the principal network designer and highest-level engineering escalation resource, responsible for leading network modernization initiatives across complex, mission-critical environments. This role provides technical leadership, ensures engineering continuity, supports operational requirements, and maintains the integrity and evolution of the approved network architecture and engineering baseline. Job Responsibilities: Design and maintain the integrated enterprise network architecture supporting distributed command, mission, and sustainment requirements across Hawaii, the Pacific, Alaska, Japan / Okinawa, and Government-directed CONUS locations. Translate operational needs into enterprise, logical, physical, cybersecurity, data-flow, and operations architectures that remain synchronized and traceable. Own the network technical baseline, including routing, switching, segmentation, QoS, firewalls, encryption, WAN and SDN design, PACE transport, management, monitoring, and high-availability patterns. Develop and approve network designs, engineering implementation plans, IP and routing plans, bills of material, configurations, rack elevations, cable schedules, interface records, cutover plans, rollback plans, and as-built packages. Ensure HMR or another Government-selected pilot becomes a validated reference design that can be reused through controlled, Government-approved site differences rather than independent redesigns. Serve as the senior engineer for Tier 3 and Tier 4 routing, switching, transport, security-boundary, interoperability, latency, QoS, failover, performance, and service-restoration issues. Provide technical direction and mentoring to network engineers assigned to designs, installations, cutovers, incidents, and corrective actions. Review engineering work for technical accuracy, interoperability, cybersecurity impact, supportability, configuration control, and compliance with the approved baseline before Government submission or implementation. Lead root-cause analysis for recurring or mission-significant technical problems and establish corrective actions that can be applied across affected sites. Advise the Regional Program Manager and Operations Officer when a project is technically ready to proceed, requires modification, or should be paused because an unresolved issue creates unacceptable mission, cyber, safety, or sustainment risk. Integrate Zero Trust, ICAM, segmentation, privileged access, logging, continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, STIG requirements, and configuration control into the network design in coordination with the Cyber / ATO Lead. Define system boundaries, trust zones, information exchanges, data paths, classification and releasability considerations, monitoring ownership, latency and QoS needs, and fallback requirements. Distinguish same-level protected transport from cross-domain or releasability transfers. Support approved CSfC or Type 1 solutions where appropriate and formal approved CDS interfaces when validated domain crossing is required. Establish Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency network paths and measurable failover, failback, restoration, bandwidth, latency, and monitoring criteria. Support the Operations Officer and project managers with technical estimates, dependencies, sequencing, design reviews, site-readiness criteria, engineering risks, and required technical resources. Approve technical entry and exit criteria for design freeze, installation, cutover, SIT, SAT, failover testing, operational acceptance, and release of the reference design for reuse. Ensure operational handoff addresses monitoring, ticket escalation, configuration management, patching and scanning, spares, warranty, local support, after-hours response, and restoration responsibilities. Prepare and execute the technical transition package, including the authoritative architecture, configurations, decision records, cybersecurity artifacts, known risks, open issues, test results, support dependencies, and prioritized recommendations for contract continuation. Use incidents, testing, user feedback, scans, and lessons learned to recommend controlled improvements to the approved technical baseline. Basic Hiring Criteria Must possess an active Cisco CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure or CCIE Security certification at start date. Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible network engineering experience, including at least 7 years as a senior architect, chief engineer, technical lead, or comparable authority in complex DoD or national-security environments. Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in network engineering, computer science, information systems, electrical engineering, cybersecurity, or a closely related discipline. Expert knowledge of: Enterprise routing and switching, BGP, OSPF, MPLS, multicast, VRF / VLAN segmentation, QoS, firewalls, SDN, WAN transport, encryption, network management, monitoring, high availability, and PACE communications planning. Demonstrated design experience with: Large classified and unclassified DoD networks, including NIPR and SIPR and relevant experience with JWICS, MPE / CENTRIX, CSfC, Type 1 encryption, or CDS interfaces. Demonstrated ability to lead senior engineers, enforce technical standards, resolve complex incidents, explain technical risk to senior leaders, and work effectively across multiple locations and time zones. Working knowledge of DoD architecture, RMF, Zero Trust, STIGs, vulnerability management, configuration and change control, site integration, testing, operational acceptance, and sustainment. Ability to brief general officers, senior Government civilians, program executives, and nontechnical stakeholders clearly and to distinguish validated requirements from assumptions, proposals, risks, and pending Government decisions. Excellent written and oral communication skills addressing senior executive leaders and General Officers. Able to work both independently and collaboratively, prioritizing tasks as needed. Desired Qualifications Master's degree from an accredited institution in network engineering, computer science, information systems, electrical engineering, cybersecurity, or a closely related discipline. 20+ years of progressively responsible network engineering experience, or comparable authority in complex DoD or national-security environments. Other relevant certifications such as ITIL, PMP etc. in ACTIVE status. Benefits offered vary by contract. Depending on your temporary assignment, benefits may include direct deposit, free career counseling services, 401(k), select paid holidays, short-term disability insurance, skills training, employee referral bonus, and affordable medical coverage plan, and DailyPay (in some locations). Military connected talent encouraged to apply. VEVRAA Federal Contractor / Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals / Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable: The California Fair Chance Act Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance #J-18808-Ljbffr