Senior Network Architect (LOCALS or PST ONLY)

NOTE: LOCAL Candidates or from PST ONLY

Duration: 18 Months Contract
Location: Santa Ana, CA (Onsite)

Minimum 12+ years of Networking experience

Top 5 Most important Skills:
1. Expert in enterprise network design and Cisco technologies (switches, routers, firewalls, WLCs).
2. Strong knowledge of routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, EIGRP), VLAN strategies, and network segmentation.
3. Hands-on experience with VPNs, QoS, ACLs, SD-WAN, wireless upgrades, and network monitoring tools (SolarWinds, NetFlow, SNMP).
4. Proven leadership and mentoring skills; able to train and guide IT staff, develop SOPs, and lead knowledge transfer sessions.
5. Experienced in high-availability, secure public safety networks, with strong troubleshooting, incident response, and Level 4 escalation capabilities.
6. Must have extended experience when it comes to design/deploying networks with current network technologies (SDWAN-WAN, Leaf and Spines)

Job Description: Network Architecture & Design
Design and maintain a secure, scalable, and high-availability enterprise network leveraging Cisco technologies.
Develop network segmentation, Virtual Local Area Network ( VLAN ) strategies, and routing topologies (Originated Short Path First ( OSPF ), Border Gateway Protocol ( BGP ), Enhance Interior Gateway Routing Protocol ( EIGRP ), etc.
Plan and implement architecture for remote site connectivity, mobile units, data centers, and public safety systems.
Lead modernization efforts, including Software Defined Wide-Area Network ( SD-WAN ), wireless upgrades, and zero-trust network access.

Implementation, Operations, and Support
Serve as the hands-on lead engineer for network deployment, upgrades, and incident response.
Configure and manage Cisco switches, routers, firewalls, WLCs, and wireless endpoints.
Design and manage Virtual Private Network ( VPNs ), Quality of Service ( QoS ), Access Control Lists ( ACLs ), network monitoring, and logging systems (SolarWinds, NetFlow, Simple Network Management Protocol ( SNMP )).
Act as the Level 4 escalation point for complex network issues and performance tuning.

SME Leadership and Staff Development
Serve as the department s Subject Matter Expert ( SME ) on enterprise networking, guiding decisions across IT, public safety systems, and operations.
Train, coach, and mentor internal IT staff, including junior and mid-level network technicians.
Lead structured knowledge transfer sessions, hands-on training, and real-time coaching during support and implementation activities.
Create Standard Operating Procedures ( SOPs ), how-to guides, and step-by-step documentation tailored for ongoing use by internal staff.
Support staff in preparation for certification paths (e.g., Cisco Certified Network Associate ( CCNA )/Cisco Certified Network Professional ( CCNP )) if desired.