Network Architect

ECI; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 130,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

ECI is seeking a Principal Network Architect to lead architecture across a multi-site LAN/WAN with 24x7 support. You will own technical roadmaps, drive design assurance and set automation standards for resilient, secure networks leveraging Cisco switching/routing and Palo Alto platforms.

You will mentor engineers, coordinate complex incident recovery and guide lifecycle planning while partnering with clients to deliver network projects that meet business goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
• At least 10 years in network support, design and implementation with multi-site ownership.
• CCIE or equivalent certification required.

Responsibilities

• Own network architecture and roadmaps across multi-site LAN/WAN.
• Provide hands-on leadership for Cisco switching/routing and Palo Alto firewalls.
• Review designs, changes, and rollout plans for security, resilience and performance.
• Define change management, version control and rollback standards.
• Maintain documentation, diagrams and operating procedures.
• Lead automation for configuration validation, backups and inventory management.
• Coordinate incident diagnosis and root cause analysis across teams.
• Plan hardware/software lifecycle and capacity for future needs.
• Mentor engineers through design reviews and best practices.
• Collaborate with clients and cross-functional teams on network projects.

Skills

CCIE

Cisco switching

Palo Alto

Security policy

Network architecture

Automation

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Panorama

Viptela / Cisco SD-WAN

VMware

Python scripting

Job description

The Principal Network Architect is the senior technical authority for network infrastructure within the Managed Services team, which provides 24x7 monitoring, operations and support to clients across financial services, life sciences, legal, manufacturing and other industries. This hands-on role owns network architecture, design assurance and technical roadmaps across a multi-site environment, with primary expertise in Cisco switching and routing and Palo Alto Networks security platforms. The role combines architecture leadership with complex incident diagnosis, recovery coordination, engineering standards, automation and lifecycle planning to improve resilience, security, performance and operational consistency. The individual mentors engineers, serves as the senior technical escalation point and translates client and business requirements into supportable network designs.

Technology Competencies

The role requires proficiency inCisco enterprise switching and routing platforms and Palo Alto Networks security platforms. The ideal candidate should demonstrate deep proficiency in Cisco Catalyst infrastructure, Palo Alto firewalls and Panorama centralized management, including architecture, configuration, troubleshooting and lifecycle management. Familiarity with Cisco SD-WAN/Viptela and network integration within VMware-based virtualized environments is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Own network architecture, design assurance and technical roadmaps across the multi-site LAN, WAN and wireless environment; translate business, client, security and availability requirements into resilient, supportable designs and clearly scoped implementation plans.
• Provide deep hands-on technical leadership for Cisco switching and routing, with emphasis on Catalyst 9300, Catalyst 9000 Series and Catalyst 8300 platforms, and Palo Alto Networks PA-series appliances and Panorama.
• Review and assure network designs, configuration changes and implementation plans for routing, switching, segmentation, security policy, resilience, capacity and operational readiness; define acceptance criteria, test evidence and rollback requirements.
• Define configuration management and change validation standards, including configuration baselines, version control, backups, peer review, pre- and post-change checks, exception handling and configuration drift remediation.
• Establish and maintain documentation standards for network diagrams, asset records, addressing, configurations, design decisions, operating procedures and recovery runbooks
• Define automation standards and lead repeatable automation for configuration compliance, validation, backups, inventory and routine network operations, with testing, auditability and controlled deployment.
• Lead complex incident diagnosis and coordinate network recovery across engineering teams, clients, carriers and vendors. Serve as the senior technical escalation point, support root cause analysis and drive preventative improvements that reduce recurrence.
• Guide hardware and software lifecycle planning, including inventory validation, support status, software selection, upgrade testing, vulnerability remediation and refresh priorities aligned to technical roadmaps.
• Lead capacity and performance planning; improve monitoring coverage, thresholds, telemetry and alert quality to identify service risks and validate network health and resilience
• Mentor engineers through design reviews, troubleshooting guidance, knowledge sharing and technical standards; strengthen engineering capability and the quality of escalations.
• Partner with clients and cross-functional teams globally to plan and deliver network projects, communicate technical trade-offs and risks, and evaluate emerging technologies through targeted proofs of concept.

Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities)

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and relevant practical experience.
• At least 10 years of experience in network support, design and implementation, with demonstrated ownership of multi-site architecture, design assurance and complex technical escalations.
• Expert-level technical certification such as CCIE, or equivalent training and demonstrated expertise
• Deep hands-on expertise in Cisco enterprise switching and routing, including Catalyst 9300, Catalyst 9000 Series and Catalyst 8300 platforms; strong command of routing protocols, Layer 2/Layer 3 design, segmentation, high availability and systematic fault isolation.
• Demonstrated experience defining configuration baselines, change validation, test and rollback plans, version control, technical documentation and operational handover standards
• Experience developing technical roadmaps, hardware and software lifecycle plans, capacity forecasts and monitoring improvements, with a strong understanding of network security principles and operational risk
• Deep hands-on expertise in Palo Alto Networks PA-series appliances and Panorama, including centralized configuration management, security policy, NAT, VPN connectivity, high availability, software upgrades and troubleshooting.
• Practical experience with network automation, scripting or API-based workflows for repeatable configuration, validation, compliance and inventory management
• Proven ability to diagnose complex routing, switching, firewall, VPN (including

GlobalProtect and AnyConnect), wireless, certificate and performance issues; coordinate recovery and turn root cause findings into preventative engineering changes

Why Join ECI

This role represents a strategic investment in ECI's continued growth and expansion within the U.S. market. The Senior Network Engineer / Network Architect will play a key role in strengthening our client partnerships, driving modernization efforts, improving service delivery, and shaping the future of network architecture across a growing enterprise environment. Salary Range $130k- $140k