Freelance Principal Network Architect Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Title: Sr Principal Network Architect
Location : Plano. TX

Work model : Hybrid  (3 days a week, but subject to more time in office at client discretion)

Position Summary:                                                                                                                 

We are seeking a Principal Network Architect to serve as a senior technical authority responsible for shaping enterprise network architecture, technology strategy, and major transformation initiatives across a large and complex environment.

This role operates at the intersection of enterprise architecture, advanced engineering, and technology strategy. The Principal Network Architect will define architectural direction, establish technical standards and guardrails, evaluate emerging technologies, lead complex technology decisions, and provide technical leadership across critical network initiatives.

The successful candidate will bring deep technical expertise, exceptional architectural judgment, and the credibility to engage at an expert level with senior engineers, architects, technology vendors, and executive stakeholders. This individual must be equally comfortable defining long-term architecture strategy and engaging deeply in complex technical and implementation decisions.

Key Responsibilities

Architecture & Technology Strategy

·                     Define and evolve enterprise network architecture principles, reference architectures, design patterns, technical standards, and implementation guidelines.

·         Assess current-state architectures, identify technical debt, risks, and opportunities, and establish pragmatic modernization roadmaps aligned with business and technology strategy.

·         Provide architectural direction for complex, multi-domain network initiatives and ensure solutions are scalable, resilient, secure, and operationally sustainable.

·         Evaluate emerging networking technologies and determine their applicability to the enterprise environment.

Technical Leadership & Decision Making

·                     Serve as a senior technical authority for complex architecture and engineering decisions.

·         Lead architecture reviews and technical design discussions, challenging assumptions and driving decisions based on sound engineering principles and business objectives.

·         Provide architectural leadership for major implementations, migrations, and transformation initiatives.

·         Provide architecture-level guidance on highly complex or escalated network issues, ensuring root causes are understood and durable remediation strategies are implemented.

RFP, Vendor & Partner Leadership

·                     Lead or significantly influence complex RFPs, technology evaluations, and supplier selections.

·         Define technical requirements, evaluation criteria, and architectural principles used to assess proposed solutions.

·         Critically evaluate vendor architectures and recommendations, challenge assumptions where appropriate, and ensure proposed solutions align with enterprise requirements.

·         Establish and maintain strong technical relationships with strategic technology vendors and service providers.

Cross-Functional Leadership

·                     Partner with engineering, operations, cybersecurity, infrastructure, application, and business teams to develop and execute enterprise network solutions.

·         Communicate complex technical concepts and architectural trade-offs with clarity and credibility to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

·         Build consensus across diverse stakeholders while maintaining architectural integrity and technical standards.

·         Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers and other architects.

Requirements

8+ years of network architecture and design experience and 15+ years of overall enterprise networking experience.

·         Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology, electrical engineering, or a related field preferred or equivalent experience

·         Hands-on architecture and implementation experience with Cisco IOS, Cisco ACI, enterprise wireless, Cisco Catalyst Center/DNAC, and Cisco SDA.

·         Deep and broad expertise across enterprise networking domains, including LAN, WAN, data center, wireless, network security, and cloud connectivity, with the ability to architect integrated end-to-end solutions.

·         Exceptional architectural judgment and the ability to translate complex business and technical requirements into scalable, resilient, secure, and operationally sustainable architectures.

·         Proven ability to lead complex RFPs and technology evaluations, establish technical requirements and evaluation criteria, and present well-founded recommendations to senior and executive leadership.

·         Demonstrated ability to lead high-level technical discussions, challenge established approaches, and influence architecture decisions through strong technical reasoning and credibility.

·         Exceptional communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build consensus across senior engineers, architects, business leaders, vendors, and other stakeholders.

·         Proven ability to establish and manage strategic technical relationships with major technology vendors and service providers, including the ability to independently assess and challenge vendor recommendations.

·         Demonstrated ability to operate effectively at both the strategic architecture level and the hands-on technical level.