Senior Network Architect | Chicago, IL (Hybrid – Local Candidates Only)

We are looking for a highly experienced Senior Network Architect with strong hands-on expertise in enterprise data center networking, Cisco routing and switching, SD-WAN, and hybrid cloud connectivity. The ideal candidate will have 10+ years of experience implementing, migrating, managing, and troubleshooting complex enterprise network infrastructures.

Key Responsibilities

• Implement, migrate, optimize, and troubleshoot Cisco Nexus and Catalyst network environments.
• Design and support enterprise routing, switching, WAN, and SD-WAN infrastructure.
• Implement and troubleshoot hybrid cloud connectivity using Azure ExpressRoute and AWS Direct Connect.
• Lead complex network deployments and migrations across global data centers, colocation facilities, and enterprise locations.
• Provide Tier 3 technical support and resolve complex production network issues.
• Collaborate with Architecture, Engineering, Cloud, Security, and Operations teams.
• Develop implementation plans, network diagrams, testing procedures, rollback plans, and technical documentation.
• Contribute to network architecture and design decisions while maintaining a strong hands-on engineering focus.
• Support network automation and Infrastructure as Code initiatives.

Required Skills

• 10+ years of hands-on experience in enterprise and data center networking.
• Expert-level experience with Cisco Nexus and Catalyst switches.
• Strong knowledge of BGP, OSPF, Layer 2/Layer 3 networking, routing, switching, segmentation, and high availability.
• Strong experience in enterprise WAN and SD-WAN design, deployment, migration, and troubleshooting.
• Hands-on experience with Azure ExpressRoute and/or AWS Direct Connect.
• Experience with data center networking and colocation environments.
• Network automation knowledge and familiarity with Terraform, Ansible, Python, GitHub, and GitOps.
• Strong troubleshooting, packet analysis, monitoring, and network observability skills.
• Experience leading complex network migrations, production cutovers, rollback planning, and validation.

Preferred Skills

• CCNP-level networking knowledge; CCNP/CCIE certifications are a plus.
• Cisco NDFC and Catalyst Center.
• Prisma SD-WAN.
• Palo Alto firewalls.
• Infoblox (DNS/DHCP/IPAM).
• F5 load balancers.
• Infrastructure as Code (IaC) and GitHub Actions.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• 10+ years of relevant network engineering experience.
• Strong Cisco data center networking expertise.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to work independently and lead complex technical implementations.
• Must be local to Chicago, IL, and available for a hybrid work arrangement.
• Only US Citizens and Green Card holders will be considered.