Cisco SD-WAN Solution Architect

Akkodis; Miami (FL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Akkodis is seeking a Cisco SD-WAN Solution Architect with deep expertise in enterprise SD-WAN architecture, design assurance, and large-scale deployment. You will independently review designs, guide customers, and drive scalable, production-ready solutions across complex environments.

Ideal candidates will have extensive Cisco SD-WAN/Viptela experience, knowledge of Catalyst platforms, and a track record delivering large-scale transformations.

Qualifications

• 20+ years of experience in enterprise networking, architecture, or engineering.
• 5+ years of hands-on Cisco SD-WAN / Viptela experience.
• Deep expertise in Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN architecture and deployment.
• Strong experience with Cisco Catalyst 8500 and 8300 platforms.

Responsibilities

• Independently review and validate Cisco SD-WAN architecture and designs against industry best practices.
• Assess topology, hub/mesh architecture, routing, segmentation, resiliency, multicast, and configuration strategies.
• Review Feature Profiles, Configuration Groups, Site Persona, Device Variable models for scalability and consistency.
• Identify architectural gaps, risks, configuration sprawl, and scalability concerns.
• Recommend standardization, automation, and orchestration improvements.
• Ensure architecture supports repeatable deployment across diverse site types and networks.

Skills

Cisco SD-WAN

Architectural review

Hub-spoke topology

Routing & segmentation

Scripting/Automation

Stakeholder comms

Tools

vManage

Templates

Policy design

Job description

Akkodis is seeking a Cisco SD-WAN Solution Architect with deep expertise in enterprise SD-WAN architecture, design assurance, and large-scale deployment.

The role will focus on independently reviewing SD-WAN architecture and implementation approaches, providing technical guidance, identifying design and scalability risks, and ensuring alignment with industry and implementation best practices. The architect will work closely with customer engineering teams, technology partners, and delivery teams through design, validation, deployment, and production readiness.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a Cisco SD-WAN architect with proven experience designing and delivering large-scale Viptela/Catalyst SD-WAN environments, rather than someone focused primarily on NOC or operational support.

The candidate should be capable of independently assessing complex designs, identifying architectural and implementation risks, working with Cisco and customer engineering teams, challenging assumptions where required, and driving the solution toward a scalable, production-ready architecture.

Key Responsibilities:

Independently review and validate Cisco SD-WAN architecture and detailed designs against industry and implementation best practices.

Assess topology, hub/mesh architecture, routing, segmentation, resiliency, multicast, and configuration strategies.

Review Feature Profile ? Configuration Group ? Site Persona ? Device Variable models for scalability, consistency, and operational efficiency.

Identify architectural gaps, technical risks, configuration sprawl, and scalability concerns.

Recommend standardization, automation, and orchestration improvements.

Ensure architecture is designed for repeatable deployment across diverse site types and network environments.

Cisco SD-WAN Technical Expertise

Provide deep technical guidance on Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN / Viptela architecture and implementation.

Review and validate configurations, templates, policies, and deployment models.

Evaluate Cisco technical recommendations and provide independent architectural assessment.

Troubleshoot complex SD-WAN design and implementation issues.

Provide guidance on routing, segmentation, IPsec overlays, multicast, QoS, application-aware routing, and resiliency.

Deployment & Production Readiness

Review lab and test results against production design intent.

Support build, integration, testing, and production deployment activities.

Participate in deployment readiness, cutover, rollback, and go-live planning.

Provide architecture support during implementation and resolve complex technical issues.

Capture lessons learned and incorporate improvements into subsequent deployment waves.

Develop repeatable deployment standards and playbooks.

Lead or participate in technical design reviews and architecture governance sessions.

Maintain technical risks, issues, decisions, and action items.

Drive closure of cross-functional technical issues and dependencies.

Identify deviations from approved architecture and recommend remediation.

Communicate complex technical issues and recommendations clearly to senior technical and business stakeholders.

Required Technical Skills

20+ years of experience in enterprise networking, network architecture, or network engineering.

5+ years of strong hands‑on Cisco SD‑WAN / Viptela experience.

Deep expertise in Cisco Catalyst SD‑WAN architecture and deployment.

Strong experience with Cisco Catalyst 8500 and 8300 platforms.

Strong knowledge of:

Cisco SD-WAN Manager / vManage

Feature Profiles and Configuration Groups

Device and site templates

Routing and segmentation

BGP, OSPF and static routing

IPsec and overlay architecture

Hub‑and‑spoke and hub‑mesh architectures

High availability and resiliency

QoS and application‑aware routing

MPLS, Internet and hybrid underlay integration

Strong understanding of configuration standardization and scalable deployment models.

Ability to review and troubleshoot SD‑WAN configurations at both architecture and implementation levels.

Preferred Skills & Experience:

Experience with large‑scale global SD‑WAN transformation programs.

Experience designing and deploying SD‑WAN across hundreds of sites.

Experience working directly with Cisco technical and architecture teams.

Experience migrating legacy WAN/MPLS environments to SD‑WAN.

Experience supporting multiple site personas and complex enterprise network environments.

Knowledge of SD‑WAN automation, APIs, scripting, and orchestration.

Experience developing reusable configuration templates, standards, and deployment playbooks.

Experience supporting production cutovers and network transformation programs.

CCIE or equivalent‑level Cisco networking expertise preferred.

Strong architectural judgment and independent decision‑making.

Ability to constructively challenge technical recommendations and drive the right architectural outcome.

Strong customer and stakeholder management skills.

Excellent verbal and written communication.

Ability to work effectively across customer, vendor, architecture, and delivery teams.

Strong ownership and accountability for technical outcomes.

Ability to translate complex technical discussions into clear decisions and actions.

Strong documentation and governance discipline.

Comfortable operating in complex, fast‑paced transformation environments.

Technical Gap Analysis and Remediation Recommendations

Architecture Standards and Configuration Guidelines

Technical Risk, Issue and Decision Tracking

Deployment and Cutover Readiness Assessment

• SD-WAN Deployment Playbook

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Benefit offerings available for our associates include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, additional voluntary benefits, an EAP program, commuter benefits, and a 401K plan. Our benefit offerings provide employees the flexibility to choose the type of coverage that meets their individual needs. In addition, our associates may be eligible for paid leave including Paid Sick Leave or any other paid leave required by Federal, State, or local law, as well as Holiday pay where applicable. Disclaimer: These benefit offerings do not apply to client‑recruited jobs and jobs that are direct hires to a client.

To read our Candidate Privacy Information Statement, which explains how we will use your information, please visit https://www.akkodis.com/en/privacy-policy.

The Company will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including, as applicable:

The California Fair Chance Act

Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers