Network Architect; SME

Job Title:

Network Architect (SME)

Location:

Hybrid - 2 days a week on-site - Suitland, MD

Salary: 200-250K

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.

• 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.

• 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.

• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) – Enterprise Infrastructure or equivalent
• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) – Enterprise
• Juniper Networks Certified Professional (JNCIP) or equivalent
• AWS Certified Advanced Networking – Specialty
• Microsoft Certified:
  Azure Network Engineer Associate
• CompTIA Security+ or equivalent security certification
• Certified…