Architect, SDN

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Illinois.

📋 Description

• Design technical architectures for Cloud, Data Center, Collaboration, and Campus Networks technologies utilizing manufacturer products.

• Enhance deployment architectures proposed by the Solutions Architecture Group.

• Monitor technology trends, customer requirements, and market demands to suggest, adjust, and implement solution architectures.

• Offer technical guidance on Data Center Networks technologies to both pre-sales and post-sales engineers.

• Execute project-based engineering, design, installation, and troubleshooting of data and security networks.

• Direct customer projects through the phases of design, implementation, testing, support, expansions, refreshes, and upgrades.

• Deploy data center network solutions that include LAN routing, switching, and security configurations.

• Provide consulting, assessments, design, and implementation services in network engineering.

• Aid clients in planning, designing, and implementing data center communications networks.

• Generate network assessments, capacity plans, detailed design documents, implementation strategies, configurations, and change orders.

• Facilitate technical discussions, comprehend business requirements, and convert them into functional specifications.

• Showcase technical designs and new product enablement to clients.

• Create graphical and text-based design documentation and manage implementation until customer acceptance.

• Perform peer reviews of implementations, configurations, and documentation.

• Support team members with deployments and best practices.

• Engage in ongoing learning and achieve vendor-related certifications.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience and/or military background.

• Over 5 years of networking experience, including the configuration, analysis, and troubleshooting of complex networks.

• Cisco CCNP/CCIE certification or equivalent experience.

• In-depth knowledge and experience in the design, implementation, and support of at least two of the listed networking technologies.

• Required Cisco networking experience; Nexus experience is highly preferred.

• Familiarity with complex routing and switching, network virtualization, ACI, NSX, SD-Access, Cisco UCS, vSphere Distributed Networking, Webex Calling routing via Equinix, OSPF, EIGRP, BGP, data center interconnect, Cisco operating systems, WAN connectivity, SD-WAN, DM-VPN, cloud connect services, load balancing, and Cisco Meraki.

• Proficiency or familiarity with Python, Ruby, or Ansible.

• Strong understanding of IP networking, enterprise architecture, IPSec, routers, switches, load balancers, firewalls, and security appliances.

• Previous experience collaborating closely with customers and working alongside IT staff.

• Extensive industry knowledge and expertise in creating comprehensive solutions.

• Excellent communication skills.

• Experience in documentation using Microsoft Visio, Word, and Excel.

• Preferred experience with Cisco Arista.

• Preferred experience in firewall/VPN administration.

• Familiarity with LDAP/TACACS+, Multicast PIM, MSDP, QoS, IDS/IPS, malware prevention, load balancing/acceleration, 802.1x, RADIUS, TACACS, RSA, VMware, Citrix, and Cisco WLAN solutions is preferred or advantageous.

• Driven and goal-oriented, with the initiative to see tasks through to completion.

🏝️ Benefits

• Equal Opportunity Employer.

• Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

• Employer-sponsored professional development through vendor-related certifications.

• Opportunity to engage with emerging technologies including AI, cloud solutions, cybersecurity, networking, digital transformation, and cloud computing.