Senior SD-WAN Network Architect

Location: New York, NY or Jersey City, NJ (Hybrid – 3 days onsite per week)
Job Type: Contract (6+ Months)
Employment Type: W-2 Only
Start Date: ASAP
Hours: 40 hours/week

About the Opportunity

We are seeking a Senior SD-WAN Network Architect to lead the design, implementation, and modernization of enterprise WAN environments. This role is ideal for a highly experienced network architect with deep expertise across multiple SD-WAN platforms and a proven track record delivering large-scale WAN transformation initiatives.

The successful candidate will provide architectural leadership, collaborate with engineering and operations teams, and drive the deployment of resilient, scalable, and secure SD-WAN solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide architecture, design, and implementation expertise across:

  • Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN

  • Juniper Mist WAN Assurance & Session Smart Router

  • Arista VeloCloud SD-WAN

• Lead SD-WAN transformation initiatives from design through deployment and operational handoff.

• Design and implement enterprise routing and switching solutions utilizing:

  • BGP

  • OSPF

  • IPSec

  • Quality of Service (QoS)

• Develop network segmentation strategies, policy frameworks, and multi-VRF architectures.

• Create and maintain High-Level Designs (HLDs), Low-Level Designs (LLDs), and architectural decision documentation.

• Develop test plans, validation procedures, and perform solution verification activities.

• Produce operational documentation, deployment records, and Day-2 support runbooks.

• Lead migrations from traditional WAN architectures including MPLS and DMVPN to modern SD-WAN platforms.

• Integrate SD-WAN solutions with next-generation firewall technologies and security architectures such as SASE and SSE.

• Design and implement cloud on-ramp connectivity for major cloud platforms.

• Serve as a senior technical resource for complex troubleshooting, escalations, and deployment support.

Required Qualifications

• Extensive experience designing and implementing enterprise network architectures.

• Strong hands-on SD-WAN design and deployment experience.

• Experience working with all three of the following platforms:

  • Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN

  • Juniper Mist WAN Assurance & Session Smart Router

  • Arista VeloCloud SD-WAN

• Advanced expertise in:

  • BGP routing and policy design

  • OSPF

  • IPSec

  • Traffic engineering

  • Enterprise routing and switching

• Proven success leading WAN modernization and migration projects.

• Experience supporting production environments and collaborating with Network Operations teams.

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.

Preferred Technical Skills

• Git-based configuration management and version control workflows

• Ansible for network automation and configuration management

• Python scripting and API integration

• Network automation and orchestration tools

• Next-generation firewall technologies

• Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) solutions

• Cloud networking and connectivity architectures

Additional Information

• Hybrid schedule with three days onsite each week in either New York, NY or Jersey City, NJ.

• Local candidates strongly preferred.

• Minimal after-hours support requirements; this role is focused on architecture and engineering rather than deployment operations.

• Opportunity to work on enterprise-scale network modernization initiatives within a highly collaborative technical environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all individuals are empowered to succeed based on their skills, experience, and contributions. We value diversity of thought, innovation, collaboration, and mutual respect, and strive to foster an environment where every team member can thrive.

CLIENT does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor.