Sr. Network Architect.

Accord Technologies Inc; Columbia (SC); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Accord Technologies Inc in Columbia, SC is seeking a Sr. Network Architect to lead enterprise network design across LAN/WAN, data centers, cloud, and security domains. You will design scalable, secure, and highly available networks and mentor junior engineers.

The role emphasizes modernization, automation, and observability, with responsibility for architecture standards, roadmaps, and collaboration with security, cloud, and facilities teams to deliver resilient infrastructure.

Qualifications

• 4+ years enterprise network architecture and engineering in complex/mission-critical environments.
• 4+ years LAN/WAN including Juniper routing/switching, TCP/IP, routing protocols, DNS, DHCP and IPAM.
• 4+ years leading network architecture initiatives from requirements/design through implementation and operational transition.
• 4+ years infrastructure modernization, lifecycle planning, capacity planning, resiliency and high-availability design.
• 4+ years network security architecture including Fortinet firewalls, VPN/SASE, NAC, segmentation and security policies.
• 4+ years cloud/hybrid networking including AWS or Azure.
• 4+ years network automation, orchestration, scripting and Infrastructure as Code.
• 4+ years network monitoring, observability, analytics and performance management.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Define and advance enterprise network architecture and long-term technical strategy.
• Design and engineer scalable, resilient, and secure LAN, WAN, wireless, data center, cloud, VPN, firewall, and NAC solutions.
• Lead complex network infrastructure modernization and implementation initiatives.
• Develop enterprise architecture standards, engineering standards, reference architectures, technical roadmaps, and lifecycle recommendations.
• Design highly available connectivity across campus, data center, cloud, and external environments.
• Develop network automation, orchestration, Infrastructure as Code, and deployment practices.
• Implement monitoring, observability, alerting, analytics, capacity planning, and operational metrics.
• Serve as a Tier III escalation point for complex network incidents and engineering issues.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting and provide architecture-level guidance.
• Review and validate network designs developed by other technical staff.
• Translate business and technical requirements into enterprise network designs and implementation strategies.
• Lead network modernization, lifecycle planning, capacity planning, and remediation initiatives.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and provide recommendations for procurement and long-term infrastructure planning.
• Provide technical mentoring, knowledge transfer, and engineering guidance.
• Participate in maintenance windows and after-hours support when required.

Skills

Enterprise Network Architecture

Network Engineering

LAN/WAN

Juniper

TCP/IP

Routing & Switching

DNS

DHCP

IPAM

Fortinet

Firewalls

VPN

SASE

NAC

Network Segmentation

Network Security

Cloud Networking

AWS

Microsoft Azure

Network Automation

Orchestration

Infrastructure as Code

Network Monitoring

Observability

Capacity Planning

High Availability

Hybrid Networking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, Computer Engineering, or closely related discipline

Tools

Aruba

Cisco

Virtualization

Cloud networking tooling

Job description

Title: Sr. Network Architect.
Job Location: Columbia, SC
Position Type: W2 Contract
Work Mode: Primarily Onsite; Occasional Remote
Visa: USC/GC
Openings: 1
Interview Process: 2 Rounds Virtual + In-Person

Primary Skills

• Enterprise Network Architecture
• Network Engineering
• LAN/WAN
• Juniper
• TCP/IP
• Routing & Switching
• DNS
• DHCP
• IPAM
• Fortinet
• Firewalls
• VPN
• SASE
• NAC
• Network Segmentation
• Network Security
• Cloud Networking
• AWS
• Microsoft Azure
• Network Automation
• Orchestration
• Infrastructure as Code
• Network Monitoring
• Observability
• Capacity Planning
• High Availability
• Hybrid Networking

Requirements

• 4+ years enterprise network architecture and engineering in complex/mission-critical environments
• 4+ years LAN/WAN including Juniper routing/switching, TCP/IP, routing protocols, DNS, DHCP and IPAM
• 4+ years leading network architecture initiatives from requirements/design through implementation and operational transition
• 4+ years infrastructure modernization, lifecycle planning, capacity planning, resiliency and high-availability design
• 4+ years network security architecture including Fortinet firewalls, VPN/SASE, NAC, segmentation and security policies
• 4+ years cloud/hybrid networking including AWS or Azure
• 4+ years network automation, orchestration, scripting and Infrastructure as Code
• 4+ years network monitoring, observability, analytics and performance management
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Position Overview

We are seeking a highly experienced Network Architect Consultant to provide senior-level enterprise network architecture, engineering, modernization, automation, and operational support. The position will serve as a senior technical resource responsible for designing scalable, secure, resilient network solutions and leading complex infrastructure initiatives. The role will collaborate with architecture, network operations, security, cloud, facilities, project teams, vendors, and other stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and advance enterprise network architecture and long-term technical strategy.
• Design and engineer scalable, resilient, and secure LAN, WAN, wireless, data center, cloud, VPN, firewall, and NAC solutions.
• Lead complex network infrastructure modernization and implementation initiatives.
• Develop enterprise architecture standards, engineering standards, reference architectures, technical roadmaps, and lifecycle recommendations.
• Design highly available connectivity across campus, data center, cloud, and external environments.
• Develop network automation, orchestration, Infrastructure as Code, and deployment practices.
• Implement monitoring, observability, alerting, analytics, capacity planning, and operational metrics.
• Serve as a Tier III escalation point for complex network incidents and engineering issues.
• Perform advanced troubleshooting and provide architecture-level guidance.
• Review and validate network designs developed by other technical staff.
• Translate business and technical requirements into enterprise network designs and implementation strategies.
• Lead network modernization, lifecycle planning, capacity planning, and remediation initiatives.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and provide recommendations for procurement and long-term infrastructure planning.
• Provide technical mentoring, knowledge transfer, and engineering guidance.
• Participate in maintenance windows and after-hours support when required.

Preferred Skills

• Experience developing enterprise network strategy, architecture standards, reference architectures, and long-term technology roadmaps.
• Experience supporting complex higher-education network environments.
• Experience with Aruba and Cisco enterprise switching and wireless technologies.
• Experience with software-defined and centrally managed network architectures.
• Experience implementing enterprise observability, telemetry, automation, and proactive/self-healing infrastructure.
• Experience with virtualization, cloud networking, and hybrid cloud infrastructure.
• Experience coordinating infrastructure projects with facilities organizations, architects, contractors, consultants, and engineering firms.
• Experience supporting cybersecurity, zero-trust, network segmentation, and secure network architecture initiatives.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
• Equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of the degree.

Preferred Certifications

• JNCIP-ENT or higher
• Fortinet Certified Professional (FCP) or higher
• CCNP Enterprise or CCIE
• Aruba networking certification
• AWS or Microsoft Azure networking/cloud certification
• ITIL Foundation or higher
• CompTIA Security+

Additional Requirements

• Strong technical documentation and architecture diagramming skills.
• Experience developing technical standards.
• Project management and enterprise implementation experience.
• Strong technical mentoring and knowledge-transfer capabilities.
• Excellent written, verbal, analytical, and customer-service skills.
• Advanced troubleshooting and technical leadership during mission-critical incidents.
• Strong stakeholder coordination and vendor-management skills.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex technical initiatives across multiple teams and stakeholders.