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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Network Designer

💰 $110,000 - $175,000

Information TechnologyNetworkingInfrastructureSystems DesignNetwork Architecture

🎯 Role Definition

Are you a visionary network professional ready to architect the digital backbone of a forward-thinking enterprise? This role requires a highly skilled and strategic Network Designer to join our dynamic infrastructure team. In this pivotal role, you will be the lead architect for our global network, responsible for translating complex business requirements into robust, secure, and scalable network solutions. You will design and oversee our LAN, WAN, WLAN, data center, and cloud networking environments, ensuring they are optimized for performance and prepared for future growth. The ideal candidate is a master of network protocols, a security-conscious innovator, and a collaborative leader who can steer our network strategy into the future. If you thrive on solving complex challenges and building resilient infrastructure from the ground up, we want to hear from you.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Network Engineer
  • Network Administrator (with extensive design experience)
  • Solutions Architect

Advancement To:

  • Principal Network Architect
  • Director of Network Engineering
  • IT Infrastructure Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • Cloud Architect
  • Cybersecurity Architect
  • IT Project Manager (Infrastructure)

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Translate complex business requirements into scalable, resilient, and secure network architectures, creating detailed high-level (HLD) and low-level (LLD) design documents.
  • Design, plan, and lead the implementation of enterprise-level network solutions across LAN, WAN, WLAN, data center, and public/private cloud environments.
  • Develop and maintain network architecture standards, roadmaps, and best practices to guide the evolution of the company's network infrastructure.
  • Conduct comprehensive network capacity planning and performance analysis to forecast future needs and ensure the network can support business growth and emerging applications.
  • Evaluate, test, and recommend new and emerging network technologies, hardware, and software to enhance performance, increase security, and reduce operational costs.
  • Act as the top-level technical escalation point for complex and persistent network issues, providing expert troubleshooting and root cause analysis.
  • Architect and implement robust network security measures, including firewalls, VPNs, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and network access control (NAC).
  • Design and manage the integration of voice, video, and data traffic across the network, ensuring Quality of Service (QoS) for critical applications.
  • Lead the technical design aspects of network-related projects, collaborating with project managers, system administrators, and other stakeholders to ensure successful delivery.
  • Create and manage IP addressing schemes (IPv4/IPv6) and design complex routing solutions using protocols such as BGP, OSPF, and EIGRP.
  • Design resilient and high-availability network solutions, including failover, load balancing, and disaster recovery strategies for critical network services.
  • Develop network automation scripts and strategies using tools like Ansible, Python, or Terraform to streamline provisioning, configuration, and management tasks.
  • Design secure connectivity to public cloud providers (AWS, Azure, GCP), including the configuration of Direct Connect, ExpressRoute, VPN gateways, and VPC/VNet peering.
  • Lead technical discussions and manage relationships with telecommunication carriers, hardware vendors, and service providers to ensure optimal service and support.
  • Perform regular security assessments and audits of the network architecture to identify vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with industry regulations and internal policies.
  • Develop and present technical proposals, design justifications, and business cases for network infrastructure investments to senior management and executive leadership.
  • Design and oversee the implementation of Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and SD-WAN solutions to improve agility, performance, and manageability of the wide area network.
  • Architect monitoring and alerting solutions to provide proactive visibility into network health, performance, and security events.
  • Provide technical mentorship and guidance to junior network engineers and operations staff, fostering a culture of technical excellence and continuous improvement.
  • Create and maintain meticulous documentation for all network designs, configurations, standards, and operational playbooks to ensure consistency and knowledge sharing.
  • Collaborate with the cybersecurity team to develop and enforce network security policies and to respond effectively to security incidents.

Secondary Functions

  • Manage vendor relationships for network hardware, software, and services, including contract negotiation and performance reviews.
  • Participate in an on-call rotation for Tier 4 escalations, providing leadership during major network incidents.
  • Develop and deliver technical training sessions and materials for the network operations team on new technologies and architectures.
  • Assist in the development of annual IT budgets by providing cost estimates for network-related projects, maintenance, and upgrades.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Advanced Routing & Switching: Expert-level knowledge of TCP/IP and routing protocols (BGP, OSPF, EIGRP), and advanced switching concepts (STP, VLANs, LACP, VxLAN).
  • SDN/SD-WAN Technologies: Proven experience designing and implementing SD-WAN solutions from vendors like Cisco (Viptela), VMware (VeloCloud), or Fortinet.
  • Network Security: Deep proficiency with next-generation firewalls (Palo Alto, Fortinet, Cisco ASA/Firepower), VPNs, NAC (e.g., Cisco ISE), and IDS/IPS systems.
  • Cloud Networking: Strong hands-on experience with networking services in major cloud platforms (AWS VPC, Azure VNet, GCP), including hybrid cloud connectivity (Direct Connect, ExpressRoute).
  • Data Center Networking: In-depth knowledge of data center architecture, including spine-leaf designs, and technologies like Cisco ACI or Arista CloudVision.
  • Network Automation: Proficiency in scripting and automation using Python, Ansible, and/or Terraform to manage network configurations and deployments.
  • Wireless Networking: Solid understanding of enterprise Wi-Fi standards (802.11ax), design principles, and management platforms (e.g., Cisco WLC, Meraki, Aruba).
  • Network Monitoring & Analysis: Experience with network monitoring tools (e.g., SolarWinds, Nagios, Datadog) and packet analysis tools (e.g., Wireshark).
  • Load Balancing: Expertise with application delivery controllers and load balancers such as F5 BIG-IP or NGINX.
  • QoS (Quality of Service): Ability to design and implement QoS policies to prioritize critical application traffic, especially voice and video.
  • Unified Communications: Familiarity with the network requirements for UC platforms, including VoIP, SIP trunking, and video conferencing.

Soft Skills

  • Strategic Thinking: Ability to see the big picture and align network strategy with long-term business goals.
  • Excellent Communication: Capable of explaining complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
  • Problem-Solving: Advanced analytical and troubleshooting skills to resolve complex, multi-faceted issues.
  • Project Management: Strong organizational skills to lead and manage technical aspects of large-scale projects.
  • Collaboration & Teamwork: Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including systems, security, and application owners.
  • Mentorship: A passion for coaching and developing the skills of junior team members.
  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to design, documentation, and configuration.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant technical field.

Preferred Education:

Master's Degree and/or professional certifications such as Cisco CCDE/CCIE, JNCIE, or equivalent.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Computer Science
  • Information Technology
  • Telecommunications Engineering
  • Electrical Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

7-12 years of progressive experience in network engineering, with at least 3-5 years focused specifically on network architecture and design in a large-scale enterprise environment.

Preferred:

  • Experience designing and managing networks for global organizations with multiple data centers and cloud presences.
  • Demonstrable experience leading a major network transformation project, such as a data center migration, SD-WAN rollout, or cloud adoption initiative.
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