Sr. Network Architect SME

Sr Network Architect SME
100% ONSITE in NW Washington DC 20006 (New York Ave)
Per Federal contract U.S. Citizenship or Valid Required
Must be able to pass enhanced FBI background screening (criminal, financial and finger printing) for Public Trust clearance
Performance Period: June 2026- Dec 31 2026, with the possibility of multi-year extension based on performance
W-2 or C2C

Must Apply before May 13^th 12:00pm

This role is for a Senior Network Architect SME with deep expertise in routing and a strong operational mindset. The ideal candidate is not only a subject matter expert in BGP, OSPF and VXLANs, but also a well-rounded network engineer who can support day-to-day operations, contribute to security and visibility platforms, and drive innovative improvements across the network.
You will be expected to take ownership of critical portions of the network, make high-impact design decisions, and execute changes in live environments without introducing instability.
Responsibilities & Qualifications

• Own and evolve enterprise routing architecture with deep expertise in BGP and OSPF, including policy design, traffic engineering, convergence behavior, and failure handling at scale
• Design, implement, and operate modern data center fabrics (spine-leaf, VXLAN/EVPN) including integration with cloud and virtual infrastructure platforms with a focus on stability, scalability, and operational simplicity
• Lead and execute complex network changes and migrations in production environments with near-zero service impact
• Act as a top-tier escalation point, driving issues from ambiguous symptoms to root cause across routing, switching, security, and application layers
• Operate seamlessly between architecture and hands-on troubleshooting, including deep packet analysis (Wireshark/PCAP) and system-level debugging
• Design and enhance network segmentation, access control, and visibility using technologies such as Cisco ISE and Gigamon
• Integrate and support secure access and edge solutions (e.g., Zscaler, Cisco FTD) within the broader network architecture
• Evaluate existing designs and proactively propose improvements to reliability, performance, and operational efficiency
• Demonstrate CCIE-level expertise (certification not required), with proven experience designing and operating large-scale production networks
• Strong hands-on experience with Cisco platforms (Nexus, Catalyst, NX-OS, IOS-XE)
• Practical experience with NAC (Cisco ISE or equivalent) and network visibility tools (Gigamon or similar)
• Deep understanding of TCP/IP and packet-level behavior, with the ability to troubleshoot under real production pressure