Sr Principal Network Architect; Hopkins, MN or Norwalk, CT - Hybrid

Ventus, part of Digi International, is an industry leader in IT networking innovations, leveraging technology to produce market-driving network solutions. Operating from over 20 years of experience delivering secure enterprise class networks, Ventus develops cellular wireless and fixed line SD-WAN, Hybrid WAN, and Cellular WAN solutions for an expanding array of business connectivity applications.

Location: Hopkins, MN or Norwalk, CT. Hybrid - weekly office presence.

We are seeking a highly skilled Network Architect to design, evolve, and scale our next-generation managed service provider (MSP) network platforms. The ideal candidate is an expert in TCP/IP networking, site-to-site connectivity, and multi-site routing technologies, with extensive hands‑on experience architecting large-scale, highly available, and secure network infrastructures across hybrid on‑premises and AWS cloud environments.

This role is both strategic and deeply technical: you will define network architecture blueprints, drive modernization initiatives, and set technical standards, while also being capable of diving into packet flows, routing tables, and VPN configurations when needed.

• Design and architect large-scale MSP network infrastructures, including multi‑tenant environments and distributed systems.
• Develop and maintain reference architectures and network designs leveraging TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, and modern routing protocols.
• Architect and deploy VPN technologies, including IPsec, and GRE tunnels, ensuring resilient, secure interconnectivity across customer sites and cloud environments.
• Design and optimize multicast routing strategies for real‑time, large‑scale data distribution and latency‑sensitive applications.
• Lead hybrid connectivity initiatives spanning on‑premises datacenters and AWS using technologies such as Direct Connect, VPC peering, and route control policies.
• Serve as the organization’s subject matter expert for Cisco‑based enterprise and MSP‑grade solutions, influencing vendor strategy, hardware selection, and lifecycle planning.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Dev Ops, Security, and cloud architecture teams to deliver reliable, scalable, and secure network platforms.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, conduct POCs, and recommend solutions to support growth, performance, and operational excellence.
• Participate in tier‑4 escalation support, mentoring, and peer reviews to elevate technical capability across the team.

• 10+ years of progressive experience in network engineering and architecture, with at least 5 years supporting MSP or multi‑customer environments.
• Deep, demonstrable expertise in:
  • TCP/IP networking and advanced routing
  • IPsec / GRE / SSL VPN technologies
  • Multicast protocols (PIM, IGMP, MSDP)
  • Layer 2/3 network design, segmentation, and QoS
  • Strong hands‑on experience architecting hybrid network topologies spanning on‑prem and AWS cloud, including core services like VPC, TGW, NACLs, Security Groups, and AWS networking best practices.
  • Expert‑level experience with Cisco networking platforms (routers, switches, firewalls, wireless, SD‑WAN).
  • Industry certifications, ideally active CCNP (preferred) or CCNA; CCIE is a significant plus.
  • Proven experience with network monitoring, diagnostics, and performance optimization.
  • Strong documentation skills and ability to create clear, actionable architecture diagrams and standards.

• Experience with Zero Trust architectures and modern security frameworks.
• Knowledge of AWS networking automation, including APIs, Cloud Formation, or Terraform.
• Exposure to SD‑WAN solutions, for example Cisco Meraki or Cisco Viptela.
• Familiarity with high‑density, multi‑tenant network designs common in MSP or carrier‑grade environments.
• Background in real‑time communications, or latency‑sensitive workloads.
• Experience with Dev Ops tooling and CI/CD pipelines for network automation.

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to collaborate across diverse technical and business teams.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to mentor engineers and influence architectural direction.
• Analytical…