Principal Architect – Networking

Red8 • Boston, MA

82d

About The Position

The Principal Architect – Networking reports to the VP of Pre-Sales Architecture and plays a critical role in building and delivering Red8’s Network Modernization Practice across both pre-sales and post-sales engagements. This senior technical leader drives networking strategy across data center, cloud, campus, WAN, and Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) offerings. The role includes technical leadership, customer engagement, and team growth, with dotted-line alignment to the CTO.

Requirements

• 10+ years’ experience in networking/infrastructure, including pre-sales and delivery.
• Proven leadership in mentoring or building technical teams.
• Excellent communication skills, comfortable with C-level audiences.
• College degree preferred.
• Industry expert certifications (e.g., CCIE, JNCIE) strongly preferred.

Nice To Haves

• Deep expertise in routing, switching, wireless, and network security (BGP, OSPF, SD-WAN, firewalls, Zero Trust).
• Experience with NaaS platforms (Nile, Meter, HPE GreenLake).
• Background in data center, cloud, and hybrid environments.
• Familiarity with automation/scripting (Ansible, Python, PowerShell).
• Knowledge of virtualization, storage networking, and IaaS (AWS, Azure).
• Strong experience producing deliverables (designs, SOWs, proposals).

Responsibilities

• Partner with VP of Pre-Sales Architecture and CTO on practice strategy and go-to-market direction.
• Provide technical leadership across Red8’s networking practice.
• Conduct discovery sessions to translate business needs into outcome-based solutions.
• Develop and present architectures for wired, wireless, WAN, and data center environments.
• Serve as escalation point for complex sales and delivery challenges.
• Support NaaS initiatives with vendors like Nile, positioning consumption-based networking.
• Lead/assist delivery teams to ensure consistency and customer satisfaction.
• Define best practices and artifacts (HLDs, SOWs, BOMs, MOPs, and Playbooks).
• Mentor and recruit team members to support growth.
• Collaborate across practices (Security, Cloud, Modern Workplace) for integrated offerings.
• Deliver training and knowledge-sharing sessions internally.
• Support field-facing activities (customer briefings, workshops, executive presentations).
• Contribute to customer success materials (use cases, blogs, reference designs).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees