Lead Network Architect

Akkodis; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 117,096 - 121,228; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) plan

Paid Sick Leave

Holiday pay

Job summary

A leading technology consulting firm is seeking a Lead Network Architect for a full-time position in Baltimore, Maryland. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and a minimum of ten years of experience designing and managing complex enterprise networks. Responsibilities include serving as the primary technical authority, owning network performance, and providing architectural leadership. Benefits include medical, dental, and a 401(k) plan, along with paid leave as mandated by law.

Qualifications

• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience designing, implementing, and managing complex enterprise network infrastructures.
• Current senior-level network certification such as CCIE, JNCIE, or equivalent advanced certification.
• Demonstrated expertise with Cisco routing and switching architectures.

Responsibilities

• Serving as the primary technical authority for enterprise network architecture.
• Owning overall network performance, resiliency, scalability, and security posture.
• Providing architectural leadership for backbone, metro, long-haul, and fiber infrastructure designs.

Skills

Cisco routing and switching architectures

Enterprise firewall environments

Network performance optimization

Technical leadership and mentorship

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering or related field

Tools

Cisco platforms

Palo Alto platforms

Job description

Lead Network Architect – Full‑time position with a client located in Baltimore, Maryland.

Pay Range: $85-88/hr. Hourly wage may be negotiable based on experience, education, geographic location, and other factors.

Job responsibilities

• Serving as the primary technical authority for enterprise network architecture and engineering decisions.
• Owning overall network performance, resiliency, scalability, and security posture.
• Leading architecture and design across Cisco routing and switching environments and Cisco and Palo Alto firewall platforms.
• Acting as the senior technical escalation point for Priority 1 and Major Incident events.
• Architecting and governing core, distribution, and access layer network designs.
• Defining and approving high‑availability, scalable, and secure firewall architectures.
• Providing architectural leadership for backbone, metro, long‑haul, and fiber infrastructure designs.
• Validating complex network engineering solutions prior to production deployment.
• Driving continuous improvement through optimization and lifecycle planning initiatives.
• Providing technical leadership, mentorship, and design governance for network engineering teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Systems, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience designing, implementing, and managing complex enterprise network infrastructures.
• Current senior‑level network certification such as CCIE, JNCIE, or equivalent advanced certification.
• Demonstrated expertise with Cisco routing and switching architectures.
• Proven experience designing and supporting enterprise firewall environments using Cisco and Palo Alto platforms.
• Experience supporting large backbone networks and fiber infrastructure.

Strongly Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting public‑sector, government, or highly regulated environments.
• Familiarity with governance, compliance, and audit‑driven delivery models.
• Ability to align network architecture decisions with policy, security, and operational requirements.

Time Commitment and Availability

• Full‑time, dedicated Key Personnel resource.
• Reachable 24x7x365 for Priority 1 and Major Incident escalations.
• Available on‑site when requested by the Client.

Benefit offerings include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short‑term disability, additional voluntary benefits, EAP program, commuter benefits, and a 401(k) plan. Associates may be eligible for paid leave, including Paid Sick Leave and holiday pay, as required by federal, state, or local law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled

Military connected talent encouraged to apply