Network Architect SME

Job description

# Network Architect SME > Ignite IT · Washington, United States (Hybrid) · Full-time · Posted 2026-08-17 **Workplace:** hybrid **Department:** CENSUS ## 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 ## Apply [Apply at Ignite IT](https://apply.workable.com/ignite-33/j/7ADF3F5253/apply) --- Powered by [Workable](https://www.workable.com)