Network Architect

Job Description

****CONTRACT ROLE**** Overview A Network Architect plays a crucial role in designing, implementing, and maintaining an organization's network infrastructure. This position requires a blend of technical expertise, strategic thinking, and the ability to collaborate with various teams to ensure the efficient and reliable operation of IT network equipment. Responsibilities Design and Architecture: Develop comprehensive network solutions that meet the organization's network management requirements, including high availability, performance, scalability, and security. Create detailed architectural plans and documentation. Implementation: Oversee the deployment and configuration of network systems, ensuring they are integrated seamlessly with the existing infrastructure like server and storage infrastructure. Collaborate with IT staff to implement best practices. Maintenance and Optimization: Perform regular maintenance, monitoring, and tuning of network systems to ensure optimal performance and reliability. Identify and resolve issues proactively. Capacity Planning: Conduct capacity planning and forecasting to anticipate future network needs. Make recommendations for network hardware and software upgrades as necessary. Security: Implement and enforce security protocols as necessary and ensure compliance with relevant regulations and policies. Perform regular audits and vulnerability assessments. Disaster Recovery: Develop and maintain disaster recovery plans and procedures as necessary. Collaboration: Work closely with other infrastructure teams and application developers, to ensure a cohesive approach to network management. Documentation: Maintain comprehensive documentation of the network environment, including system configurations, procedures, and troubleshooting guides. Training and Support: Provide training and support to IT staff and end-users on network-related issues and best practices. Research and Development: Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies. Evaluate new products and solutions to determine their potential impact on the organization's network infrastructure. Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, or a related field. Advanced degrees and certifications are a plus. Experience: Proven experience in network architecture, design, and implementation. Familiarity with various network technologies, firewalls and vendors (e.g., Cisco). Technical Skills: Strong understanding of networking protocols, monitoring tools. Analytical Skills: Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills. Ability to diagnose and resolve complex technical issues. Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders. Teamwork: Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills. Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Project Management: Experience managing projects and leading cross-functional teams. Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively. Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changing technologies and evolving business requirements. Willingness to learn and grow professionally. Preferred Skills Certifications: Relevant networking certifications are highly desirable. Cloud Experience: Experience with cloud networking solutions and hybrid environments. Virtualization: Familiarity with virtualization technologies (e.g., VMware, Hyper-V). Performance Tuning: Expertise in performance tuning and optimization of networking systems. Security: Knowledge of security best practices and experience with data encryption and protection techniques. Work Environment The network Architect typically works in an office environment but may be required to perform tasks in data centers or remote locations. The role may involve occasional travel, on-call duties, and the need to work outside regular business hours to address urgent issues or perform maintenance activities.