DescriptionJob Title: Network Architect (SME)
Location: Hybrid - 2 days a week on-site - Suitland, MD
Salary: 200-250K
SummaryWe are seeking a Subject Matter Expert (SME) Network Architect to join our team supporting a large-scale federal modernization program. This role owns enterprise and solution-level network architecture, designing secure, resilient network environments that support mission-critical systems and shared services across both cloud and on-premises boundaries, and driving the standards, target-state direction, and modernization roadmap that keep the network ready to scale.
This is a hands-on architecture role. You'll be expected to produce real technical designs and see them through implementation, not just set direction from a distance.
This is a hybrid role based out of Washington, DC. Candidates must be U.S. citizens.
Key Responsibilities1. Network Architecture & Design - Develop, review, and implement secure, resilient enterprise network architectures supporting mission systems and shared services.
- Produce and assess physical/logical diagrams, routing/segmentation, interfaces, connectivity, capacity, availability, and monitoring requirements.
- Design hybrid connectivity architecture spanning on-premises and cloud environments.
2. Standards & Target-State Direction - Define and maintain network architecture standards, reference patterns, and technical decisions.
- Set target-state network direction and modernization roadmap, balancing scale, security, resilience, and performance.
- Align network architecture with enterprise architecture governance and repository requirements.
3. Technical Reviews & Governance - Support technical reviews, architecture compliance reviews, phase gates, and implementation-readiness reviews.
- Evaluate proposed deviations and provide recommendations grounded in risk and architectural impact.
4. Gap Analysis & Modernization - Analyze current-state network gaps, technical debt, lifecycle risk, single points of failure, and performance bottlenecks.
- Provide recommendations for modernization, standardization, and optimization, including cost/performance tradeoffs.
5. Cross-Domain Coordination - Coordinate with cloud/platform, cybersecurity, identity, endpoint/mobility, applications, data, and ITSM teams, as well as external carriers and providers.
- Resolve complex cross-domain design conflicts under fixed milestones.
6. Documentation & Operational Handoff - Maintain standards, reference patterns, technical decisions, configurations, risks, and dependencies in approved repositories.
- Support implementation, testing, migration, and stabilization, and troubleshoot complex cross-domain problems, communicating root cause, options, and corrective actions.
Requirements- 12+ years of experience in network engineering, including significant architecture responsibility at enterprise scale.
- Strong fundamentals in TCP/IP, routing, switching, segmentation, DNS/DHCP/IPAM, load balancing, resiliency, performance, monitoring, and security.
- Demonstrated experience producing technical network designs and supporting implementation, testing, troubleshooting, and operational transition.
- Ability to work across cloud and on-premises boundaries and through formal security/architecture review processes.
- Strong documentation and communication skills, with experience presenting designs and tradeoffs to both engineers and leadership.
- U.S. Citizenship Required.
Preferred Certifications- Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) - Enterprise Infrastructure or equivalent
- Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) - Enterprise
- Juniper Networks Certified Professional (JNCIP) or equivalent
- AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate
- CompTIA Security+ or equivalent security certification
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) - preferred for candidates with significant network security responsibilities
- TOGAF - preferred for candidates with enterprise architecture/governance experience
Core Capabilities:
- Advanced and Managed IT Services
- Agile Software Development
- DevSecOps
- Cybersecurity
- Health IT
- C4ISR & SIGINT
- Data Center Engineering & Operations
- Engineering & Installation
********Direct Applicants, only. No Agencies, No third-party recruiters, please********
