Network Architect; SME

Position: Network Architect (SME)
Description

Job Title:

Network Architect (SME)

Location:

Hybrid - 2 days a week on-site - Suitland, MDSalary:  200-250K Summary 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
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.

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.

Preferred Certifications Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) – Enterprise Infrastructure or equivalent

Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) – Enterprise Juniper Networks Certified Professional (JNCIP) or equivalentAWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty Microsoft Certified:
Azure Network Engineer Associate

CompTIA Security+ or equivalent…