Network Architect

• Define and advance the long-term technical vision and architecture for the department’’s Enterprise Data Network (EDN), translating institutional requirements into scalable, secure, resilient network solutions.
• Provide architecture and engineering leadership for enterprise LAN, WAN, wireless, data center, cloud, hybrid networking, and network security technologies.
• Lead complex network infrastructure projects and modernization initiatives that improve reliability, resiliency, scalability, security, and operational efficiency.
• Develop enterprise network architecture standards, engineering standards, reference architectures, technical roadmaps, lifecycle recommendations, and supporting documentation.
• Design highly available network infrastructure and connectivity across campus, data center, cloud, and external service environments.
• Advance network automation, orchestration, Infrastructure as Code, and deployment practices that improve consistency, efficiency, and reliability.
• Develop and improve enterprise monitoring, observability, alerting, analytics, capacity planning, and operational metrics supporting proactive infrastructure management.
• Provide senior technical leadership for complex infrastructure issues, priority incidents, architecture decisions, and advanced engineering challenges.
• Coordinate network architecture and engineering initiatives with Network Operations, Information Security, Cloud Services, Physical Network Infrastructure, Facilities Planning, project teams, vendors, contractors, and campus stakeholders.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, support technical procurement and vendor evaluations, and provide knowledge transfer and documentation supporting long-term operational sustainability.

Daily duties / responsibilities:

• Provide technical and project leadership for enterprise network architecture, advanced engineering, modernization, and infrastructure implementation initiatives, including hands-on engineering when required.
• Design and engineer scalable, resilient, and secure LAN, WAN, wireless, data center, cloud, VPN, firewall, and Network Access Control solutions.
• Develop and maintain enterprise network architectures, engineering standards, technical roadmaps, network diagrams, and other technical documentation; review and validate network designs and engineering solutions developed by other technical staff.
• Analyze institutional, business, and technical requirements and translate them into enterprise network designs and implementation strategies.
• Lead network modernization, lifecycle planning, capacity planning, and remediation of aging or at-risk infrastructure.
• Develop and implement monitoring, observability, automation, orchestration, and operational metrics to proactively assess and improve enterprise network health, capacity, performance, and operational efficiency.
• Serve as a senior technical resource and Tier III escalation point for complex network incidents and engineering issues, performing advanced troubleshooting and providing architecture-level guidance and resolution when required.
• Coordinate architecture and engineering activities with Network Operations, Information Security, Physical Network Infrastructure, Facilities Planning, project teams, contractors, consultants, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and solutions and provide technical recommendations supporting procurement, investment, and long-term infrastructure planning.
• Provide technical mentoring, knowledge transfer, and engineering guidance to Network Operations and other technical personnel; participate in maintenance windows and after-hours support when required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• 4+ years of experience with enterprise network architecture and engineering within complex, mission-critical environments.
• 4+ years of experience with LAN/WAN technologies, including Client enterprise routing and switching, TCP/IP, enterprise routing protocols, DNS, DHCP, and IPAM.
• 4+ years of experience leading complex network architecture and engineering initiatives from requirements and design through implementation, troubleshooting, and operational transition.
• 4+ years of experience with enterprise infrastructure modernization, lifecycle planning, capacity planning, resiliency, and high-availability design.
• 4+ years of experience with network security architecture and technologies, including Fortinet firewalls and VPN/SASE technologies, Network Access Control (NAC), segmentation, and security policy implementation.
• 4+ years of experience with cloud and hybrid networking, including AWS or Microsoft Clienture.
• 4+ years of experience with network automation, orchestration, scripting, and Infrastructure as Code concepts and technologies.
• 4+ years of experience with enterprise network monitoring, observability, analytics, metrics, and performance management.

Required education/certifications:

• Bachelor’’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related discipline or equivalent work experience.

Preferred skills (rank in order of importance):

• Experience developing enterprise network strategy, architecture standards, reference architectures, and long-term technology roadmaps.
• Experience supporting network architecture and engineering in a complex higher education environment, including academic, research, administrative, and other diverse institutional technology requirements.
• Experience with Aruba and Cisco enterprise switching and wireless technologies, including software-defined and centrally managed network architectures.
• Experience implementing enterprise observability, telemetry, automation, and proactive or self-healing infrastructure capabilities.
• Experience with virtualization, cloud networking, and hybrid cloud infrastructure.
• Experience coordinating infrastructure projects with facilities organizations, architects, contractors, consultants, and external engineering firms.
• Experience supporting enterprise cybersecurity, zero-trust, segmentation, and secure network architecture initiatives.

Preferred education/certifications:

• Client Networks Certified Professional - Enterprise Routing and Switching (JNCIP-ENT) or higher.
• Fortinet Certified Professional (FCP) or higher certification relevant to network security, firewalls, or secure networking.
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP Enterprise) or Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE).
• Aruba networking certification relevant to enterprise switching, wireless, or network architecture.
• AWS or Microsoft Clienture certification relevant to advanced networking or cloud network architecture.
• ITIL Foundation or higher.
• CompTIA Security+

Additional skills:

• Technical documentation, standards development, and architecture diagrams.
• Project management and enterprise implementation experience.
• Technical mentoring and knowledge transfer.
• Excellent written, verbal, analytical, and customer service skills.
• Advanced troubleshooting and technical leadership during complex or mission-critical network incidents.
• Strong technical communication, documentation, stakeholder coordination, vendor management, and knowledge-transfer skills.
• Demonstrated project leadership experience coordinating complex technical initiatives across multiple teams, stakeholders, vendors, and organizational units.