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Lead Network Architect Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Lead Telecom Network Architect Locations: Rochester, NY or Binghamton, NY Salary Range: $106,0000 - $132,500 Schedule: On Site - Office Job Summary The role of a Lead Telecommunication Network ...

Lead discovery sessions, technical workshops, and architecture design discussions . * Translate business requirements into scalable, secure, and high-performance network solutions . * Present ...

Lead Network Engineer

Moon Township, PA · On-site

$96K - $133K/yr

Key Responsibilities Network Architecture & Strategy * Assess and evaluate the current enterprise ... Lead network security initiatives, including segmentation, access control, traffic inspection, and ...

Lead Network Engineer

Herndon, VA · On-site

$104K - $144K/yr

Our Team specializes in software development, cloud architecture, systems and network engineering ... Lead Network Engineer McLean, VA Cornerstone Defense is seeking a Lead Network Engineer to support ...

Lead Network Engineer

Moriarty, NM · On-site

$90K - $124K/yr

Lead network architecture decisions for ground control systems supporting stratospheric flight operations. * Own network security architecture, including firewalls, VPNs, segmentation, and intrusion ...

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How much do lead network architect jobs pay per hour?

As of Jul 24, 2026, the average hourly pay for lead network architect in the United States is $62.38, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $48.08 and $73.08 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a lead network architect do?

A lead network architect designs, implements, and manages complex network infrastructure to ensure reliable and secure data communication within an organization. They oversee network planning, evaluate new technologies, and coordinate with teams to optimize performance, often requiring certifications like Cisco CCNP or CCIE. Their role involves strategic decision-making and leadership in network projects.

Is network architect in demand?

Network architects are in high demand due to the increasing need for secure and efficient network infrastructure in organizations. They typically require strong skills in network design, security, and familiarity with tools like Cisco or Juniper, and employment prospects are strong across various industries.

How does a Lead Network Architect typically collaborate with other IT teams during large-scale network projects?

A Lead Network Architect works closely with cross-functional IT teams—including security specialists, systems engineers, and project managers—to ensure that network designs align with organizational goals and technical requirements. During large-scale projects, they facilitate communication between stakeholders, oversee design reviews, and provide technical guidance to implementation teams. Effective collaboration is essential for troubleshooting, integrating new technologies, and maintaining network security and performance standards throughout the project lifecycle.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Lead Network Architect, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Lead Network Architect, you need deep expertise in network design, security, and troubleshooting, typically backed by a bachelor’s degree in computer science or a related field and significant hands-on experience. Familiarity with enterprise networking hardware, protocols, cloud infrastructure, and certifications such as CCNP or CCIE are highly valued. Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills set top candidates apart, enabling them to guide teams and liaise with stakeholders. These competencies are crucial to designing robust, scalable networks that support business objectives and ensure seamless connectivity.

How much does a network architect get paid?

A network architect typically earns between $90,000 and $150,000 annually, depending on experience, certifications, and location. Senior roles or those with specialized skills in cloud networking or security can earn higher salaries. Compensation often includes benefits such as bonuses and professional development opportunities.

What is the highest paid architect job?

The highest paid architect roles are often senior or specialized positions such as Chief Architect or Enterprise Architect, with salaries exceeding $150,000 annually. These roles typically require extensive experience, advanced certifications, and expertise in designing complex systems or infrastructure.

What is the difference between Lead Network Architect vs Network Engineer?

AspectLead Network ArchitectNetwork Engineer
CredentialsTypically requires Cisco, CCNP, or CCIE certifications, along with extensive experienceOften holds Cisco or CompTIA certifications, with less experience required
Work EnvironmentDesigns and oversees complex network infrastructure, often in strategic rolesMaintains, implements, and troubleshoots network systems on a day-to-day basis
ResponsibilitiesArchitects network solutions, leads projects, and sets technical standardsConfigures hardware, monitors network performance, and resolves issues

The Lead Network Architect focuses on designing and leading network strategies, requiring advanced certifications and experience. In contrast, the Network Engineer handles the implementation and maintenance of network systems, often with less strategic responsibility. Both roles are essential in network management but differ in scope and seniority.

More about Lead Network Architect jobs
Who are the top companies hiring for Lead Network Architect jobs? The top employers for Lead Network Architect jobs are:
What states have the most Lead Network Architect jobs? States with the most job openings for Lead Network Architect jobs include:
Infographic showing various Lead Network Architect job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, 1% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 82% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $129,747 per year, or $62.4 per hour.

Lead Telecom Network Architect

Iberdrola

Rochester, NY • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted yesterday


Job description

Position Information:
Job Title: Lead Telecom Network Architect
Locations: Rochester, NY or Binghamton, NY
Salary Range: $106,0000 - $132,500
Schedule: On Site - Office
Job Summary
The role of a Lead Telecommunication Network Architect is to design, optimize, and orchestrate services for a complex telecom network spanning 1,000+ locations. Define enterprise standards for Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS), dedicated point-to-point carrier services, extranet services, dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM), microwave transport, flow/proxy-based firewalls and layer 2 and layer 3 VPN encryption (IPSec & MACSEC). Develop standardized processes and designs for implementation by engineering and deployment.
Prepare migration strategies for consolidating and converting networks to advanced dynamic routing BGP extensions with segment-routing (SR/SR-TE) and EVPN, as well as security policies (NATs and Route Maps) and network automation. Lead Network Standards and Request For Proposal (RFP) Avangrid efforts to establish procurement vehicles for Telecom products and services, participate in global Network Standards and Request For Proposal efforts representing Avangrid.
A candidate will be responsible for communicating network architecture and deployment decisions to the entire Operation Smart Grids organization and develop performance analysis, security operations and proactive network monitoring in conjunction with monitoring and management organizations. Analyze network flows, performance, and disaster recovery optimization starting at the data center through to the MPLS core, designing for a successful scaling of network deployments as well as packet transition efforts to migrate communication services to modern and future platforms.
The ideal candidate will have experience in preparing business use cases, cost justifications, and presenting to executive leadership. The ideal candidate will have experience in preparing RFPs that meet the business needs with for forecasting, budgeting, evaluate usage criteria to determine successful adoption, and execution.
Key Responsibilities
A lead telecom network architect leads the company in designing and orchestrating solutions ranging from fiber optic to satellite across the Avangrid Networks footprint:
  • Lead the architecting and deployment of a scalable, highly available, and secure enterprise network expanding to over 1000 locations.
  • Develop designs for implementation by engineering and deployment organizations.
  • Acquisition, analysis, documentation, implementation, scheduling, and support of layer 1 to layer 3 communications hardware, software, and their facilities.
  • Design advanced MPLS networks for both Core and Data Centers and passing traffic between environments by swapping labels or Binding SID.
  • Resolve complex technical facility, hardware, and software problems utilizing a variety of hardware and software testing tools.
  • Manage and maintain up-to-date documentation and procedures that define the inter-operability of telecommunication, routing, switching, and optical systems.
  • Identify and evaluate new technologies and products.
  • Monitor system performance and capacity planning by assessing reports and crafting recommendations for improvement.
  • Interface with engineering, field, and Network Operations Centers to ensure proper escalation procedures are in place for outages or degraded system performance.
  • Design advanced routing policies to deliver services across a variety of wireless and wireline networks.
  • Lead Global Telecom Request for Proposal (RFP) efforts.
  • Lead standardization efforts to establish processes and documentation for use by internal employees and external engineering/contracting firms.
  • Work closely with Avangrid standards organizations, technical writing, and drafting teams to publish solutions to be utilized by Avangrid Operating Companies.
  • Lead efforts to provide guidance, coordination, and training for teams.
  • Collaborate with departments external to Telecom establishing and strengthening processes and procedures.
  • Optimize and implement QoS policies and traffic engineering for wired and wireless networks across WAN and LAN deployments.
  • Communicate standardized solutions, solicit feedback and perform iterative improvements.
  • Provide mentorship to network engineers and cross-functional teams from corporate security to data centers.
  • Lead network traffic and performance analysis efforts to design system upgrades ensuring capacity planning and high availability succeed.
  • Direct network planning and automation and interaction with tools such as Infoblox, Netbox, Cisco ISE, and Aruba Clearpass.

