Principal Network Architect

Placements24; Rustenburg; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Comprehensive health insurance

Retirement savings plan

Generous annual leave

Professional development opportunities

State-of-the-art facilities in Rustenb

Employee assistance program

Company-provided training

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Principal Network Architect to design and optimize core network infrastructure in Rustenburg, North West. This on-site role demands deep expertise in routing, switching, security, and SD-WAN to ensure reliability and performance for a large customer base.

You will lead architecture efforts, develop implementation plans, and mentor junior engineers while collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet business goals.

Qualifications

• Minimum eight years in network architecture and design.
• Expertise in BGP/OSPF, VLANs/STP, and security (firewalls/IPS/IDS).
• Hands-on with Cisco, Juniper or similar enterprise gear.
• Strong TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, and monitoring tools knowledge.
• Experience with WAN: MPLS and SD-WAN. Certifications desirable.

Responsibilities

• Design and architect complex network solutions including routing, switching, firewalls, load balancing, and VPNs.
• Develop detailed network diagrams, configurations, and implementation plans.
• Oversee deployment and integration of new network technologies and hardware.
• Perform performance analysis, troubleshooting, and capacity planning.
• Ensure security posture by implementing and managing controls.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support business initiatives.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior engineers.
• Research and evaluate new networking products and solutions.
• Develop and maintain network documentation, standards, and best practices.

Skills

BGP

OSPF

VLANs

STP

Firewalls

IPS/IDS

TCP/IP

DNS

DHCP

SD-WAN

MPLS

WAN

CCNP/CCIE/JNCIE

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Cisco equipment

Juniper equipment

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading telecommunications provider, is seeking a highly skilled Principal Network Architect to join their operations in Rustenburg, North West. This is an on-site role critical for designing, implementing, and optimizing the company's core network infrastructure. You will play a key role in ensuring network reliability, performance, and security for our extensive customer base. We are looking for an individual with a deep technical understanding of modern networking technologies and a passion for building resilient and scalable network solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and architect complex network solutions, including routing, switching, firewalls, load balancing, and VPNs.
• Develop detailed network diagrams, configurations, and implementation plans.
• Oversee the deployment and integration of new network technologies and hardware.
• Perform network performance analysis, troubleshooting, and capacity planning.
• Ensure the security posture of the network by implementing and managing security controls.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to support business initiatives and project requirements.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to junior network engineers.
• Research and evaluate new networking products and solutions.
• Develop and maintain network documentation, standards, and best practices.

Requirements

• Minimum of 8 years of experience in network architecture and design.
• Expertise in routing protocols (BGP, OSPF), switching technologies (VLANs, STP), and network security (firewalls, IPS/IDS).
• Hands-on experience with Cisco, Juniper, or similar enterprise-grade network equipment.
• Strong understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, DHCP, and network performance monitoring tools.
• Experience with WAN technologies, MPLS, and SD-WAN.
• Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Relevant certifications such as CCNP, CCIE, or JNCIE are highly desirable.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

Benefits

• Competitive salary with performance-based bonuses.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Generous annual leave.
• Opportunities for professional development and advanced certifications.
• State-of-the-art facilities in Rustenburg, North West.
• Employee assistance program.
• Company-provided training and workshops.