Network Architect - F5 Distributed Cloud / MuleSoft / AWS

F5 Distributed Cloud (F5XC) is the #1 requirement; we need someone that knows this platform well. Network Architect – F5 Distributed Cloud / MuleSoft / AWS Duration: 6 months Start Window: June or July 2026 Work Location: Onshore or Nearshore Work Hours: Must support U.S. Eastern Time business hours Position Summary We are seeking an experienced Network Architect to lead the architecture, design, implementation, testing, and operationalization of a cloud-based global load balancing solution using F5 Distributed Cloud Services within AWS . This role will support a multi-region architecture where application and employee journeys continue without interruption across AWS regions and platform instances. The primary focus of this engagement is to design and deliver a resilient, secure, and reusable load balancing architecture for MuleSoft APIs that support critical enterprise platforms such as Salesforce, SAP RISE, and Amazon Connect . The solution must provide per-API routing , automated failover, continuous health monitoring, and seamless integration with existing security and operational tooling. Key Responsibilities Architecture and Discovery Lead discovery sessions and stakeholder workshops with application, infrastructure, cloud, security, and enterprise architecture teams Validate functional and non-functional requirements for multi-region API load balancing Assess current AWS network architecture, MuleSoft deployment topology, and security/compliance constraints Translate business requirements into scalable and supportable technical architecture Solution Design Produce High-Level Design (HLD) and Low-Level Design (LLD) documents Define a reference architecture for enterprise reuse across application teams Design global and local load balancing patterns using F5 Distributed Cloud Services Define per-API routing strategies for active/active and active/passive MuleSoft services Design for IP-level health awareness of ingress controller instances within each region Ensure the solution supports automated failover without manual reconfiguration of the load balancer Incorporate future extensibility so additional APIs and platforms can be onboarded without redesign Security and Integration Preserve and extend current security controls, including: WAF TLS / mTLS identity and policy enforcement Integrate with enterprise platforms and tooling, including: AWS CloudFront API Gateway Azure AD CyberArk CloudWatch Splunk ServiceNow for CMDB, catalog, incidents, and alerting workflows Infrastructure as Code and Deployment Define and implement a Terraform-based IaC approach Build reusable, modular deployment components with clear separation for non-prod and prod Develop implementation plans, configuration standards, and deployment runbooks Deploy and configure the F5 Distributed Cloud solution in non-production and production environments Testing and Operational Readiness Lead testing strategy and execution, including: functional testing API routing validation failover and resiliency testing security validation load and performance testing Support UAT and production cutover activities Develop operational runbooks, SOPs, and support model documentation Conduct knowledge transfer sessions for engineering and operations teams Support hypercare and transition to internal support teams Governance and Leadership Lead architecture review sessions with enterprise architecture and cybersecurity teams Prepare approval artifacts and address design feedback Drive delivery as an enterprise-grade reusable service, not a one-off implementation Provide strong technical leadership, documentation discipline, and stakeholder communication throughout the engagement Required Qualifications 10+ years of experience in network architecture , application delivery , or cloud networking Deep hands-on experience with F5 Distributed Cloud Services Strong experience with AWS networking and multi-region architecture Experience designing global load balancing and local load balancing solutions Strong understanding of API traffic management and per-application/per-API routing models Experience supporting active/active and active/passive failover architectures Expertise in health monitoring , automated failover, and resilient application delivery patterns Strong experience with TLS, mTLS, WAF, and security policy continuity Hands-on experience with Terraform and reusable Infrastructure as Code design Experience integrating enterprise platforms with logging, monitoring, and ITSM tools Strong documentation skills, including architecture, design, test, and operational artifacts Ability to work across technical and business teams in a consulting-style delivery role Preferred Qualifications Experience with MuleSoft , especially MuleSoft APIs and Private Spaces Experience with F5 Distributed Cloud in hybrid or multi-cloud enterprise environments Familiarity with CloudFront , API Gateway , Splunk , CloudWatch , and ServiceNow Experience with Azure AD and CyberArk integration patterns Prior experience supporting architecture review boards, cybersecurity review processes, and enterprise governance Experience delivering reusable shared services in large enterprise environments Key Technical Skills F5 Distributed Cloud Services AWS networking and multi-region design Global load balancing and DNS-based traffic management API-level routing and traffic steering MuleSoft integration architecture Health checks and failover design WAF, TLS, mTLS, and security controls Terraform / IaC CloudWatch, Splunk, and monitoring integration ServiceNow CMDB, alerting, and service catalog integration Enterprise architecture and cybersecurity governance Deliverables Expected from This Role Requirements validation documentation Current-state assessment Use-case definitions for MuleSoft API routing High-Level Design and Low-Level Design Reference architecture for reuse Security and compliance design artifacts Terraform module design and code structure Architecture review materials and approvals Implementation plan and runbook Production-ready configuration documentation Test plans and test results Operational runbooks and KT materials Production deployment and handoff documentation Success Criteria The successful consultant will deliver a solution that: Routes each MuleSoft API call to the correct healthy and eligible instance or region based on per-API routing rules Automatically fails over across regions without manual intervention Maintains compatibility with the current MuleSoft operating model Preserves existing security and policy controls Provides real-time visibility into API health and traffic flows Supports future onboarding of additional APIs and platforms through a reusable design model Candidate Profile The ideal candidate is a senior architect who combines: strong F5 and cloud networking expertise, deep experience with secure API traffic management, practical AWS and Terraform delivery skills, and the ability to lead an enterprise architecture engagement from discovery through production handoff. #J-18808-Ljbffr Five Rivers IT, Inc