# Network Architect SME

**Company:** [Ignite IT](http://jobs.workable.com/companies/jUc37D4aDoeN33ZUj3qibv.md)
**Location:** Washington, United States
**Workplace:** hybrid
**Employment type:** Full-time
**Department:** CENSUS

[Apply for this job](http://jobs.workable.com/view/1e6e3b5e-bc5a-4fb5-965b-f6a1fe9fe8f9)

## 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**

**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.

**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