Network Technology Lead (Architect)

Job Title: Network Technology Lead (Architect)

Location:  Remote

Duration: 6 Months contract-to-hire

Engagement: Full-time, six-month W-2  

End client: Globalstar, Inc.

Responsibilities

·       Network Technology LeadPosition OverviewWe are seeking a Network Technology Lead to serve as the senior hands-on design authority for a complex, globally distributed enterprise network. This role will define network architecture, establish technical standards, guide design decisions, and shape the long-term technology roadmap across WAN, LAN, data center, internet edge, cloud interconnect, and critical transport environments.

·       The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with the ability to influence outcomes through credibility, collaboration, and sound engineering judgment. This position does not have direct reports; instead, it partners closely with network engineering, cybersecurity, operations, vendors, carriers, and executive stakeholders to drive scalable, secure, and resilient network solutions.Key ResponsibilitiesArchitecture and Design Leadership

·       Serve as the senior technical decision-maker for network architecture and design across WAN, LAN, data center, internet edge, cloud interconnect, and critical transport environments.

·       Develop and maintain network architecture standards, reference designs, design documentation, and technical decision records.

·       Review and approve designs proposed by internal engineering teams, integrators, carriers, and technology vendors.

·       Build and maintain a 12- to 24-month network technology roadmap aligned with business, operational, and security priorities. Routing, Transport, and Interconnect

·       Lead BGP policy and architecture for internet-edge, carrier, colocation, and cloud connectivity, including route policy, traffic engineering, resiliency, and failover.

·       Design and govern optical and carrier transport solutions, including capacity planning, path diversity, availability, and latency requirements.

·       Define EVPN/VXLAN architecture and standards for data center and distributed network environments. SD-WAN, SASE, and Security

·       Own the SD-WAN and SASE architecture, including site design, policy models, point-of-presence strategy, and integration with identity and security controls.

·       Partner with cybersecurity teams on firewall architecture, segmentation, zero-trust initiatives, and remediation of security assessment findings. Visibility, Automation, and Operational Enablement

·       Define network telemetry, observability, and performance-monitoring standards and use operational data to guide design and capacity decisions.

·       Establish automation and infrastructure-as-code practices that improve configuration consistency, validation, and change safety.

·       Serve as an escalation point for complex incidents and root-cause analysis, translating findings into durable architecture improvements and standards. Stakeholder and Partner Engagement

·       Present network architecture, risks, recommendations, and investment priorities to technical and executive stakeholders.

·       Lead technical evaluations of vendors, carriers, and integrators, including requirements development, solution review, and acceptance criteria.

·       Produce clear design documentation and decision records that support audit, compliance, and operational readiness.

·       Mentor engineers and strengthen architecture and design practices across the broader network team. Technology EnvironmentCandidates should be prepared to work across a multi-vendor environment that may include:

·       Routing and edge: BGP, route policy, communities, traffic engineering, internet edge, and carrier interconnects

·       Data center and LAN: EVPN/VXLAN fabrics, distributed LAN environments, and operational technology integration

·       WAN and SASE: SD-WAN, SASE, MPLS, and dedicated internet access services

·       Cloud and colocation connectivity: cloud on-ramps, direct cloud connections, and colocation fabrics

·       Transport: high-capacity carrier and optical circuits, path diversity, and latency management

·       Security: next-generation firewalls, segmentation, zero-trust architecture, and regulated control environments

·       Visibility: network observability, flow analytics, and performance telemetry

·       Automation: Python, Ansible, infrastructure as code, and configuration validation Required Qualifications

·       Active CCIE certification in any track; Enterprise Infrastructure, Service Provider, or Data Center is preferred. A certification number must be provided during the selection process and will be verified.

·       Must qualify as a U.S. Person under applicable export-control regulations because the role may access export-controlled technical data.

·       10 or more years of progressive network engineering experience, including at least five years in a senior architecture or design-authority capacity within a production enterprise, carrier, or service-provider environment.

·       Demonstrated ownership of BGP architecture and policy at scale, including the ability to explain design tradeoffs, resiliency strategies, and failure scenarios.

·       Hands-on experience designing and implementing EVPN/VXLAN in production environments.

·       Experience designing SD-WAN or SASE solutions; experience with leading enterprise platforms is strongly preferred.

·       Experience with carrier interconnects, colocation connectivity, and cloud on-ramp design.

·       Proven ability to influence technical outcomes without direct authority and establish standards adopted by engineering teams.

·       Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce design documentation, decision records, and executive-level summaries.

·       Ability to travel to office, data center, and partner locations as needed, estimated at 10% to 15%. Preferred Qualifications

·       CCDE certification or multiple active CCIE certifications.

·       Experience in satellite communications, telecommunications, carrier, ISP, or other highly available network environments.

·       Experience with optical transport and latency-sensitive traffic.

·       Experience using flow analytics or comparable observability platforms to guide architecture and capacity decisions.

·       Firewall architecture experience and familiarity with SOC 2, NIST 800-171, or comparable compliance frameworks.

·       Experience supporting network workstreams for mergers, acquisitions, or infrastructure integrations.

·       Network automation experience using Python, Ansible, or infrastructure-as-code practices.

·       Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience. Work ArrangementThis is a U.S.-based role. Remote candidates may be considered, with regular on-site presence and travel to company, data center, and partner locations as business needs require.Engagement Details

·       Six-month contract-to-hire engagement

·       Full-time schedule of 40 hours per week

·       Conversion to a permanent position based on mutual agreement and successful performance during the contract period