Senior Network Architect

Title: Sr. Network Architect

Start date: Immediate need

Duration: 6+ Month Contract- strong possibility to extend

Years of experience: 10-15+

Must have-

• Google Cloud Platform (Google Cloud Platform) – Highest priority
• Microsegmentation and NSX
• AWS
• Azure
• Hybrid migration design (Google Cloud Platform, current to future state)

Summary:

We are seeking a Senior Network Architect to lead the design and evolution of a complex global enterprise network as the organization continues migrating applications and infrastructure from on-premises environments to Google Cloud Platform (Google Cloud Platform). This role requires deep network architecture and design expertise across both on-premises and cloud environments, with Google Cloud Platform as the primary cloud platform, AWS experience required, and limited Azure exposure. The Senior Network Architect will define scalable, resilient, and secure network solutions, evaluate architectural options, provide recommendations, and work alongside engineering teams through implementation. This individual will serve as a senior technical leader and peer to the Global Domain Architect in Europe, independently lead architecture discussions and working sessions, and provide clear direction and recommendations to business, security, cloud, and engineering stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the architecture and design of global enterprise network solutions across on-premises, Google Cloud Platform, AWS, and hybrid environments.
• Design network solutions supporting the migration of critical applications and infrastructure from the Memphis on-premises environment to Google Cloud Platform without disrupting business operations.
• Develop scalable, resilient, secure, and highly available network architecture aligned with global design standards.
• Gather business and technical requirements and translate them into comprehensive network architecture and design solutions.
• Evaluate complex design challenges and develop multiple solution options, clearly outlining the benefits, risks, limitations, and tradeoffs of each approach.
• Provide well-supported architectural recommendations based on business requirements, scalability, resiliency, security, compliance, cost, and long-term strategy.
• Independently lead architecture meetings, design reviews, technical working sessions, and discussions with business and technology stakeholders.
• Review proposed network designs, identify architectural gaps or risks, challenge assumptions, and recommend best design options.
• Partner with engineering teams throughout implementation to ensure solutions are deployed according to the approved architecture and design.
• Provide technical direction and guidance to senior and junior network engineers while maintaining accountability for architectural decisions.
• Partner closely with the Global Domain Architect in Europe to maintain consistency across global network standards and strategies.
• Coordinate across Network, Cloud, Information Security, Application, Infrastructure, and business teams to ensure solutions work across the broader enterprise architecture.
• Design network connectivity supporting large enterprise applications, cloud platforms, and software solutions operating across complex interconnected environments.
• Develop secure network segmentation and micro segmentation strategies, including environments containing cardholder data and other compliance-sensitive systems.
• Design multi-tier and multi-firewall architectures utilizing enterprise and cloud-native firewall technologies.
• Incorporate SASE concepts and technologies into the overall network architecture and future-state strategy.
• Drive network automation and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform and related tools.
• Support the development of network and cloud architecture roadmaps and help drive changes to existing network designs and standards.
• Proactively identify architectural flaws, risks, dependencies, and potential implementation challenges before they impact the business.
• Provide architectural oversight of projects to ensure design decisions and deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Communicate complex technical concepts, architectural decisions, and recommendations clearly to technical teams, business leaders, and executive stakeholders.

Requirements:

• 10+ years of experience across enterprise networking, network architecture, security, and cloud technologies.
• Extensive experience designing complex enterprise network architectures in large-scale, global environments.
• Strong experience with both traditional on-premises networking and cloud network architecture.
• Deep Google Cloud Platform (Google Cloud Platform) networking experience required.
• Proven experience designing network solutions supporting migrations from on-premises environments to Google Cloud Platform.
• Experience with AWS networking and hybrid connectivity required; Azure networking experience is beneficial but will be a smaller component of the role.
• Strong network design skills across complex hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
• Experience designing scalable, resilient, highly available, and secure network architectures.
• Expertise with network segmentation, micro segmentation, network security, and compliance-driven network design, including PCI/cardholder data environments.
• Strong knowledge of multi-firewall and tiered network architectures.
• Experience with Cisco, Palo Alto, cloud-native firewalls, VPNs, load balancing, routing, and related enterprise networking technologies.
• Strong Infrastructure as Code and network automation experience, including Terraform.
• Experience designing complex cloud network topologies, including multi-VPC environments and hybrid cloud connectivity.
• Familiar with SASE architecture and how SASE solutions integrate into enterprise network strategy.
• Ability to independently gather requirements, analyze complex design challenges, develop multiple architectural options, and provide clear recommendations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead architecture and design meetings and confidently defend technical recommendations.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to provide technical direction to engineering teams without requiring direct management responsibility.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, make architectural decisions, and represent the network architecture function in meetings without additional leadership present.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to work effectively with engineers, architects, business partners, Information Security, and executive leadership.
• Ability to identify weaknesses in proposed solutions, challenge assumptions professionally, and recommend stronger alternatives.
• Experience working across global teams and geographically distributed environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Cloudflare or other SASE platforms.
• Experience designing or implementing Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions.
• Experience with Cisco Nexus switching and enterprise wireless technologies such as Aruba, Aerohive, or Cisco.
• Experience with Cisco ISE and/or Aruba ClearPass for network access control.
• Experience with VMware NSX and network virtualization.
• Experience with SD-WAN technologies, including VMware VeloCloud.
• Experience with MPLS and the transition from traditional WAN architectures to cloud-based connectivity.
• Experience consolidating firewall platforms or migrating from traditional firewalls to cloud-native solutions.
• Experience migrating VPN infrastructure from Cisco ASA, Palo Alto, or similar platforms.
• Experience with Bitbucket or similar source-control platforms supporting Infrastructure as Code.
• Experience with coding, scripting, and broader infrastructure/network automation.
• Experience developing multi-year network architecture and cloud transformation roadmaps.
• Experience supporting highly complex enterprise application environments where legacy on-premises and cloud platforms operate in parallel.
• Google Cloud Professional Cloud Architect or related Google Cloud Platform certification preferred.
• Cisco CCNP or comparable advanced networking certification preferred.
• Experience working within global enterprise architecture standards and governance models.
• Limited travel, approximately 10%, may be required.