Sr. Network Architect, Security & Operations

Summary

The Sr. Network Architect, Security & Operations will serve as a key technical leader, defining the strategic direction and future state of our network and security infrastructure. This role requires a visionary who can architect and govern the design of our network platforms while serving as the primary technical authority for our managed service provider (MSP). This is a hands-on role for a seasoned expert who can lead a complex, legacy environment through a complete security and modernization transformation.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform the following essential duties. Other duties may be assigned to address business needs and changing business practices.

• Define and govern the architecture, design standards, and lifecycle management for all network and security platforms, including routers, switches, and firewalls.
• Serve as the principal authority for all network security postures, designing and implementing enterprise-wide security frameworks.
• Pioneer the configuration and hardening of all deployed firewalls, including Cisco Meraki and Fortinet, setting a benchmark for secure network configurations.
• Establish the strategic roadmap for high-throughput WAN links and lead the technical direction of vendor relationships for transport services and dark fiber.
• Architect and oversee the implementation of organization-wide traffic isolation measures and cloud interconnects, setting a standard for multi-tenant security.
• Define the long-term strategy for modernizing our aging wireless infrastructure.

• Lead the assessment and modernization of our data centers, establishing the gold standard for resilience, high-availability (HA), and disaster recovery (DR) preparedness aligned with Uptime Tier, NIST, and ITIL standards.
• Act as the primary technical liaison for the network MSP, providing governance and ensuring all operational activities align with our architectural vision and security policies.
• Pioneer the cloud suitability analysis using a modified 6-R framework, providing a definitive technical and financial justification for each workload's migration path.
• Drive cost optimization initiatives and provide the technical expertise required for executive-level decision-making.

• Serve as the ultimate escalation point for complex networking issues, ensuring rapid resolution and establishing new procedures to prevent recurrence.
• Champion the adoption of infrastructure-as-code tools and network automation, setting the direction for technical best practices.
• Mentor and provide technical guidance to engineering teams across the organization, fostering a culture of operational excellence and security awareness.
• Lead the creation of all infrastructure documentation and SOPs, ensuring they meet the highest standards for operational handoff and knowledge transfer.

The following generally describes the requirements to perform the assigned duties successfully.

• Proven experience as a Principal Architect or equivalent, with a track record of defining and implementing enterprise-wide network and security strategies.
• Deep and demonstrable expertise in Cisco Meraki and Fortinet, with the ability to design complex, large-scale network and security solutions.
• Expert-level knowledge of network routing protocols (BGP, OSPF), WAN technologies, and network performance optimization.
• Extensive experience with cloud networking in Azure, including the design and governance of virtual firewalls and cloud-native network security.
• A strong understanding of cybersecurity frameworks and the ability to translate them into actionable network designs.
• Experience managing and governing large-scale MSP relationships.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence C-level executives and cross-functional teams.
• Relevant industry certifications such as Fortinet NSE 7/8, CCNP Security, or CISSP.

Work Environment This section describes the work…