Lead Network Architect – SDA + SD-WAN

Neev; India; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 6,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Neev is seeking a Lead Network Architect to design and govern enterprise SDA and SD-WAN transformations across global campuses, branches, WANs, and cloud connectivity. You will define architecture standards, rollout strategies, migration approaches, and performance governance for large-scale modernization initiatives.

You will lead policy, segmentation, and security integration using Cisco SDA, DNA Center, ISE, and related technologies, while mentoring engineers through rollout phases and

Qualifications

• 10+ years of enterprise network architecture experience.
• Proven leadership in SDA and SD-WAN transformations.
• Strong knowledge of Cisco SDA, DNA Center, ISE, SGT, VRFs.

Responsibilities

• Define enterprise SDA and SD-WAN architecture blueprints for campus, branch, WAN and cloud connectivity.
• Develop High-Level and Low-Level Designs, migration patterns, templates, and reference architectures.
• Plan brownfield-to-SDA migrations with minimal business disruption.
• Design SD-WAN underlay/overlay, routing, QoS, and security integration patterns.
• Drive architecture reviews, governance boards, risk reviews, and technical decision forums.

Skills

SDA Design

SD-WAN

Cisco DNA Center

Policy & Security

Routing & Switching

Network Automation

Vendor Expertise

Tools

Python

Ansible

APIs

Job description

Lead Network Architect – SDA + SD-WAN

Experience 10–15+ Years

We are seeking an experienced Lead Network Architect responsible for designing, leading, and governing enterprise SDA and SD-WAN transformation programs across global campus, branch, WAN, and hybrid connectivity environments. The role involves defining architecture standards, rollout strategy, migration approach, performance governance, and operational readiness for large-scale network modernization initiatives.

Architecture & Design

• Define enterprise SDA and SD-WAN architecture blueprints covering campus fabric, branch connectivity, segmentation, policy, and security integration
• Develop High-Level Designs, Low-Level Designs, migration patterns, templates, and validated reference architectures
• Align network architecture with business requirements, site profiles, application criticality, resiliency needs, and operational constraints

SDA / Campus Fabric

• Lead Cisco SDA design across control plane, fabric edge, border, wireless integration, identity services, and macro/micro-segmentation
• Define policies using Cisco DNA Center, ISE, SGTs, VRFs, VN mappings, and access control models
• Plan brownfield-to-SDA migration strategies with minimal business disruption

SD-WAN Strategy & Rollout

• Design SD-WAN underlay and overlay architectures across DIA, MPLS, broadband, LTE/5G, and cloud connectivity models
• Define routing, segmentation, application-aware policies, QoS, traffic steering, failover, and security integration patterns
• Create rollout factory models, site readiness checklists, wave plans, and success criteria for large-scale deployments

Governance & Stakeholder Management

• Drive architecture reviews, design governance boards, risk reviews, and technical decision forums
• Collaborate with customer architecture, operations, security, application, cloud, and service provider teams
• Provide technical leadership to implementation teams and mentor network engineers across rollout phases

Required Skills

• Cisco SDA, Cisco DNA Center / Catalyst Center, Cisco ISE, TrustSec, SGT, LISP, VXLAN, VRF, and fabric segmentation
• Cisco SD-WAN / Meraki SD-WAN or equivalent enterprise SD-WAN platforms
• Strong routing and switching expertise: BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, MPLS, QoS, multicast, high availability, and route redistribution
• Experience with WAN transformation, branch modernization, cloud connectivity, Zscaler/SASE integration, and enterprise security policy enforcement

Good to Have

• Automation using Python, Ansible, APIs, and network validation scripts
• Experience with observability, AIOps, network assurance, telemetry, and performance monitoring platforms
• Exposure to multi-vendor campus and WAN environments including Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto, Aruba, Juniper, and F5

Certifications (Preferred)

• CCNP / CCIE Enterprise
• Cisco SD-WAN / SDA / Catalyst Center certifications
• Cloud networking or SASE-related certifications

Skills: ansible,cisco,sd wan,cisco dna,python,sda