Description
The Network Architect is a senior individual contributor responsible for designing and evolving Fervo's network architecture across corporate IT, hybrid cloud, and site environments. This role is the subject-matter expert for the Fortinet Security Fabric, with deep ownership of FortiGate, FortiSwitch, FortiAP, FortiManager, FortiAnalyzer, FortiNAC, and Fortinet Secure SD-WAN. The Network Architect will also define how the Fortinet platform integrates with Cisco-based OT networks, cloud services, and cybersecurity controls.Â
This is a hands-on architecture role, not a strategy-only position. The Network Architect will establish standards, explain the rationale behind design decisions, and advise technical and executive stakeholders, while remaining close enough to implementation to support commissioning, major changes, and complex incident resolution. This individual will partner closely with the Hybrid Cloud Architect, cybersecurity, site teams, network engineers, and external providers to build a network platform that is repeatable, supportable, and increasingly delivered through automation and CI/CD.Â
Requirements
ResponsibilitiesÂ
Network Architecture & Technical DirectionÂ
- Design the target-state architecture for enterprise, cloud, WAN and SD-WAN, wireless, and site connectivity, balancing reliability, security, maintainability, scalability, and costÂ
- Own architectural standards and lifecycle strategy for the Fortinet Security Fabric, including high availability, capacity, firmware, licensing, and platform roadmapsÂ
- Define secure integration patterns between Fortinet-based IT networks and Cisco-based OT environments, including routing, segmentation, access control, and resilient interconnectsÂ
- Produce reference architectures, topology diagrams, technical decision records, configuration standards, and implementation guidance that serve as the network source of truthÂ
- Evaluate design options and clearly communicate recommendations, tradeoffs, and risk to engineers, business leaders, and executivesÂ
Automation & Platform EngineeringÂ
- Develop and execute a roadmap to move network provisioning and change management toward version-controlled, automated delivery through CI/CDÂ
- Build reusable templates and automation using FortiManager, APIs, Python, Ansible, Terraform, or comparable infrastructure-as-code toolsÂ
- Establish testing, validation, monitoring, and rollback practices for automated network changesÂ
- Partner with the Hybrid Cloud Architect to design secure, scalable connectivity across cloud and on-premise environmentsÂ
Delivery, Reliability & OperationsÂ
- Remain hands-on with configuration, deployment, commissioning, upgrades, and troubleshooting of Fortinet and Cisco network infrastructureÂ
- Serve as the senior escalation point for complex network incidents, leading root-cause analysis and durable remediationÂ
- Lead network design and delivery for new site builds, plant commissioning, expansions, and infrastructure refreshesÂ
- Guide routing and switching, BGP and OSPF, SD-WAN, VPN, QoS, wireless, network segmentation, and high-availability designÂ
- Use FortiAnalyzer and related tooling to improve observability, performance management, capacity planning, and operational readinessÂ
- Coordinate with managed service providers, vendors, Fortinet support, and Cisco partners to maintain service quality and drive issues to resolutionÂ
Security, Governance & Team EnablementÂ
- Design and enforce firewall policy, network access control, segmentation, secure remote access, and logging standards in partnership with cybersecurityÂ
- Support incident response, risk assessments, audits, and remediation by providing network telemetry, evidence, and technical leadershipÂ
- Review network designs and changes, mentor engineers and contractors, and raise the team's ability to reason through design decisions rather than only execute configurationsÂ
- Create runbooks and operational standards that make the environment easier to support and reduce dependence on individual knowledgeÂ
QualificationsÂ
RequiredÂ
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, information systems, or a related field, or equivalent practical experienceÂ
- 8+ years of experience in network engineering or infrastructure operations, including meaningful responsibility for architecture, standards, or complex design decisionsÂ
- Deep, recent hands-on experience across the Fortinet Security Fabric, particularly FortiGate, FortiSwitch, FortiAP, FortiManager, FortiAnalyzer, FortiNAC, and Fortinet Secure SD-WANÂ
- Strong Cisco routing and switching experience and the ability to integrate enterprise IT networks with OT or industrial environmentsÂ
- Advanced knowledge of BGP, OSPF, VLANs and VRFs, IPsec and SSL VPN, QoS, high availability, and network segmentationÂ
- Experience designing and supporting hybrid cloud networking in Azure or AWSÂ
- Experience with network automation, CI/CD, scripting, APIs, or infrastructure-as-code tools such as Python, Ansible, or TerraformÂ
- Strong troubleshooting and diagnostic skills in complex, uptime-critical environmentsÂ
- Excellent written and verbal communication, including the ability to explain architecture decisions and recommendations to executive stakeholdersÂ
PreferredÂ
- Fortinet certifications such as FCP or FCSS in Secure Networking or Network SecurityÂ
- Cisco certification such as CCNP or CCIEÂ
- Experience supporting industrial control systems, operational technology networks, or site commissioning, particularly in regulated infrastructure, plus familiarity with NIST, ISO 27001, IEC 62443, or NERC CIP