Job Description
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:
o Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN
o Juniper Mist WAN Assurance & Session Smart Router
o 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:
o BGP
o OSPF
o IPSec
o 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:
o Cisco Catalyst SD-WAN
o Juniper Mist WAN Assurance & Session Smart Router
o Arista VeloCloud SD-WAN
· Advanced expertise in:
o BGP routing and policy design
o OSPF
o IPSec
o Traffic engineering
o 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.
Pay: $73.99 - $75.15 per hour
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Jersey City, NJ 07302
