Head of Global Network Engineering & Architecture

Access Search, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Strong bonus

Job summary

Access Search, Inc. seeks a leader for Network Engineering to drive strategy, architecture, and operational excellence for a global network supporting over 1,000 employees across 30 international locations.

The role combines strategic leadership with hands-on engineering, focusing on cloud connectivity, modernization, security, and growth in a hybrid/multi-cloud environment.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in network engineering, infrastructure, and enterprise architecture.
• 3+ years leading technical teams while hands-on.
• Experience designing and supporting large-scale global networks across regions.
• Deep expertise in routing, switching, WAN, SD-WAN, BGP, OSPF, MPLS.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute long-term vision, standards, and roadmap for enterprise network infrastructure.
• Lead design and evolution of global WAN, LAN, wireless, internet, and cloud networks.
• Build cloud connectivity strategies across Azure and other clouds, including ExpressRoute and hybrid networking.
• Establish standards for routing, switching, security, segmentation, and automation.
• Drive modernization initiatives to improve performance, resiliency, and user experience globally.
• Be the senior technical authority for complex network issues affecting operations.

Skills

Network architecture

Team leadership

Cloud connectivity

Vendor management

Security collaboration

Zero Trust

Tools

Azure VNets

ExpressRoute

Cisco

Palo Alto

Arista

Job description

We are seeking a new leader of Network Engineering to drive the strategy, architecture, and operational excellence of a complex global network environment supporting more than 1,000 employees across 30 international locations. This is a highly visible player‑coach role, ideal for a networking leader who thrives on balancing strategic leadership with hands‑on technical execution.

Approximately 30% of the role focuses on team leadership, mentorship, vendor management, and strategic planning, while 70% is dedicated to network architecture, cloud connectivity, modernization initiatives, and advanced engineering challenges. The successful candidate will play a critical role in maturing the organization’s global network infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on designing and optimizing cloud connectivity, improving resiliency, enhancing security, and enabling future growth across a hybrid and multi‑cloud environment.

What You’ll Do

Network Architecture & Strategy

• Define and execute the long‑term vision, standards, and roadmap for the enterprise network infrastructure.
• Lead the design and evolution of global WAN, LAN, wireless, internet, and cloud networking architectures.
• Build and mature enterprise‑scale cloud connectivity strategies across Azure and other cloud platforms, including ExpressRoute, cloud transit architectures, and hybrid networking solutions.
• Establish architectural standards and best practices across routing, switching, security, segmentation, and network automation.
• Drive network modernization initiatives that improve performance, scalability, resiliency, and user experience globally.
• Serve as the senior technical authority and final escalation point for complex network issues impacting business operations.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of network engineers, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Create engineering standards, operational procedures, and career development frameworks for the networking organization.
• Partner closely with Security, Infrastructure, Cloud, and Operations teams to align technology strategies and execution.
• Guide managed service providers and third‑party partners to ensure service quality and operational excellence.
• Communicate network strategy, risks, and investment priorities to senior technology and business stakeholders.

Operations & Governance

• Oversee global network performance, availability, capacity planning, and lifecycle management.
• Establish governance processes around network documentation, change management, configuration standards, and operational readiness.
• Manage vendor relationships, carrier contracts, licensing agreements, and service‑level expectations.
• Support strategic budgeting, forecasting, and infrastructure planning initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive experience in network engineering, infrastructure, and enterprise architecture.
• 3+ years of experience leading technical teams while maintaining hands‑on engineering responsibilities.
• Extensive experience designing and supporting large‑scale global networks spanning multiple regions and office locations.
• Deep expertise in routing, switching, WAN technologies, SD‑WAN, BGP, OSPF, MPLS, and enterprise networking protocols.
• Proven experience designing hybrid and multi‑cloud connectivity solutions at enterprise scale.
• Strong experience with Microsoft Azure networking services including VNets, ExpressRoute, network security architecture, and cloud connectivity optimization.
• Advanced knowledge of Cisco, Palo Alto Networks, Arista, and enterprise‑grade networking platforms.
• Experience designing and implementing Zero Trust, segmentation, and SASE‑based networking strategies.
• Strong understanding of network security principles and collaboration with cybersecurity teams.
• Demonstrated success managing vendors, carriers, and managed service providers.

Preferred Qualifications

• Cisco CCNP, CCIE, Arista ACE, Palo Alto PCNSE, Azure Network Engineer Associate, or comparable certifications.
• Experience leading global cloud migration programs and enterprise network transformation initiatives.
• Expertise with network monitoring, automation, infrastructure‑as‑code, and operational analytics.
• Familiarity with Telecom Expense Management (TEM) programs and carrier lifecycle management.
• Experience supporting financial services, highly regulated industries, or other mission‑critical enterprise environments.

Base plus a very strong Bonus - excellent total comp!