Overview
We are looking for a highly experienced Lead Network Architect to define, own, and evolve the enterprise-wide network architecture that supports business growth, scalability, and superior user experience.
This is a strategic and design authority role (non-hands-on), working closely with Infrastructure Leadership, Engineering, Operations, and Security teams to translate business requirements into scalable, secure, and high-performing network solutions.
Key Responsibilities
1. Enterprise Network Architecture Strategy
- Define and maintain the target network architecture across:
- WAN / SD-WAN and Internet Edge
- LAN switching and segmentation
- Wi-Fi (retail and corporate environments)
- Cloud networking and connectivity patterns
- Develop scalable architecture blueprints for:
- Retail stores, warehouses, offices, data centers, and cloud environments
- Ensure balance across:
- Resilience and fault tolerance
- Security-by-design principles
- Performance optimization (critical apps, voice/video)
- Cost efficiency and lifecycle management
2. Architecture Governance & Documentation
- Create and maintain comprehensive architecture artifacts, including:
- Reference architectures and standard designs
- HLDs, LLDs, and reusable templates
- Architecture Decision Records (ADRs), standards, and guardrails
- Ensure documentation is:
- Version-controlled
- Consistently used across delivery and operations teams
3. Design Authority & Delivery Assurance
- Act as the design authority across all network initiatives
- Review solution designs, migrations, and deployment strategies
- Ensure:
- Alignment with enterprise standards
- Scalability and repeatability
- Operational readiness and risk mitigation
- Serve as the escalation point for complex architectural trade-offs
4. Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
- Collaborate with operations teams to:
- Analyze recurring incidents and implement architectural improvements
- Enhance observability, troubleshooting, and support models
- Define and track:
- Reliability metrics (availability, resilience tiers)
- Operational performance standards
5. Security Integration & SASE Strategy
- Partner with Security teams to embed security-by-design principles
- Reassess and optimize existing SASE architecture, addressing:
- Performance bottlenecks
- Operational complexity
- Policy and routing challenges
- Define a clear SASE operating model, including:
- Ownership boundaries
- Logging and observability standards
- Change management processes
6. Network Automation & Network-as-Code
- Define governance for Network-as-Code practices:
- Terraform module design and usage standards
- CI/CD pipelines for network changes
- Controlled deployment and testing strategies
- Establish integration with:
- CMDB / Source of Truth
- ITSM platforms
- Observability tools
7. Enterprise Architecture Alignment
- Present network strategies and designs to Enterprise Architecture boards
- Ensure alignment with:
- Organizational architecture principles
- Technology roadmaps and transformation initiatives
Required Skills & Experience
Must Have
- 10+ years in enterprise networking with 5+ years in architecture leadership roles
- Strong expertise in:
- Cisco Meraki (Wi-Fi)
- Cisco Catalyst Switching
- Cisco SD-WAN
- Cisco ISE (NAC, RADIUS integration)
- Fortinet / Cisco Firewalls
- SASE architecture and operations
- Proven experience designing networks for large-scale, multi-site environments
- Strong documentation and governance skills (HLD, LLD, ADRs)
- Experience influencing cross-functional teams (Security, Engineering, Ops, PMO)
- Hands-on exposure to Terraform-based network automation
Nice to Have
- Experience running architecture review boards / design authorities
- Cloud networking expertise (Azure / AWS / GCP)
- Strong knowledge of network observability and SLO frameworks
- Relevant certifications (CCNP, CCIE, Fortinet, SD-WAN, SASE)
Key Competencies
- Strategic thinking with strong architectural vision
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
- Strong decision-making and problem-solving abilities
- Ability to balance security, performance, cost, and scalability
