Principal Architect -Networking

Black Box•United States,

About The Position

The Principal Architect troubleshoots complex networking and security technologies from multiple OEMs and works independently with customers to consult on and resolve high-difficulty technical issues. The role includes understanding customer environments, maintaining accurate issue lists, escalating issues when needed, and providing systems administration training to clients. It also supports client installations, assists support technicians, and identifies and closes escalated technical problems in a timely, high-quality manner. The position collaborates with Account Managers to identify cross-selling and up-selling opportunities, contributes to improvements in professional services documentation and implementation processes, and recommends ways to simplify, automate, and enhance service delivery and the client experience. The Principal Architect is expected to continually develop technical and non-technical skills and expand expertise in the products and services supported by Black Box. This position has no direct reports.

Requirements

12+ years of experience as a deployment or support engineer, with a background in technology services industries.
Strong proficiency in Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking.
Knowledge of industry-standard technologies and infrastructures, including cabling, LAN, WAN, SD-WAN, telecommunication access methods, DNS-based Global Server Load Balancing (GSLB), and legacy networking systems.
Certifications such as CCIE, JNCIE, Palo Alto, Fortinet, or equivalent.
Experience with automation and orchestration tools such as Ansible, Python, SaltStack, or Terraform.
Experience with AAA applications such as ISE or ClearPass.
Strong business process and workflow design experience, with an end-to-end process mindset.
Ability to understand client requirements and preferences and develop creative, innovative solutions.
Excellent problem-solving skills and a track record of success in root cause analysis.
Ability to apply knowledge of technology market and industry trends and implement best practices and methodologies.
Accountability, customer focus, sound decision-making, professional interpersonal skills, and systematic problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience.
Experience with data center virtualization and storage technologies.
Experience with cloud and virtualization technologies.

Responsibilities

Troubleshoot complex networking and security technologies from a variety of OEMs.
Consult independently with customers on high-difficulty technology issues and maintain an accurate issue list.
Design and configure systems according to current security and privacy standards.
Provide systems administration training to clients.
Understand customer technical and political environments and escalate issues when necessary.
Collaborate with Account Managers to identify cross-selling and up-selling opportunities during projects.
Participate in improving professional services project documentation and implementation processes.
Assist support technicians in troubleshooting client installations.
Continuously develop technical and non-technical knowledge, skills, and abilities, including expertise in supported products and services.
Recommend and support efforts to improve, simplify, automate, and enhance service delivery operations and the client experience.
Identify, research, analyze, diagnose, resolve, and close escalated technical problems in a timely and quality manner.
Perform other duties as assigned.