Senior Technical Architect - Cisco SDA & SDWAN

Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Technical Architect- Cisco SDA & SDWAN to lead the design, implementation, and evolution of a campus and wide area network infrastructure for a complex environment. This role requires deep expertise in Cisco's Software-Defined Access (SDA) and Software-Defined Wide Area Network (SDWAN) solutions to build secure, scalable, and automated network environments. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with a proven track record of architecting and deploying complex Cisco networking technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Architect, design, and document Cisco SDA solutions, including network fabric, segmentation (TrustSec), policy automation, and network assurance using Cisco DNA Center.
• Architect, design, and document Cisco SDWAN solutions , including controller deployment, edge device integration, policy definition, and orchestration using vManage.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive network architecture documentation, standards, and best practices for SDA and SDWAN environments.
• Collaborate closely with security, server, application, and infrastructure teams to ensure seamless integration and alignment of network solutions with business requirements.
• Lead the integration of SDA and SDWAN with security services (e.g., Firewalls, ISE), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), and other critical IT systems.
• Define and implement network automation strategies for provisioning, configuration management, and monitoring within SDA and SDWAN domains.
• Provide expert-level troubleshooting and resolution for complex network issues related to SDA and SDWAN.
• Evaluate new Cisco networking technologies and industry trends, making recommendations for adoption to enhance network capabilities and performance.
• Ensure network designs adhere to high standards of availability, scalability, performance, and security.
• Mentor junior network engineers on SDA and SDWAN principles and technologies.

Critical Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent work experience.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in network engineering and architecture roles.
• Demonstrated expertise in designing and implementing Cisco SDA solutions, including Cisco DNA Center, Catalyst 9000 series switches, fabric configuration, and policy management.
• Proven experience designing and implementing Cisco SDWAN (Viptela) solutions, including controller clusters, edge deployments, and policy management via vManage.
• Strong understanding of core networking concepts: TCP/IP, routing protocols (BGP, OSPF), switching, VLANs, QoS, and network security.
• Experience with network automation tools and scripting languages (e.g., Python, Ansible).
• Proficiency in network troubleshooting methodologies and tools.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work independently and lead projects effectively.

Preferred Qualifications

• Cisco Certifications such as CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, CCNP Enterprise, or equivalent.
• Experience with Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) for policy enforcement and network access control.
• Experience integrating SDWAN solutions with public cloud environments (AWS, Azure, GCP).
• Knowledge of network virtualization and containerization technologies.
• Familiarity with Cisco Meraki solutions.