About this opportunity
Ignite IT lists this Network Architect SME opportunity in washington, District of Columbia. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job 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.
Key Responsibilities
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Benefits
401(k)
401(k) matching
Dental insurance
Flexible spending account
Health insurance
Life insurance
Paid time off
Professional development assistance
Referral program
Tuition reimbursement
Vision insurance
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Worksite address
washington, DC, 20022, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.