Network Engineer Lead

Accenture; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 234,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, life

401(k) plan

Bonus opportunities

Paid holidays and PTO

Job summary

Accenture is seeking a Network Engineer Architect to lead transformations across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid networks in Illinois. The role emphasizes scalable, secure networking solutions and automation to accelerate enterprise modernization.

The candidate should have extensive experience with routing, switching, security, and cloud networking concepts, plus a track record in large‑scale delivery. Travel may vary from 25% to 100% depending on client needs.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and supporting enterprise network solutions across on‑premises, cloud, and hybrid environments.
• Experience with network automation, orchestration, and Infrastructure‑as‑Code.
• Knowledge of software‑defined networking, intent‑based networking, and network observability is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead large‑scale network transformation and modernization programs.
• Design infrastructure to support AI, analytics, data‑intensive workloads.
• Travel may be required based on business needs (approx. 25%–100%).

Skills

Network architecture principles

Routing & switching

Security concepts

DevOps/NetOps

Python scripting

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience

Job description

Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and, Interactive, Technology, and Operations services, all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 738,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners, and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

A successful Network Engineer Architect combines deep technical expertise with strong consulting and leadership skills. They can translate business objectives into practical technology strategies, lead complex transformation initiatives, simplify operational challenges through automation, and deliver secure, scalable, and future‑ready networking solutions that enable innovation across the enterprise.

Work: Experience leading large‑scale network transformation and modernization programs. Experience designing infrastructure to support AI, analytics, data‑intensive, and high‑performance application workloads. Knowledge of software‑defined networking, intent‑based networking, network digital twins, and autonomous operations concepts. Experience with hybrid cloud, multi‑cloud, and edge networking architectures. Familiarity with DevOps, NetOps, SRE, and platform engineering operating models. Experience integrating network infrastructure with cloud, security, observability, and enterprise management platforms. Understanding of data center fabrics, high‑performance transport networks, and large‑scale distributed systems. Experience developing enterprise technology standards, governance frameworks, and architecture review processes. Industry certifications in networking, cloud, cybersecurity, enterprise architecture, automation, or infrastructure engineering are a plus.

Travel may be required based on business and client needs and may vary from approximately 25% to 100%.

Minimum 8 years of experience designing, implementing, and supporting enterprise network solutions across on‑premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. Minimum 8 years of experience with network architecture principles including routing, switching, wireless, network security, segmentation, application connectivity, and traffic engineering. Minimum 8 years of experience designing and supporting large‑scale enterprise, service provider, cloud, or mission‑critical infrastructure environments. Minimum 3 years of experience network automation, orchestration, and Infrastructure‑as‑Code methodologies. Minimum 3 years of experience with scripting and automation technologies such as Python, APIs, and automation frameworks. Minimum 8 years of experience of cloud networking concepts including connectivity, segmentation, security, load balancing, and multi‑cloud architectures. Minimum 3 years of experience of modern security architectures including Zero Trust, micro‑segmentation, identity‑based access, encryption, and secure remote access. Minimum 3 years of experience with network observability, monitoring, telemetry, analytics, and performance management platforms. Minimum 3 years of experience of virtualization, container networking, edge computing, and modern application delivery architectures. Minimum 2 years of experience developing business‑aligned technology strategies, roadmaps, and transformation plans. Bachelor's degree or equivalent (minimum 12 years) work experience. (If Associate’s Degree, must have minimum 6 years work experience)

Compensation at Accenture varies depending on a wide array of factors, which may include but are not limited to the specific office location, role, skill set, and level of experience. As required by local law, Accenture provides a reasonable range of compensation for roles that may be hired as set forth below. We anticipate this job posting will be posted until 10/20/2026.

Accenture offers a market competitive suite of benefits including medical, dental, vision, life, and long‑term disability coverage, a 401(k) plan, bonus opportunities, paid holidays, and paid time off. See more information on our benefits here: U.S. Employee Benefits | Accenture

Annual Salary Range

• California $132,500 to $271,000
• Colorado $132,500 to $234,100
• Connecticut $132,500 to $234,100
• District of Columbia $141,100 to $249,300
• Illinois $122,700 to $234,100
• Maine $112,900 to $199,500
• Maryland $132,500 to $234,100
• Massachusetts $132,500 to $249,300
• Minnesota $132,500 to $234,100
• New York $122,700 to $271,000
• New Jersey $141,100 to $271,000
• Ohio $122,700 to $216,800
• Virginia $122,700 to $249,300

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services—creating tangible value at speed and scale. We are a talent‑and innovation‑led company with approximately 791,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Technology is at the core of change today, and we are one of the world’s leaders in helping drive that change, with strong ecosystem relationships. We combine our strength in technology and leadership in cloud, data and AI with unmatched industry experience, functional expertise and global delivery capability. Our broad range of services, solutions and assets across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Song, together with our culture of shared success and commitment to creating 360 value, enable us to help our clients reinvent and build trusted, lasting relationships. We measure our success by the 360 value we create for our clients, each other, our shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com

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Applicants for employment in the US must have work authorization that does not now or in the future require sponsorship of a visa for employment authorization in the United States. Candidates who are currently employed by a client of Accenture or an affiliated Accenture business may not be eligible for consideration. Job candidates will not be obligated to disclose sealed or expunged records of conviction or arrest as part of the hiring process. Further, at Accenture a criminal conviction history is not an absolute bar to employment. The Company will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. Additionally, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the Company's legal duty to furnish information. California requires additional notifications for applicants and employees. If you are a California resident, live in or plan to work from Los Angeles County upon being hired for this position, please click here for additional important information. Please read Accenture’s Recruiting and Hiring Statement for more information on how we process your data during the Recruiting and Hiring process.

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