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Network Director Jobs in Washington (NOW HIRING)

Tower

AVP Network and Collab Services

Laurel, MD · On-site

$193K/yr

This role oversees the team responsible for designing, securing, and operating the network across headquarters, branches, data centers, and Azure cloud environments. Additionally, the role leads ...

Agile Defense

Network Engineer

Suitland, MD · Hybrid

Agile Defense is looking for a talented Network Engineer to establish and maintain the enterprise infrastructure by updating and tuning the network, directing hardware installations, and executing ...

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Network Director information

See Washington salary details

$54.9K

$147.5K

$304.7K

How much do network director jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 3, 2026, the average yearly pay for network director in Washington is $147,513.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $94,600.00 and $168,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a Network Director?

A Network Director is a senior-level professional responsible for overseeing the design, implementation, and management of an organization's network infrastructure. They ensure the network is secure, reliable, and scalable to support business operations. Network Directors lead teams of network engineers and administrators, develop network strategies, and manage budgets for technology projects. Their role also involves staying updated on emerging technologies to maintain optimal network performance and security.

How does a Network Director typically collaborate with other departments to ensure network reliability and performance?

A Network Director works closely with IT, security, and business operations teams to align network infrastructure with organizational needs. They often lead cross-functional meetings to discuss current network capabilities, upcoming projects, and potential risks, ensuring all departments are informed and prepared for changes or upgrades. Collaboration with cybersecurity teams is especially important to safeguard data and maintain compliance. By fostering open communication and understanding business objectives, Network Directors help guarantee that network solutions support both day-to-day operations and long-term goals.

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

To thrive as a Network Director, you need deep expertise in network architecture, infrastructure management, and strategic leadership, often supported by a bachelor's or master's degree in IT or related fields. Familiarity with networking technologies, cybersecurity protocols, and certifications such as CCNP or CISSP is typically required. Strong communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills help you manage cross-functional teams and drive organizational goals. These competencies are crucial for ensuring reliable network performance, security, and alignment with business objectives.

What is a network manager's salary?

A network manager's salary typically ranges from $80,000 to $130,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the size of the organization. They often hold certifications like Cisco CCNA or CCNP and have strong skills in network infrastructure, security, and management tools.

What jobs pay 500,000 a year in the US?

In the US, high-level executive roles such as Chief Executive Officers, Chief Financial Officers, and other C-suite positions often have annual compensation exceeding $500,000, especially in large corporations. Additionally, specialized roles like certain surgeons, investment bankers, and successful entrepreneurs can also reach or surpass this income level, often requiring advanced skills, extensive experience, and significant responsibility.

What jobs in the US pay 300,000 a year?

For a Network Director, annual salaries of $300,000 or more are typically found in senior leadership roles within large organizations, such as Chief Information Officers or Vice Presidents of Technology, especially in industries like finance, technology, or healthcare. These positions often require extensive experience, advanced certifications, and strong strategic management skills. Compensation varies based on company size, location, and individual expertise.

What does a network director do?

A network director oversees the planning, implementation, and management of an organization’s computer networks to ensure reliable and secure communication. They coordinate network infrastructure, manage technical staff, and develop policies to optimize network performance, often using tools like network monitoring software and requiring certifications such as Cisco or CompTIA. Their role involves strategic decision-making to support business operations and cybersecurity measures.
What are the most commonly searched types of Network jobs in Washington? The most popular types of Network jobs in Washington are:
What are popular job titles related to Network Director jobs in Washington? For Network Director jobs in Washington, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Network Director jobs in Washington look for? The top searched job categories for Network Director jobs in Washington are:
What cities in Washington are hiring for Network Director jobs? Cities in Washington with the most Network Director job openings:
Network Director jobs near you
Infographic showing various Network Director job openings in Washington as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 83% Full Time, 12% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 92% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 5% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,513 per year, or $70.9 per hour.

Director, Network Planning & Architecture (Ashburn)

Digital Realty

Ashburn, VA • On-site

$170K - $190K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 10 days ago

Digital Realty rating

8.9

Company rating: 8.9 out of 10

Based on 13 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

18th of 221 rated it services

Job description

Role Overview

As Director of Network Planning, you will lead the strategy, planning, and evolution of Digital Realty’s global network infrastructure. You will partner with Technical Program Managers, Network Engineers, Design and Infrastructure Engineers, Field Engineers, and external vendors to define scalable network strategies, strengthen architecture standards, and drive successful business outcomes across the organization.

Responsibilities
  • Lead Digital Realty’s global network planning strategy, including long‑range capacity planning, infrastructure prioritization, and investment alignment to support business growth, customer demand, and service objectives.
  • Lead network capacity deployment planning to ensure infrastructure is delivered in the right markets, at the right time, and at the right scale to support customer demand, product requirements, and business growth.
  • Drive new market planning and infrastructure readiness by partnering across product, sales, finance, and deployment teams to evaluate demand signals, define requirements, and prioritize expansion opportunities.
  • Partner closely with product teams to align network planning, architecture, and deployment priorities with product roadmaps, service requirements, and customer experience goals.
  • Establish and govern network architecture standards, design principles, and planning frameworks that enable scalable, resilient, and cost‑effective infrastructure across global metro and data center environments.
  • Drive repeatable planning and deployment models by translating architecture strategy into scalable designs, implementation patterns, and technical requirements for global network expansion.
  • Own the roadmap for planning automation, data‑driven workflows, and process standardization to reduce manual effort, improve quality, and increase speed and consistency across the organization.
  • Drive the strategic use of AI tools to automate planning, analysis, and design workflows, improve decision quality, identify optimization opportunities, and scale engineering productivity through more intelligent and repeatable operating models.
  • Partner across engineering, operations, infrastructure, and business teams to align network strategy with service requirements, financial targets, operational readiness, and customer commitments.
  • Build and evolve governance, business processes, and performance measures for network planning and design, including topology standards, hardware lifecycle strategy, capacity targets, and risk management practices.
Qualifications
  • Experience leading network planning, architecture, or infrastructure strategy for large‑scale Layer 1, Layer 2, or Layer 3 environments.
  • Experience defining architecture standards, design principles, and implementation models across optical, transport, routing, and data center networking environments.
  • Experience leading long‑range capacity planning, investment prioritization, and infrastructure roadmap development in telecommunications, hyperscale, data center, or colocation environments.
  • Experience leading network capacity deployment strategies, market expansion planning, and infrastructure readiness for new metros, products, or service launches.
  • Experience defining and advancing an AI‑enabled automation strategy using Python, APIs, data‑driven workflows, automation frameworks, and AI tools to streamline planning, accelerate design decisions, improve forecasting, and reduce manual effort across network engineering processes.
  • Knowledge of fiber types, transport systems, routing infrastructure, and scalable network architecture principles.
  • Experience establishing governance, business processes, and operating models that improve consistency, quality, and execution at scale.
  • Experience leading cross‑functional programs and aligning engineering, operations, and business stakeholders around strategic network priorities.
  • Excellent communication, executive presentation, and decision‑making skills.
Benefits

Compensation range: $170,000 – $190,000. Individual pay is based on job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Total compensation may include salary, cash bonus or commissions, and equity awards.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, 401k match, disability benefits, wellness and education benefits, employee stock purchase plan, paid time off, holidays, and more.

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