Network Architect

Lockstep Technology Group•Baton Rouge, LA

2h•Onsite

About The Position

At Lockstep, the Network Architect leads the design and delivery of secure, scalable network and security solutions for clients. The role owns complex project architecture and escalations, strengthens team capabilities through mentorship, and helps clients maintain reliable, high-performing network environments. The position involves architecting and deploying network solutions across switching, routing, wireless, firewalls, NAC, SD-WAN, load balancing, and monitoring. It leads medium-to-large projects from technical planning through implementation and delivery, including greenfield deployments and migrations. The architect also provides expert escalation support, governs technical standards, reviews designs and documentation, develops and tests security controls, assesses network performance and capacity, mentors less senior team members, and communicates technical findings and recommendations to clients. The role is based in a professional office environment and involves prolonged computer and desk work, occasional lifting of up to 15 pounds, regular collaboration, and travel of up to 15%. Candidates must be eligible to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship. Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check.

Requirements

Required certification: CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure.
10+ years of experience in senior network engineering, including hands-on network architecture, design, implementation, and administration.
Demonstrated experience leading medium-to-large networking and security projects.
Strong knowledge of switching (VLANs, STP, LACP, MLAG); routing (static, OSPF, BGP, EIGRP); wireless (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, captive portals, and channel management); DHCP; DNS; 802.1X; LLDP; SNMP; syslog; and ACLs.
Ability to deploy and maintain firewalls and help keep networks secure, including designing and validating network access and intrusion-prevention controls.
Hands-on experience in at least six listed areas: Extreme switching/routing/fabric; Extreme NAC/XMC; Cisco switching/routing; SonicWall or ASA firewall migrations to Palo Alto or FortiGate; Citrix NetScaler; greenfield or brownfield ASA, FortiGate, or Palo Alto deployments; controller-based Cisco, Aruba, or Extreme wireless; SD-WAN; switching-layer 802.1X with Microsoft PKI; advanced network/firewall/load-balancer escalation; monitoring tools such as PRTG, LogicMonitor, or SolarWinds; and in-depth configuration analysis with recommendations.
Proficiency in a general-purpose scripting language such as PowerShell or Python.
Strong analytical troubleshooting skills, including isolating where a problem originates, resolving it, and recommending ways to prevent recurrence.
Ability to evaluate network performance, capacity, and scalability and make practical recommendations.
Ability to provide technical mentorship and escalation support to less senior network engineering and security team members.
Excellent client communication skills, including explaining technical issues to non-technical audiences and building productive client relationships.
In addition to the required CCIE, at least two mid-level certifications from strategic vendors; examples include Palo Alto PCNSA, Extreme Certified Specialist, Aruba ACCP, or ACMP. The required CCIE satisfies the expert-level certification requirement.
Must be eligible to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship.
Successful completion of a background check is required.

Nice To Haves

Additional expert-level certifications, such as Palo Alto PCNSE or Aruba ACCX/ACMX.
Experience with additional strategic vendor ecosystems, including HPE, beyond the platforms represented in the required experience.

Responsibilities

Architect, design, and deploy secure, functional network solutions across switching, routing, wireless, firewalls, NAC, SD-WAN, load balancing, and monitoring environments.
Lead medium-to-large network and security projects from technical planning through implementation and delivery, including greenfield deployments and migrations.
Provide expert escalation support for complex networking, firewall, and load-balancer issues; investigate root causes and recommend durable resolutions.
Govern and enforce network and security standards, and review and approve technical designs and documentation.
Create, oversee, and test security controls, including network access and intrusion-prevention measures and 802.1X implementations.
Assess network performance, capacity, and scalability; identify risks and recommend improvements to reliability and service quality.
Mentor network engineering and security team members, provide technical guidance, and support the development of less senior engineers.
Communicate project status, technical findings, and recommendations clearly to clients, including non-technical stakeholders.