Lead Network Architect – SDA + SD-WAN

JD-4: Lead Network Architect – SDA + SD-WAN

Job Title   Lead Network Architect – SDA + SD-WAN

Experience   10–15+ Years

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Lead Network Architect responsible for designing, leading, and governing enterprise SDA and SD-WAN transformation programs across global campus, branch, WAN, and hybrid connectivity environments. The role involves defining architecture standards, rollout strategy, migration approach, performance governance, and operational readiness for large-scale network modernization initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture & Design

·         Define enterprise SDA and SD-WAN architecture blueprints covering campus fabric, branch connectivity, segmentation, policy, and security integration

·         Develop High-Level Designs, Low-Level Designs, migration patterns, templates, and validated reference architectures

·         Align network architecture with business requirements, site profiles, application criticality, resiliency needs, and operational constraints

SDA / Campus Fabric

·         Lead Cisco SDA design across control plane, fabric edge, border, wireless integration, identity services, and macro/micro-segmentation

·         Define policies using Cisco DNA Center, ISE, SGTs, VRFs, VN mappings, and access control models

·         Plan brownfield-to-SDA migration strategies with minimal business disruption

SD-WAN Strategy & Rollout

·         Design SD-WAN underlay and overlay architectures across DIA, MPLS, broadband, LTE/5G, and cloud connectivity models

·         Define routing, segmentation, application-aware policies, QoS, traffic steering, failover, and security integration patterns

·         Create rollout factory models, site readiness checklists, wave plans, and success criteria for large-scale deployments

Governance & Stakeholder Management

·         Drive architecture reviews, design governance boards, risk reviews, and technical decision forums

·         Collaborate with customer architecture, operations, security, application, cloud, and service provider teams

·         Provide technical leadership to implementation teams and mentor network engineers across rollout phases

Required Skills

·         Cisco SDA, Cisco DNA Center / Catalyst Center, Cisco ISE, TrustSec, SGT, LISP, VXLAN, VRF, and fabric segmentation

·         Cisco SD-WAN / Meraki SD-WAN or equivalent enterprise SD-WAN platforms

·         Strong routing and switching expertise: BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, MPLS, QoS, multicast, high availability, and route redistribution

·         Experience with WAN transformation, branch modernization, cloud connectivity, Zscaler/SASE integration, and enterprise security policy enforcement

Good to Have

·         Automation using Python, Ansible, APIs, and network validation scripts

·         Experience with observability, AIOps, network assurance, telemetry, and performance monitoring platforms

·         Exposure to multi-vendor campus and WAN environments including Cisco, Fortinet, Palo Alto, Aruba, Juniper, and F5

Certifications (Preferred)

·         CCNP / CCIE Enterprise

·         Cisco SD-WAN / SDA / Catalyst Center certifications

·         Cloud networking or SASE-related certifications