Network Architect

Prodapt Solutions Private Limited; Chennai District; On-site; INR 2,500,000 - 4,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Prodapt Solutions Private Limited is seeking a Network Architect to design and govern enterprise network architecture across data center, WAN, cloud, and hybrid environments. The role involves translating requirements into scalable, secure designs and making trade-off decisions on cost, risk, and performance.

You will lead architecture across large programmes, collaborate with infrastructure, security, cloud, and application teams, and ensure end-to-end coherence while managing stakeholder

Qualifications

• Strong fundamentals in routing and protocols (BGP, OSPF, TCP/IP).
• Experience with data center networking and fabric design.
• Knowledge of network security principles (segmentation, access control).
• Familiarity with software-defined networking and VXLAN/overlay networks.

Responsibilities

• Design enterprise network architecture across data center, WAN, cloud, and hybrid environments.
• Define standards, patterns, and reference architectures.
• Ensure scalability, resiliency and security by design.
• Lead architecture across large, multi-domain programmes and collaborate with multiple teams.
• Align stakeholders across security, operations, business and vendors.

Skills

BGP

OSPF

TCP/IP

Data center networking

Network security

SDN

VXLAN

Hybrid cloud networking

Python

Linux networking

Tools

NSX

APIs

Job description

Overview

A Network Architect is responsible for designing and governing network architecture that supports business services.

This includes translating requirements into scalable, secure, and resilient designs, and making informed trade-off decisions across cost, risk, and performance.

Responsibilities

Core Responsibilities

1. Architecture and Design

• Design enterprise network architecture across data center, WAN, cloud, and hybrid environments
• Define standards, patterns, and reference architectures
• Ensure scalability, resiliency, and security by design

1. Trade-off and Decision Making

• Balance performance, cost, risk, and operability
• Evaluate competing approaches (e.g., overlay vs underlay, vendor vs open solutions)
• Make design decisions at the system level rather than the device level
• This is a key differentiator compared to a technical project manager or engineer

1. Vendor and Technology Neutrality

• Evaluate technologies across multiple vendors (e.g., Cisco, VMware, Juniper) and open source.
• Avoid designing around a single vendor's constraints or bias
• Select solutions based on best architectural fit

1. Complex Programme Delivery

• Lead architecture across large, multi-domain programmes
• Collaborate with infrastructure, security, cloud, and application teams
• Own end-to-end design coherence rather than isolated components
• Typically involves large-scale enterprise or highly regulated environments with multi-region and high-resilience requirements

1. Stakeholder Management (Conflict Handling)

• Align stakeholders across security, operations, business, and vendors
• Manage conflicting requirements such as:
  • Security vs usability
  • Cost vs resiliency
  • Speed vs governance
• Drive decisions to closure through effective communication

1. Governance and Standards

• Define and enforce network standards
• Review designs to ensure alignment with architectural principles
• Provide guidance to engineering and delivery teams

Requirements

Required Skills

• Technical (Core Expectations)
• Strong fundamentals:
  • Routing and protocols: BGP (mandatory), OSPF, TCP/IP
  • Data center networking and fabric design
  • Network security principles (e.g., segmentation, access control)
• Modern enterprise stack:
  • Software-defined networking (e.g., NSX)
  • VXLAN and overlay networking
  • Hybrid cloud networking
  • Network automation (e.g., Python, APIs)
• Platform expertise:
  • Strong Linux and networking integration
  • Ability to troubleshoot network issues at the operating system level
  • Y working with containers and infrastructure tooling
• Experience
  • Proven delivery of complex, enterprise-scale projects
  • Preferably within financial services or similarly regulated environments
  • Experience with:
    • High availability and disaster recovery designs
    • Multi-region and data center interconnects
    • Secure access models
• Soft Skills (Critical for the Role)
  • Strong ability to articulate trade-offs
  • Confidence in constructively challenging stakeholders
  • Clear communication across both technical and non-technical audiences
  • Ability to drive decisions, not just facilitate discussions
• Anti-Patterns (What This Role Is Not)
  • Not a technical project manager
  • Not limited to facilitating discussions
  • Not focused solely on explaining architecture without making decisions

Not driven by vendor-led solutions