Chief Network Architect

Akima, LLC•Herndon, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

As the Chief Network Architect, you serve as the final technical authority for the project's network infrastructure, translating mission and Service Level Agreement (SLA) objectives into coherent wired and wireless reference architectures. Tundra Federal, an Akima company, is a federal IT contractor that supports its shareholder communities in Alaska. Its mission and purpose extend beyond federal projects to support 15,000 Iñupiat shareholders, providing support, employment opportunities, and contributing to the survival of their culture. For government customers, Tundra Federal delivers agile information technology solutions to implement and evolve IT infrastructures to achieve and advance functionality, efficiency, security, and compliance. As an employee, you will be part of a challenging, yet supportive work environment committed to innovation and diversity, with access to comprehensive benefits, competitive pay, growth opportunities, and excellent retirement options.

Requirements

An active DoD Secret clearance is required for consideration.
Bachelor’s degree and 10-12 years of relevant experience; four additional years of applicable work experience may be substituted for a degree.
Expert-level knowledge of network architecture, including ISP/OSP pathways, rack elevations, and TIA/BICSI standards.
Demonstrated experience in translating high-level mission requirements into technical reference architectures with a focus on redundancy, failover, and security protocols (QoS/NAC).
Must hold and maintain active technical certifications in accordance with DoD 8140/DCWF (e.g., Security+).
Leadership & Authority: Proven experience in chairing technical reviews (PIR/CIR), adjudicating complex technical risks, and providing authoritative sign-off on enterprise-level engineering documents.
Operational Oversight: Experience overseeing on-site technicians in the configuration, maintenance, and vulnerability management of operational networks and communications systems.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience supporting similar Air Force modernization programs.

Responsibilities

Chair the technical portions of Preliminary and Critical Integration Reviews (PIR/CIR), adjudicating risks and providing authoritative sign-off on integration strategies and redlines.
Working alongside the Director of Engineering, design ISP/OSP pathways and rack elevations in strict accordance with TIA/BICSI standards, integrating power, grounding, and labeling requirements.
Verify complex redundancy, failover, and QoS/NAC behaviors to meet established entrance and exit criteria, ensuring the interoperability and future-proofing of all designs.
During the implementation phase, translate qualified baselines into installable field configurations, adjudicate technical deviations during Systems Acceptance Testing (SAT), and lead technical adjudication during qualification.
Provide SME-level oversight to ensure the durability of design decisions, rapid resolution of defects, and the maintenance of design integrity to prevent failures during witness periods.
Provide functional and empirical analysis related to the planning, design, installation, and implementation of the network infrastructure.
Perform maintenance of file servers and network devices including the restoration of hardware and software.
Anticipate and mitigate potential attacks through network or other connections to ensure the security of the system.
Work with end users and vendors to resolve network hardware and software issues.
May develop and administer end-user training to achieve efficient utilization of LAN/WAN.
Review progress and evaluate results.
Perform work independently.
Regularly interact and work with senior management.
Use advanced techniques, theories, and processes to complete work.