Network Architect, SME

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.

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; 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; 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; Review engineering work for technical accuracy, interoperability, cybersecurity impact, supportability, configuration control, and compliance; Lead root-cause analysis for recurring or mission-significant technical problems; Advise the Regional Program Manager and Operations Officer on technical readiness; Integrate Zero Trust, ICAM, segmentation, privileged access, logging, continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, STIG requirements, and configuration control into the network design; Define system boundaries, trust zones, information exchanges, data paths, classification and releasability considerations, monitoring ownership, latency and QoS needs, and fallback requirements; Support approved CSfC or Type 1 solutions and CDS interfaces; 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; 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; Use incidents, testing, user feedback, scans, and lessons learned to recommend controlled improvements to the approved technical baseline

Requirements

Active Cisco CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure or CCIE Security certification at start date; Pursuant to a government contract, this specific position requires U.S. Citizenship; Current DoD TS/SCI clearance eligibility day one and prior to entry on duty; 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

Nice to have

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; Computing Environment Commercial Certification in ACTIVE status: CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure or Security, Cloud Architecture (e.g., AWS Solutions Architect, DoD Cloud certs), Cisco CCDP or equivalent vendor-neutral certification; CISSP – Certified Information Systems Security Professional (or Associate); PMP – Project Management Professional; ITIL – Information Technology Infrastructure Library

Benefits

401(k) with a 3% employer match; paid time off; paid holidays; FSA spending; dental; vision; health insurance; company-sponsored AD&D; life insurance; voluntary life; AD&D; accident; critical illness; hospital; pet insurance; bonus and/or other incentives