Network Architect

Location: Chicago, IL
Work arrangement: Hybrid
Employment type: Full-time - 10 Month Contract (Mon-Friday 8am - 5pm)
Compensation: $65 per Hour

About the Role

We’re seeking a Senior Network Engineer with deep, hands-on expertise in data center networking, enterprise WAN and SD-WAN, and hybrid cloud connectivity.

In this role, you’ll personally implement, migrate, troubleshoot, and support complex production networks across global data centers, colocation facilities, cloud-connected environments, and enterprise sites. You’ll own challenging technical work with minimal direction while collaborating with Architecture, Cloud, Security, and Operations teams.

This position emphasizes engineering execution, with opportunities to contribute practical expertise to network design and architecture decisions.

What You’ll Do

• Implement, migrate, optimize, and troubleshoot Cisco Nexus and Catalyst networks, including BGP, OSPF, Layer 2/Layer 3 routing and switching, segmentation, redundancy, and high availability.
• Deploy and operate data center network fabrics and management platforms, preferably Cisco Nexus Dashboard Fabric Controller (NDFC).
• Design, deploy, migrate, and support enterprise WAN and SD-WAN services, including routing integration, policy, branch connectivity, and path selection.
• Implement and troubleshoot private cloud connectivity through Azure ExpressRoute and/or AWS Direct Connect.
• Lead complex network deployments and migrations, including dependency assessment, testing, change control, cutover, rollback planning, and post-change validation.
• Serve as a Tier 3 escalation point, independently diagnosing and resolving complex production network issues.
• Collaborate on network services involving firewalls, DNS/DHCP/IPAM, and application delivery and load balancing.
• Review network designs for operational readiness, supportability, implementation risk, and execution feasibility.
• Collaborate with automation engineers using Infrastructure as Code and modern engineering tools.
• Create and maintain network diagrams, implementation procedures, configuration standards, testing plans, and operational handoff documentation.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree.
• At least 10 years of hands-on experience deploying, migrating, managing, and supporting complex enterprise and data center networks.
• Expert-level implementation and troubleshooting experience with Cisco Nexus and Catalyst platforms.
• Strong knowledge of BGP, OSPF, Layer 2/Layer 3 design, network resiliency, segmentation, and production change execution.
• Deep experience with enterprise WAN and SD-WAN design, deployment, migration, and troubleshooting.
• Practical experience with Azure ExpressRoute and/or AWS Direct Connect, including BGP routing, route advertisement, and redundancy.
• Demonstrated ability to execute high-risk network migrations with thorough testing, rollback planning, and validation.
• Strong packet analysis, telemetry, monitoring, and troubleshooting skills across hybrid network environments.
• Familiarity with network automation concepts and willingness to learn and collaborate with automation-focused engineers. Advanced coding skills are not required.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including collaboration with vendors and globally distributed teams.
• Ability to take ownership of complex technical work and deliver results with minimal direction.

Preferred Qualifications

• CCNP-level knowledge strongly preferred; Cisco certifications such as CCNP or CCIE are a plus.
• Microsoft Azure networking certification associated with AZ-700.
• Hands-on experience with Prisma SD-WAN and Cisco NDFC strongly preferred.
• Experience with Cisco Catalyst Center.
• Experience with Palo Alto firewalls, Infoblox, and/or F5.
• Familiarity with Terraform, Ansible, Python, GitHub, GitHub Actions, Infrastructure as Code, or GitOps.
• Experience creating network automation code.

Apply

Submit your resume highlighting your hands-on experience with Cisco data center networking, SD-WAN deployments, complex network migrations, and hybrid cloud connectivity.