Network Architect - Consultant

Job Description

Job Title: Network Architect – Consultant (13297)

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Location: Columbia, SC 29208

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Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

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Duration: 6 Months

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Extension: Possible

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Interview Process: 2 Rounds – Virtual + In Person

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Candidate Requirements

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• Candidate must be a South Carolina resident or willing to relocate to South Carolina before starting at their own expense.

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Key Responsibilities

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• Lead enterprise network architecture, advanced engineering, modernization, and infrastructure implementation initiatives.

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• Design scalable, resilient, and secure LAN, WAN, wireless, data center, cloud, VPN, firewall, and Network Access Control (NAC) solutions.

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• Develop enterprise network architectures, engineering standards, reference architectures, technical roadmaps, network diagrams, and supporting documentation.

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• Translate institutional, business, and technical requirements into enterprise network designs and implementation strategies.

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• Lead network modernization, lifecycle planning, capacity planning, resiliency, and high-availability initiatives.

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• Advance network automation, orchestration, scripting, Infrastructure as Code (IaC), and deployment practices.

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• Develop and enhance enterprise monitoring, observability, telemetry, alerting, analytics, metrics, and performance management capabilities.

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• Serve as a Tier III escalation resource for complex network incidents and advanced troubleshooting.

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• Coordinate with Network Operations, Information Security, Cloud Services, Facilities Planning, contractors, consultants, vendors, and campus stakeholders.

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• Evaluate emerging technologies and provide technical recommendations supporting procurement and long-term infrastructure planning.

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• Provide technical mentoring, documentation, and knowledge transfer to operational teams.

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• Participate in maintenance windows and after-hours support when required.

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Required Skills

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• 4+ years of enterprise network architecture and engineering experience within complex, mission-critical environments.

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• 4+ years with LAN/WAN technologies, including:

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• Juniper enterprise routing and switching

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• TCP/IP

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• Enterprise routing protocols

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• DNS

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• DHCP

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• IPAM

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• 4+ years leading complex network architecture and engineering initiatives from requirements and design through implementation, troubleshooting, and operational transition.

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• 4+ years with enterprise infrastructure modernization, lifecycle planning, capacity planning, resiliency, and high-availability design.

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• 4+ years with network security architecture and technologies, including:

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• Fortinet firewalls

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• VPN / SASE

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• Network Access Control (NAC)

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• Network segmentation

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• Security policy implementation

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• 4+ years with cloud and hybrid networking using AWS and/or Microsoft Azure.

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• 4+ years with network automation, orchestration, scripting, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) concepts and technologies.

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• 4+ years with enterprise network monitoring, observability, analytics, metrics, and performance management.

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Preferred Skills

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• Enterprise network strategy, architecture standards, reference architectures, and long-term technology roadmaps.

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• Network architecture and engineering experience within a complex higher-education environment supporting academic, research, administrative, and institutional requirements.

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• Aruba and Cisco enterprise switching and wireless technologies.

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• Software-defined and centrally managed network architectures.

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• Enterprise observability, telemetry, automation, and proactive/self-healing infrastructure.

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• Virtualization, cloud networking, and hybrid cloud infrastructure.

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• Experience coordinating infrastructure projects with facilities organizations, architects, contractors, consultants, vendors, and external engineering firms.

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• Enterprise cybersecurity, Zero Trust, network segmentation, and secure network architecture initiatives.

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Education / Certifications

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Required:

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• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, Computer Engineering, or a closely related discipline OR equivalent work experience.

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Preferred – One or More:

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• JNCIP-ENT or higher

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• Fortinet Certified Professional (FCP) or higher

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• CCNP Enterprise

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• CCIE

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• Aruba networking certification

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• AWS or Microsoft Azure certification relevant to networking/cloud architecture

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• ITIL Foundation or higher

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• CompTIA Security+

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