Network Architect IV

OakTree Staffing; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

OakTree Staffing is seeking a Network Architect IV in Houston/Tulsa to lead repeatable IT/OT network architectures for Power Generation projects, including plant IT and control networks. You will drive design reviews, manage vendor designs, and support commissioning and handoff to operations.

The role requires 8+ years in enterprise/industrial networking with strong routing, switching, WAN/SD-WAN, and cybersecurity coordination.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of enterprise, industrial, utility or energy networking experience, including 3+ years leading complex network design or architecture work.
• Demonstrated IT/OT or industrial network design experience, including segmentation, DMZs, controlled vendor access and operationally safe implementation.
• Strong routing, switching, WAN/SD-WAN, wireless, firewall, DNS/DHCP/IPAM and high- availability design knowledge.
• Ability to create HLDs, LLDs, reference architectures, standards, decision records and implementation guidance.
• Experience leading cross-functional design reviews with network engineering, Cybersecurity, Controls, Operations, project teams and vendors.
• Hands-on troubleshooting and root-cause analysis; able to communicate technical tradeoffs to engineering and leadership audiences.

Responsibilities

• Architecture & Solution Design - Develop repeatable IT/OT network architectures for Power Generation projects, including plant IT, OT/control networks, segmentation, resiliency, addressing, routing, remote access and management.
• Project Delivery Leadership - Serve as the project technical architect; lead design reviews, translate requirements into HLD/LLD deliverables, review vendor designs and support commissioning and operational handoff.
• OT/IT Integration & Cybersecurity - Design secure boundaries, data flows and vendor/OEM access patterns; partner with Cybersecurity, Controls, Operations and Infrastructure on risk, compliance and change decisions.
• Standards & Operational Readiness - Create reference designs and standards, reduce one-off site designs, address lifecycle and resilience risks, and support complex troubleshooting and root-cause analysis.

Skills

Enterprise networking

IT/OT integration

HLD/LLD design

Project leadership

Routing & switching

Cybersecurity coordination

Tools

Cisco Catalyst

Catalyst SD-WAN

ISE

DNA Center

Palo Alto

Infoblox

SolarWinds

Job description

Job Description

Job Description

** Network Architect IV**

** Location: Houston, Tx or Tulsa, OK**

** Role scope & expected outcomes: ****

• 35% Architecture & Solution Design - Develop repeatable IT/OT network architectures for Power Generation projects, including plant IT, OT/control networks, segmentation, resiliency, addressing, routing, remote access and management.
• 30% Project Delivery Leadership - Serve as the project technical architect; lead design reviews, translate requirements into HLD/LLD deliverables, review vendor designs and support commissioning and operational handoff.
• 20% OT/IT Integration & Cybersecurity - Design secure boundaries, data flows and vendor/OEM access patterns; partner with Cybersecurity, Controls, Operations and Infrastructure on risk, compliance and change decisions.
• 15% Standards & Operational Readiness - Create reference designs and standards, reduce one-off site designs, address lifecycle and resilience risks, and support complex troubleshooting and root-cause analysis.

** First-year outcomes:**

• 90 Days - Assume architecture ownership for active Power Generation projects. Deliver design guidance for top-priority projects in the backlog. Establish relationships with key Power, Operations, Cybersecurity, and Engineering stakeholders.
• 6 Months - Create and publish repeatable reference architectures for new Power Generation deployments. Support concurrent project delivery without architecture becoming a schedule constraint. Reduce project design effort through reusable standards and templates.
• 9 Months - Successfully support design and implementation activities for multiple Power projects. Establish architecture governance and design-review standards. Improve consistency of network, security, and OT integration designs.
• 12 Months - Accelerate project delivery through standardized architectures and technical leadership. Enable execution of the Power project portfolio through scalable, repeatable design patters. Deliver measurable improvements in security, resiliency, supportability, and project execution efficiency.

** Required:**

• 8+ years of enterprise, industrial, utility or energy networking experience, including 3+ years leading complex network design or architecture work.
• Demonstrated IT/OT or industrial network design experience, including segmentation, DMZs, controlled vendor access and operationally safe implementation.
• Strong routing, switching, WAN/SD-WAN, wireless, firewall, DNS/DHCP/IPAM and high- availability design knowledge.
• Ability to create HLDs, LLDs, reference architectures, standards, decision records and implementation guidance.
• Experience leading cross-functional design reviews with network engineering, Cybersecurity, Controls, Operations, project teams and vendors.
• Hands-on troubleshooting and root-cause analysis; able to communicate technical tradeoffs to engineering and leadership audiences.

** Strongly Preferred:**

• CCNP Enterprise or equivalent demonstrated depth; CCIE, GICSP or ISA/IEC 62443 credentials are a plus.
• Power generation, SCADA/DCS, industrial control systems, battery storage or critical- infrastructure project experience.
• Cisco Catalyst, Catalyst SD-WAN, ISE, Catalyst Center/DNA Center and ACI; Palo Alto firewalls; Infoblox and SolarWinds.
• Greenfield industrial project delivery, commissioning readiness, factory/site acceptance testing and operational handoff.
• Familiarity with industrial protocols and OT visibility, regulated environments, evidence- based change control and secure OEM remote access
• Practical automation skills using Python, Ansible, APIs or infrastructure-as-code methods.