Ignite IT

Modernizes software and IT for federal agencies

Network Architect SME

Network Engineering & AdministrationConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeWashington, DC, USANo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

At least 12 years of experience in network engineering, including significant architecture responsibility at enterprise scale.
Strong fundamentals in TCP/IP, routing, switching, segmentation, DNS/DHCP/IPAM, load balancing, resiliency, performance, monitoring, and security.
Demonstrated experience producing technical network designs and supporting implementation, testing, troubleshooting, and operational transition.
Ability to work across cloud and on-premises boundaries and through formal security and architecture review processes.
Strong documentation and communication skills, with experience presenting designs and tradeoffs to engineers and leadership.
U.S. citizenship is required.

Responsibilities

Develop, review, and implement secure, resilient enterprise network architectures supporting mission systems and shared services.
Produce and assess physical and logical diagrams, routing and segmentation, interfaces, connectivity, capacity, availability, and monitoring requirements.
Design hybrid connectivity architecture spanning on-premises and cloud environments.
Define and maintain network architecture standards, reference patterns, and technical decisions.
Set target-state network direction and modernization roadmap, balancing scale, security, resilience, and performance.
Align network architecture with enterprise architecture governance and repository requirements.
Support technical reviews, architecture compliance reviews, phase gates, and implementation-readiness reviews.
Evaluate proposed deviations and provide recommendations grounded in risk and architectural impact.
Analyze current-state network gaps, technical debt, lifecycle risk, single points of failure, and performance bottlenecks.
Provide recommendations for modernization, standardization, and optimization, including cost and performance tradeoffs.
Coordinate with cloud/platform, cybersecurity, identity, endpoint/mobility, applications, data, and ITSM teams, as well as external carriers and providers.
Resolve complex cross-domain design conflicts under fixed milestones.
Maintain standards, reference patterns, technical decisions, configurations, risks, and dependencies in approved repositories.
Support implementation, testing, migration, and stabilization, and troubleshoot complex cross-domain problems, communicating root cause, options, and corrective actions.

Desired Qualifications

Direct federal, government, or large distributed enterprise network experience.
Relevant Cisco, Juniper, cloud networking, SD-WAN, wireless, security, or architecture certifications.
Experience with network automation, infrastructure as code, software-defined networking, zero trust, SASE/SSE, and observability.
Experience with enterprise architecture repositories and technology standards/roadmaps.

Network Architect SME

Ignite IT · Washington, United States (Hybrid) · Full-time · Posted 2026-08-17

Workplace: hybrid

Department: CENSUS

Description

We are seeking a Subject Matter Expert (SME) Network Architect to join our team supporting a large-scale federal modernization program. This role owns enterprise and solution-level network architecture, designing secure, resilient network environments that support mission-critical systems and shared services across both cloud and on-premises boundaries, and driving the standards, target-state direction, and modernization roadmap that keep the network ready to scale.

This is a hands-on architecture role. You'll be expected to produce real technical designs and see them through implementation, not just set direction from a distance.

This is a hybrid role based out of Washington, DC. Candidates must be U.S. citizens.

Key Responsibilities

1. Network Architecture & Design

Develop, review, and implement secure, resilient enterprise network architectures supporting mission systems and shared services.
Produce and assess physical/logical diagrams, routing/segmentation, interfaces, connectivity, capacity, availability, and monitoring requirements.
Design hybrid connectivity architecture spanning on-premises and cloud environments.

2. Standards & Target-State Direction

Define and maintain network architecture standards, reference patterns, and technical decisions.
Set target-state network direction and modernization roadmap, balancing scale, security, resilience, and performance.
Align network architecture with enterprise architecture governance and repository requirements.

3. Technical Reviews & Governance

Support technical reviews, architecture compliance reviews, phase gates, and implementation-readiness reviews.
Evaluate proposed deviations and provide recommendations grounded in risk and architectural impact.

4. Gap Analysis & Modernization

Analyze current-state network gaps, technical debt, lifecycle risk, single points of failure, and performance bottlenecks.
Provide recommendations for modernization, standardization, and optimization, including cost/performance tradeoffs.

5. Cross-Domain Coordination

Coordinate with cloud/platform, cybersecurity, identity, endpoint/mobility, applications, data, and ITSM teams, as well as external carriers and providers.
Resolve complex cross-domain design conflicts under fixed milestones.

6. Documentation & Operational Handoff

Maintain standards, reference patterns, technical decisions, configurations, risks, and dependencies in approved repositories.
Support implementation, testing, migration, and stabilization, and troubleshoot complex cross-domain problems, communicating root cause, options, and corrective actions.

Requirements

12+ years of experience in network engineering, including significant architecture responsibility at enterprise scale.
Strong fundamentals in TCP/IP, routing, switching, segmentation, DNS/DHCP/IPAM, load balancing, resiliency, performance, monitoring, and security.
Demonstrated experience producing technical network designs and supporting implementation, testing, troubleshooting, and operational transition.
Ability to work across cloud and on-premises boundaries and through formal security/architecture review processes.
Strong documentation and communication skills, with experience presenting designs and tradeoffs to both engineers and leadership.
U.S. Citizenship Required.

Nice to Have

Direct federal, government, or large distributed enterprise network experience.
Relevant Cisco, Juniper, cloud networking, SD-WAN, wireless, security, or architecture certifications.
Experience with network automation, infrastructure as code, software-defined networking, zero trust, SASE/SSE, and observability.
Experience with enterprise architecture repositories and technology standards/roadmaps.

Benefits

401(k)
401(k) matching
Dental insurance
Flexible spending account
Health insurance
Life insurance
Paid time off
Professional development assistance
Referral program
Tuition reimbursement
Vision insurance

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About the Company

Ignite IT

Modernizes software and IT for federal agencies

Ignite IT designs and modernizes software systems for U.S. federal agencies and private-sector organizations. Its consulting and engineering teams help clients replace older applications, move workloads into the cloud and automate business processes while keeping existing systems running. Work spans public services such as patent filing and federal court case management, with projects combining custom software development, data workflows and support for the people who use those systems. The company earns its business through technology delivery and advisory engagements, working directly with customers and alongside partners. Founded in 2018, Ignite IT is headquartered in Ashburn, Virginia.

Company size: 501-1,000
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Ashburn, VA
Founded: 2018

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