Network Architect

Cognizant; Sacramento (CA); Remote; USD 119,000 - 139,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognizant is seeking a Network Architect to design and optimize secure, scalable enterprise networks using Palo Alto firewalls, Juniper switching and Mist wireless solutions. This remote role requires US location and emphasizes automation, governance and cross-functional collaboration to support hi-tech product development and cloud adoption.

You will mentor peers, guide change planning for hybrid environments, review security policies, and ensure high availability with low latency.

Qualifications

• Experience designing enterprise networks with Palo Alto and Juniper platforms.
• Strong knowledge of security zoning, threat prevention and policy design.
• Proven ability to document designs for implementation and maintenance.

Responsibilities

• Design comprehensive enterprise network architectures integrating Palo Alto and Juniper platforms.
• Develop scalable security designs with segmentation strategies.
• Create detailed design documentation for wired and wireless infrastructures.
• Optimize routing and switching for high performance and low downtime.
• Configure wireless using Juniper Mist across multiple locations.
• Review firewall rules and policies to enforce standard configurations.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to translate business needs into network designs.
• Guide operational teams through incident analysis and troubleshooting.
• Implement monitoring and observability for Palo Alto and Juniper ecosystems.
• Evaluate new Palo Alto/Juniper technologies to improve automation and resilience.
• Align designs with compliance and data protection requirements.
• Coordinate change planning and cutover activities in a hybrid model.
• Mentor peers on firewall design, routing, and wireless optimization.

Skills

Juniper Mist

Palo Alto

Routing & Switching

Security policies

Documentation

Cross-functional collaboration

Tools

Juniper Mist

Palo Alto Firewall

SD-WAN

VPN

LAN/WAN

Job description

Cognizant is seeking a Network Architect responsible for designing and optimizing secure and scalable network architectures using Palo Alto firewall and Juniper switching routing wireless and security technologies. The Architect will drive hybrid work model solutions for hi tech clients ensuring robust connectivity strong security posture and operational efficiency across complex enterprise environments while mentoring teams and aligning designs with business outcomes. This is a remote role. Applicants must be located in the US and authorized to work in the US without any sponsorship. Cognizant will not offer visa sponsorship now or anytime in the future,

Responsibilities

• Design comprehensive enterprise network architectures that integrate Palo Alto firewall platforms with Juniper switching routing and wireless solutions to provide secure reliable connectivity for complex hybrid environments.
• Develop scalable network security designs that apply Palo Alto policies next generation capabilities and segmentation strategies to protect business critical applications and data while supporting evolving hi-tech use cases.
• Create detailed low level and high-level design documentation for wired and wireless infrastructures built on Juniper hardware and Juniper Mist platforms ensuring clarity for implementation and long-term maintenance.
• Optimize routing and switching configurations across Juniper devices to achieve high-performance low latency and resilient connectivity for day shift operations with zero tolerance for critical downtime.
• Configure and refine wireless networking solutions using Juniper Mist wired and wireless technologies to deliver stable secure and high-quality user experiences across offices labs and hybrid work locations.
• Conduct in depth reviews of firewall rules security policies and network access controls across Palo Alto and Juniper firewall environments to identify risks improve posture and enforce standardized configurations.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams in hi tech domains to translate business requirements into network and security designs that directly support product development cloud adoption and digital transformation objectives.
• Guide operational teams through complex problem analysis and troubleshooting for firewall switching routing and wireless incidents ensuring swift resolution and clear knowledge transfer for future prevention.
• Implement best practice monitoring logging and observability across Palo Alto and Juniper infrastructures so that performance issues security events and capacity trends are proactively detected and addressed.
• Evaluate emerging network and security technologies within the Palo Alto and Juniper ecosystems and recommend improvements that enhance automation resilience and sustainability of the overall architecture.
• Align network design standards and security controls with corporate compliance policies and industry regulations ensuring that architectures contribute positively to organizational trust and societal data protection expectations.
• Coordinate change planning testing and cutover activities for major network and security deployments in a hybrid work model while minimizing service disruption and ensuring transparent communication to stakeholders.
• Provide structured mentoring and technical guidance to peers and junior architects on firewall design advanced routing strategies and wireless optimization so that architectural knowledge spreads effectively across the organization.

Qualifications

• Strong hands-on expertise with Juniper platforms, including Mist, wireless, routing, switching, and SD-WAN.
• Possess extensive hands-on experience with Palo Alto firewall platforms including policy design threat prevention features and integration with security operations tools in large enterprise environments.
• Demonstrate strong expertise in Juniper switching and routing technologies with proven ability to design implement and maintain core and distribution layers that support high availability and scalable growth.
• Show advanced capability in designing and operating wireless networking solutions using Juniper Mist wired and wireless platforms with focus on user density performance and seamless roaming.
• Apply solid knowledge of Juniper firewall solutions including configuration of security zones policies and vpn services to deliver consistent perimeter and internal protection.
• Bring practical exposure to hi tech industry environments where complex products rapid innovation cycles and strict reliability expectations drive architectural decisions and design trade-offs.
• Exhibit proficiency in hybrid work model network considerations including secure remote access segmentation of user groups and performance tuning for collaboration and engineering workloads.
• Display strong analytical communication and documentation skills that enable clear articulation of architectural decisions support for day shift operations and effective engagement with global teams.

Certifications Required

Palo Alto Networks Certified Network Security Engineer and Juniper Networks JNCIP Security or equivalent vendor certifications relevant to firewall and routing technologies.

The salary range for this role is between $119,000 and $139,000 depending on skills and qualifications of the candidate. Applications will be accepted till 10/11/2026.

Cognizant is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected Veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.