Network Architect

Encore Technologies

Pittsburgh (Allegheny County)

On-site

USD 120,000 - 180,000

Full time

5 days ago

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Job summary

Encore Technologies in Pittsburgh, PA, is seeking a Network Architect to design, plan, and oversee enterprise network infrastructures, including LAN, WAN, and cloud networks. You will lead capacity planning, security implementation, and cross-team collaboration to ensure performance and reliability.

The role requires expert Cisco LAN routing/Switching, Catalyst 9000 experience, and strong troubleshooting across OSI layers. CCNP/CCIE and SD-Access are a plus.

Qualifications

8+ years enterprise networking experience.
Expert-level Cisco LAN routing and switching.
Strong Catalyst 9000 platform experience.
Advanced understanding of VLANs, STP, EtherChannel, routing, QoS, multicast.
DHCP, DNS, and network resiliency.
Cisco Catalyst Center operational and troubleshooting experience.
Strong troubleshooting skills across Layers 1–7.
Experience leading major incidents and complex root-cause analysis.
Ability to review and approve network changes.
Strong documentation and customer communication skills.
Ability to technically lead and mentor other engineers.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and implement robust network infrastructures, including LAN, WAN, and cloud networks.
Implement and enforce network security protocols, including firewalls, VPNs, and encryption techniques.
Plan and design network capacity to handle future growth.
Identify network issues and bottlenecks, troubleshoot problems, and optimize network performance.
Collaborate with other IT teams to ensure seamless integration with systems and services.
Work with vendors to select, purchase, and manage network equipment and services.
Maintain detailed documentation and provide regular performance reports.
Ensure compliance with standards, regulations, and policies.
Stay updated on networking technologies and assess new tools.
Design and implement disaster recovery strategies.

Skills

Enterprise networking

Cisco LAN routing & switching

Catalyst 9000 experience

VLANs & QoS

DHCP/DNS

Network troubleshooting (Layers 1–7)

Incident leadership

Change review & approval

Documentation & communication

Mentoring engineers

Education

Bachelor of Science in a technical field

CCNP Enterprise or CCIE (Nice to have)

Tools

Cisco Catalyst Center

SD-Access

Job description

Position Summary

The Network Architect is responsible for designing, planning, and overseeing the implementation of an organization’s network infrastructure. This role focuses on ensuring the network meets business requirements for performance, scalability, security, and reliability. Network Architects work with various IT teams to develop efficient and cost-effective network solutions, optimize the use of network resources, and ensure smooth connectivity across an organization’s internal and external systems.

Responsibilities

Design, develop, and implement robust network infrastructures, including LAN, WAN, and cloud networks, to meet the organization’s communication and data transfer needs.
Implement and enforce network security protocols, including firewalls, VPNs, and encryption techniques, to protect data and prevent unauthorized access.
Plan and design network capacity to handle future growth and ensure that resources are allocated efficiently to meet traffic and user demands.
Identify network issues and bottlenecks, troubleshoot problems, and optimize network performance for maximum efficiency and reliability.
Work closely with other IT teams (systems administrators, security teams, cloud engineers) to ensure seamless integration of network infrastructure with existing IT systems and services.
Work with vendors and service providers to select, purchase, and manage network equipment (routers, switches, cables, etc.) and services (internet, cloud services, etc.).
Maintain detailed documentation of network designs, configurations, and processes. Provide regular performance reports and status updates to management and stakeholders.
Ensure the network architecture complies with industry standards, legal regulations, and organizational policies regarding security, data privacy, and performance.
Stay updated on the latest networking technologies, protocols, and industry trends. Assess new tools and technologies that could improve the organization’s network infrastructure.
Design and implement disaster recovery strategies, ensuring that critical network services can be restored quickly in the event of an outage or failure.

Must Have Skills