Required Qualifications
  • Master's degree and six (6) years, or Bachelor's degree and eight (8) years, or Associate's degree and ten (10) years, or twelve (12) years of work experience in designing, standardizing, configuring, managing, maintaining, transitioning technologies and troubleshooting telecommunications networks.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of engineering and maintaining networks operating TCP/IP IPv4/IPv6, OSPF/IS-IS, BGP, and MPLS TE.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of DWDM, IP/MPLS, ATM, Microwave and SONET systems.
  • Proficiency in DHCP, DNS, IP Administration, NTP, VPNs (DMVPN, SD-WAN), ACLs, and Policy Based Routing.
  • Experience with network operating systems IOS/IOS-XE/IOS-XR, JUNOS/JUNOSe, and TiMOS.
  • Experience in creating network standards and documentation.
  • Experience in scheduling, development of task plans and progress reporting.
  • Thorough understanding of TCP/IP networking using IPv4/IPv6 routing.
  • Thorough understanding of MPLS networking using at least four (4) of the following protocols: LDP, RSVP-TE, SR, SR-TE, VPRN, VPLS, VLL, VPWS, EVPN, and VXLAN.
  • Thorough understanding of PTP, LDAP, RADIUS, TACACS+ protocols.
  • Demonstrated knowledge in scripting and network automation with at least three (3) of the following: Perl, Python, Ansible, Puppet, Terraform and bash/korn shell scripting.
  • Proficiency in analyzing packet captures from Netflow and real-time network telemetry.
  • Participation in RFP preparation and evaluation including budgeting.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience in operating and designing MPLS and DWDM networks.
  • Experience in optical network planning with ROADM, FOADM, 400ZR/OpenZR+/400ZR+, or CDC/CDC-F technologies.
  • Experience in IT best practice frameworks (ITIL, COBIT) and Operational Excellence concepts or methodologies.
  • Experience in automating system record creation for DNS, DHCP, and IPAM.
  • Infoblox Core DDI certification
  • Cisco CCIE (Enterprise, Security, or Service Provider) certification
  • Juniper JNCIE (Data Center, Enterprise or Service Provider) certification
  • Nokia SRA certification
  • Green Belt or above Lean Six Sigma Certification.
  • Experiencing in leading industry working groups.
  • Experiencing in leading procurement processes.
  • Willingness to seek additional advanced certifications.

Competencies
  • Growth & Continuous Improvement
  • Initiative & Change
  • Focused on Results
  • Customer Centric (internal and/or External)
  • Communication
  • Collaboration
  • Leadership (people managers/leaders)

What We Offer:
  • Competitive benefits and growth opportunities
  • Generous performance-based bonuses
  • 12% 401(k) match
  • Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
  • Tuition reimbursement
  • Professional development and clear career-advancement pathways

For more information, please visit: Benefits - Avangrid
#LI-Onsite; #LI-CH1
Company:
ROCHESTER GAS & ELEC CORP
Mobility Information
Please note that any applicant who is not a citizen of the country of the vacancy will be subject to compliance with the applicable immigration requirements to legally work in that country.
At Avangrid we provide fair and equal employment and advancement opportunities for all employees and candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.
If you are an individual with a disability or a disabled veteran who is unable to use our online tool to search for or to apply for jobs, you may request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our People and Organization department at careers@avangrid.com.
Avangrid employees may be assigned a system emergency role and in the event of a system emergency, may be required to work outside of their regular schedule/job duties. This is applicable to employees that will work in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York within Avangrid Network and Corporate functions. This does not include those that will work for Avangrid Power.
Avangrid employees may also be assigned a NERC Reliability Standards compliance role supporting Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) and/or Operations and Planning (O&P) responsibilities. This is applicable to employees that will work in electric transmission, operations, and cyber security business areas in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York within Avangrid Network and Corporate business areas. NERC Reliability Standards compliance roles and responsibilities may include additional access protections, training, audit engagement, and required evidence retention, and will be communicated by the employee's management.
Job Posting End Date:
August-7-2026