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# Network Architect SME

- **Company:** Ignite, LLC
- **Location:** Washington, DC, United States
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Cloud Computing, Cyber Security, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, Domain Name System (DNS), Network Architecture, Network Planning and Design, Routing, Zero Trust Network Access, TCP/IP, Wide Area Networks, Load Balancing, Cloud Platform System, Technical Debt, Juniper, Infrastructure Automation Frameworks, SDN Network, Open Network Automation Platform, Cisco
- **Published:** October 16, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.thejobnetwork.com/job/aa2bf774-a3ae-4be1-95ea-6ecec8e25719/network-architect-sme

## About the Role

* 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.

Nice to Have

 * Direct federal, government, or large distributed enterprise network experience.
 * Relevant Cisco, Juniper, cloud networking, SD-WAN, wireless, security, or architecture certifications.
 * Experience with network automation, infrastructure as code, software-defined networking, zero trust, SASE/SSE, and observability.
 * Experience with enterprise architecture repositories and technology standards/roadmaps.

## Description

We 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., 1. 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.