Network Design Lead Specialist Engineer
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Location: Chicago, Illinois
Experience: 12+ Years
Employment Type: Contract
Interview Type: In-Person or Webcam
We are seeking a highly experienced Network Design Lead Specialist Engineer with extensive expertise in enterprise-level network architecture and design. The ideal candidate will lead the planning, design, and implementation of scalable, secure, and high-performance network solutions. This role involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including infrastructure, security, and operational support teams, to ensure alignment of network strategies with business needs.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end design and architecture of enterprise network infrastructure, including LAN, WAN, WLAN, SD-WAN, data center networks, and cloud network connectivity.
- Develop high-level and low-level network design documentation, topology diagrams, and capacity planning models.
- Assess current network environments, identify improvement opportunities, and drive modernization and optimization initiatives.
- Implement advanced routing, switching, firewall, and load-balancing solutions across complex networks.
- Work closely with security teams to integrate network security controls and maintain compliance with organizational standards.
- Provide technical guidance to engineering and operations teams and support the deployment of new technologies and solutions.
- Lead network-related incident resolutions, root cause analyses, and performance tuning.
- Evaluate new technologies, vendor products, and tools; provide recommendations for adoption.
- Develop engineering standards, best practices, and design frameworks.
- Present architectural solutions and findings to leadership and stakeholders.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.
- Minimum 12+ years of professional experience in network engineering and architecture.
- Strong hands-on expertise in routing and switching technologies (Cisco, Juniper, Arista, or similar).
- Proven experience designing enterprise or data center networks, MPLS, BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, and QoS.
- Experience with SD-WAN technologies, cloud networking (AWS, Azure, GCP), and hybrid networking.
- Proficiency with network security technologies such as firewalls, VPN, IDS/IPS.
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical projects and mentor engineering teams.
- Strong documentation skills and architectural presentation experience.
- Industry certifications such as CCNP, CCIE, JNCIP, or equivalent.
Preferred Skills
- Experience with automation and scripting using Python, Ansible, or similar tools.
- Knowledge of network monitoring and performance management systems (SolarWinds, NetScout, Splunk, etc.).
- Familiarity with zero-trust security architectures and SASE frameworks.
- Prior consulting or customer-facing engineering experience.
- Master's degree in a related field strongly preferred.
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