Lead Principal, Enterprise Network Architect

Ingram Micro Inc; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 191,000 - 324,000; Full time

Job summary

Ingram Micro Inc. is seeking a Lead Principal Enterprise Network Architect to shape the enterprise network strategy, standards, and modernization.

The role focuses on defining reference architectures, governing standards, and translating business needs into architecture deliverables across campus, WAN, data centers, cloud, and Zero Trust initiatives. You will lead the evaluation of emerging technologies, develop ARDs, review designs from MSPs and vendors, and mentor teams on architecture

Qualifications

• 10+ years in enterprise networking, infrastructure, or network architecture.
• 5+ years in senior/lead/principal enterprise architecture roles.
• Experience defining standards, reference architectures, and governance processes.
• Experience reviewing and approving network designs.
• Ability translating business/security requirements into architecture deliverables.
• Strong knowledge of TCP/IP, routing, switching, VPN, SD-WAN, SASE, and cloud networking.

Responsibilities

• Define and maintain enterprise network architecture strategy and roadmaps.
• Develop modular network patterns for campus, WAN, cloud, hybrid data centers, and Zero Trust.
• Establish guardrails for scalability, automation, resiliency, observability, and security.
• Review network design submissions from MSPs, vendors, and internal teams.
• Translate requirements into ARDs and solution designs.
• Produce architecture documentation and implementation guidance.

Skills

Enterprise networking

Architecture governance

Reference architectures

Security & Zero Trust

Cloud networking concepts

TOGAF knowledge

Cross-functional communication

Vendor/MSP collaboration

Network automation (IaC)

Tools

Fortinet

Cisco Meraki

Ansible

Terraform

APIs

Job description

Accelerate your career. Join the organization that’s driving the world’s technology and shape the future. Ingram Micro is a leading technology company for the global information technology ecosystem. With the ability to reach nearly 90% of the global population, we play a vital role in the worldwide IT sales channel, bringing products and services from technology manufacturers and cloud providers to business-to-business technology experts. Our market reach, diverse solutions and services portfolio, and digital platform Ingram Micro Xvantage set us apart. Learn more at www.ingrammicro.com Come join our team where you’ll make technology happen in surprising ways. Let’s shape tomorrow - It’ll be a fun journey!

Summary

The Lead Principal Enterprise Network Architect serves as the enterprise authority for network architecture strategy, standards, governance, and modernization. The role is responsible for defining reference architectures, consolidating and governing technical standards, translating business and security requirements into architecture deliverables, evaluating emerging technologies, and ensuring that network architectures support business objectives, security requirements, automation initiatives, cloud adoption, and infrastructure platform engineering principles. Success is measured through architecture quality, standards adoption, technology governance effectiveness, reusable reference architectures, reduced architectural risk, and alignment between business outcomes and network capabilities.

The Role:

• Define and maintain enterprise network architecture strategy, standards, reference architectures, and target-state roadmaps.
• Develop modular network architecture patterns supporting campus, WAN, cloud, hybrid, data center, SASE, and Zero Trust initiatives.
• Establish architecture guardrails supporting scalability, automation, resiliency, observability, and security.
• Review and approve network design submissions from MSPs, vendors, integrators, and internal teams
• Participate in enterprise architecture governance reviews and evaluate infrastructure dependencies, risks, and integration requirements.
• Validate alignment with enterprise standards, security controls, operational requirements, and architectural principles.
• Translate business and technical requirements into Architecture Requirements Documents (ARDs), architecture decisions, and solution designs.
• Extract, normalize, and consolidate network standards, SOPs, architectures, and operational knowledge from distributed repositories.
• Establish and maintain a centralized network standards and policy knowledge base
• Produce architecture documentation, design standards, and implementation guidance.
• Evaluate emerging network technologies, infrastructure platforms, automation capabilities, AI-assisted operations, and cloud networking solutions.
• Support enterprise modernization programs involving SD-WAN, SASE, Zero Trust, cloud networking, network automation, infrastructure-as-code, observability, and segmentation.
• Communicate architecture decisions, trade-offs, standards, risks, and recommendations to executives, architects, engineers, security teams, and business leaders.
• Mentor architects and engineering teams on architecture principles, design practices, and technology strategy.

What you bring to the role:

• 10+ years of enterprise networking, infrastructure engineering, or network architecture experience.
• 5+ years in senior, lead, or principal enterprise architecture roles.
• Demonstrated experience defining enterprise network architecture standards, reference architectures, and governance processes.
• Experience conducting architecture reviews and approving network designs.
• Experience translating business and security requirements into architecture deliverables and requirements documentation.
• Strong understanding of: TCP/IP fundamentals Routing and switching VPN technologies Network security architecture SD-WAN and SASE concepts Cloud networking concepts Data center networking concepts Network segmentation and Zero Trust principles
• Experience creating and maintaining enterprise architecture documentation and standards.
• Strong cross-functional communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience working with MSPs, vendors, and external implementation partners.

Preferred:

• Experience with Fortinet and Cisco (including Meraki) network solutions
• Experience with network automation and programmability (Ansible, Terraform, APIs, IaC, NetDevOps).
• Experience with network observability and AIOps platforms.
• Experience with large-scale enterprise modernization programs.
• Experience with cloud networking across Google Cloud, Azure, and AWS
• Experience with OT, industrial, and IoT networking
• Experience with infrastructure platform engineering concepts.
• Knowledge of AI-assisted network operations and Agentic NetOps concepts.
• Familiarity with DDI platforms, network source-of-truth tooling, or digital twin technologies.
• Knowledge of enterprise architecture frameworks such as TOGAF.
• Familiarity with ITIL-based operational models.
• Relevant networking certifications (CCNP, CCIE, JNCIP, cloud networking certifications).
• Certification preference derived from market patterns and Gartner skill references but not required by hiring manager.

.pdf) #LI-RT1 The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $190,600.00 - $324,000.00 per year. The ranges above reflect the potential annual base pay across the U.S. for all roles; the applicable base pay range will depend on the candidate’s primary work location, pay grade, and variable compensation plan. Individual base pay within each range depends on various factors, in addition to primary work location, such as complexity and responsibility of role, job duties/requirements, and relevant experience and skills. Base pay ranges are reviewed and typically updated each year. Offers are made within the base pay range applicable at the time of hire. New hires starting base pay generally falls in the bottom half (between the minimum and midpoint) of a pay range. At Ingram Micro certain roles are eligible for additional rewards, including merit increases, annual bonus or sales incentives and long-term incentives. These awards are allocated based on position level and individual performance.

U.S.-based employees have access to healthcare benefits, paid time off, parental leave, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, and wellbeing benefits, among others.

This is not a complete listing of the job duties. It’s a representation of the things you will be doing, and you may not perform all these duties. Please be prepared to pass a drug test and successfully pass a pre-employment (post offer) background check.

Ingram Micro Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected category under applicable law.

With us, you’ll make technology happen in surprising ways. It’ll be a fun journey! Learn more at http://careers.ingrammicro.com

It’s no surprise that technology powers the planet. But what might surprise you is that Ingram Micro has the ability to reach more than 90% of the global population. By joining us, you make Ingram Micro’s contribution a reality: helping businesses grow, supporting industries from healthcare to education with their technology, or even connecting the world.

What’s in it for you?

Well, we take great care of our people, everyone is made to feel welcome, and opportunities to grow apply to all. But the prospect of shaping the future through technology is something you’re unlikely to find anywhere else. Let’s shape tomorrow.