Senior Technical Specialist

Position: Senior Technical Specialist

Duration: 12 Months

Location: Sacramento, California (Onsite from Day 1)

Project Scope/Tasks:

The CalPERS' Investment Office requires additional resources for their existing and newly proposed solutions, all requiring advanced network expertise and resources to consistency support the maintenance/support and critical incident response during extended business hours. The consultant will undertake duties and responsibilities consistent with a senior technology specialist in the support of CalPERS' existing network technologies and the architecture/design/ support of existing and new INVO cloud solutions.

Deliverable 1: Network Architecture for CalPERS Investment Office Cloud and On-Premises Solutions

The Network Architect Consultant will design and implement modern, sustainable networking technologies to support CalPERS' Investment Office (INVO) initiatives and enterprise-wide infrastructure.

Key responsibilities include:

Network Architecture and Implementation:

• Develop advanced network solutions to meet the needs of INVO's cloud platforms, including Snowflake and SimCorp, ensuring scalability, security, and alignment with organizational goals.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the network infrastructure supports the unique requirements of data platforms like Snowflake, investment management systems like SimCorp, and other INVO partner products such as BlackRock Aladdin, Charles River, Bloomberg, and State Street Bank.

High Availability and Resiliency:

• Implement automated monitoring and failover mechanisms to ensure uninterrupted connectivity across core infrastructure.
• Design solutions for seamless transitions to alternate connectivity paths during failures, prioritizing critical applications such as BlackRock Aladdin, Snowflake, SimCorp, and other INVO partner products.
• Advanced Technology Integration: o Plan and design secure, modern networking technologies, including Software-Defined Networking (SDN), Software-Defined Wide Area Networking (SD-WAN), and Network Function Virtualization (NFV). o Leverage Terraform and other Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools to automate the provisioning, configuration, and management of network infrastructure.
• Ensure IaC practices are integrated into the network architecture to improve efficiency, enable repeatable deployments, and reduce manual errors.
• Align all advanced technology integrations with CalPERS' enterprise goals, ensuring enhanced network performance, scalability, and security.
• This deliverable ensures CalPERS' network infrastructure is scalable, secure, and optimized to support INVO's critical business functions, including seamless operation of Snowflake, SimCorp, BlackRock Aladdin, and other partner platforms.

Deliverable 2: Enterprise Network Engineering and Advanced Technology Implementation

The Network Architect Consultant will provide Level II/III support for managing CalPERS' enterprise data networks and contribute to the design and implementation of advanced networking technologies. Responsibilities include:

Network Operations and Maintenance: Perform ongoing maintenance and operations for on-premises and cloud-based network components, including:

• Firewalls o F5 Load Balancers o Infoblox IP Management
• Identity Services Engine (ISE) for port security o VPN and Site-to-Site VPN tunnels
• Wireless Networking
• Cacti and SolarWinds for alerting and monitoring
• Access Control Server (Device Authentication)
• Securocrat (CLI Solution)
• Cyclades Management
• Gigamon Switch Monitoring
• Switching and Routing (all aspects)

Support for INVO Partner Products:

Provide network support for BlackRock Aladdin, Charles River, Bloomberg, State Street Bank, and other INVO partner platforms, ensuring seamless connectivity and optimal performance across all systems.

Advanced Technology Design:

Design and implement secure, modern networking technologies, such as SDN, SD-WAN, and NFV.

Performance Optimization:

Monitor and optimize network performance to ensure scalability, reliability, and security across all enterprise systems.

Communication:

Maintain consistent communication with the contract manager and other stakeholders to provide updates, address concerns, and ensure alignment with project goals.

This deliverable ensures CalPERS' network infrastructure is equipped with cutting-edge technologies and operational excellence to support current and future business needs, including integration with BlackRock Aladdin, Charles River, Bloomberg, State Street Bank, and other INVO platforms.

Deliverable 3: Knowledge Transfer and Documentation

The Network Architect Consultant will deliver a comprehensive knowledge transfer program to ensure CalPERS staff can independently manage and enhance the network infrastructure.

Key activities include:

Knowledge Transfer Sessions:

• Conduct regular meetings to review work products, cross-train team members, and provide job shadowing opportunities.

Documentation:

Develop and maintain detailed documentation for all work products and deliverables, including:

• Project status reports
• Business processes
• Triage incident reports with resolutions
• Meeting minutes
• Test cases and outcomes

Training Program:

• Provide hands-on workshops and Q&A sessions to train staff on:
• Network architecture best practices
• Advanced troubleshooting techniques
• Performance and cost optimization strategies
• Platform management tools and processes