We are seeking a Subject Matter Expert (SME) Network Architect to join our team supporting a large-scale federal modernization program. This role owns enterprise and solution-level network architecture, designing secure, resilient network environments that support mission-critical systems and shared services across both cloud and on-premises boundaries, and driving the standards, target-state direction, and modernization roadmap that keep the network ready to scale. This is a hands-on architecture role. You'll be expected to produce real technical designs and see them through implementation, not just set direction from a distance. This is a hybrid role based out of Washington, DC. Candidates must be U.S. citizens. Key Responsibilities 1. Network Architecture & Design • Develop, review, and implement secure, resilient enterprise network architectures supporting mission systems and shared services. • Produce and assess physical/logical diagrams, routing/segmentation, interfaces, connectivity, capacity, availability, and monitoring requirements. • Design hybrid connectivity architecture spanning on-premises and cloud environments. 2. Standards & Target-State Direction • Define and maintain network architecture standards, reference patterns, and technical decisions. • Set target-state network direction and modernization roadmap, balancing scale, security, resilience, and performance. • Align network architecture with enterprise architecture governance and repository requirements. 3. Technical Reviews & Governance • Support technical reviews, architecture compliance reviews, phase gates, and implementation-readiness reviews. • Evaluate proposed deviations and provide recommendations grounded in risk and architectural impact. 4. Gap Analysis & Modernization • Analyze current-state network gaps, technical debt, lifecycle risk, single points of failure, and performance bottlenecks. • Provide recommendations for modernization, standardization, and optimization, including cost/performance tradeoffs. 5. Cross-Domain Coordination • Coordinate with cloud/platform, cybersecurity, identity, endpoint/mobility, applications, data, and ITSM teams, as well as external carriers and providers. • Resolve complex cross-domain design conflicts under fixed milestones. 6. Documentation & Operational Handoff • Maintain standards, reference patterns, technical decisions, configurations, risks, and dependencies in approved repositories. • Support implementation, testing, migration, and stabilization, and troubleshoot complex cross-domain problems, communicating root cause, options, and corrective actions. Requirements • 12+ years of experience in network engineering, including significant architecture responsibility at enterprise scale. • Strong fundamentals in TCP/IP, routing, switching, segmentation, DNS/DHCP/IPAM, load balancing, resiliency, performance, monitoring, and security. • Demonstrated experience producing technical network designs and supporting implementation, testing, troubleshooting, and operational transition. • Ability to work across cloud and on-premises boundaries and through formal security/architecture review processes. • Strong documentation and communication skills, with experience presenting designs and tradeoffs to both engineers and leadership. • U.S. Citizenship Required. Nice to Have • Direct federal, government, or large distributed enterprise network experience. • Relevant Cisco, Juniper, cloud networking, SD-WAN, wireless, security, or architecture certifications. • Experience with network automation, infrastructure as code, software-defined networking, zero trust, SASE/SSE, and observability. • Experience with enterprise architecture repositories and technology standards/roadmaps. Benefits • 401(k) • 401(k) matching • Dental insurance • Flexible spending account • Health insurance • Life insurance • Paid time off • Professional development assistance • Referral program • Tuition reimbursement • Vision insurance