Senior Network Architect in at IMMERSION CYKOR LLC

CyKor is a fast-growing Technology Solutions Provider to both federal and commercial clients. We attribute our continued growth to our core values, our professional team, and the valuable relationships with our clients. Our small and growing team fosters an environment in which each team member is respected, valued, and appreciated for their contributions.

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Network Architect to provide technical leadership, network architecture, systems engineering, configuration, integration, and testing support for federal network environments.

The successful candidate will serve as a senior technical authority responsible for designing, integrating, validating, and troubleshooting complex enterprise and tactical network infrastructure.

Role & Responsibilities

The position requires extensive hands-on experience with Cisco networking technologies, enterprise routing and switching, network security, and integration of network and server infrastructure.

The Architect will support the configuration, integration, and testing of Government-furnished IT equipment within a secure warehouse facility supporting both unclassified and SECRET-level classified environments.

Key Responsibilities

Network Architecture and Engineering

• Serve as the lead technical architect for complex federal network and systems integration activities.
• Develop and validate network architectures, topology diagrams, engineering specifications, and configuration baselines.
• Design and integrate enterprise and tactical IP networks, including LAN, WAN, and data center infrastructure.
• Engineer highly available, resilient, and secure network architectures.
• Evaluate network interoperability, performance, scalability, and operational readiness.
• Provide senior-level troubleshooting and root cause analysis for complex network issues.

Routing and Switching

• Configure and troubleshoot Cisco enterprise routing and switching platforms.
• Demonstrate expert-level knowledge of BGP, OSPF, routing policy, redistribution, VRFs, VLANs, and network segmentation.
• Support WAN transport integration, encrypted connectivity, and redundant network paths.
• Troubleshoot complex routing, convergence, QoS, and network performance issues.

Server Infrastructure, Virtualization, and Systems Integration Requirements

· Extensive experience designing, configuring, deploying, and troubleshooting enterprise server infrastructure in mission-critical environments.

· Strong working knowledge of Dell PowerEdge and Cisco UCS server platforms, including rack-mounted servers, blade systems, and associated management interfaces.

· Experience administering Microsoft Windows Server and Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL).

· Hands-on experience with enterprise virtualization platforms, including VMware vSphere/ESXi, VMware vCenter, and Red Hat virtualization technologies.

· Experience deploying and managing virtual machines, virtual networking, virtual storage, and high-availability server environments.

· Knowledge of enterprise storage technologies, including SAN, NAS, RAID, iSCSI, Fibre Channel, and network-attached storage integration.

· Experience configuring and troubleshooting server networking, including NIC teaming, VLANs, virtual switches, and redundant network connectivity.

· Understanding of core infrastructure services, including Active Directory, DNS, DHCP, NTP, authentication, and certificate management.

· Experience with server operating system installation, firmware updates, BIOS/UEFI configuration, hardware lifecycle management, and system performance troubleshooting.

· Experience implementing applicable DISA STIGs for Windows Server, RHEL, virtualization platforms, and supporting infrastructure.

· Experience integrating server and virtualization infrastructure into segmented unclassified and classified network environments.

Network Security and Cybersecurity

• Design and implement secure network architectures supporting unclassified and classified environments.
• Configure and validate IPsec VPNs, encryption, access control lists, and network security policies.
• Apply applicable DISA STIGs and DoD cybersecurity configuration requirements.
• Support Risk Management Framework (RMF) activities, security control validation, and remediation.
• Maintain appropriate separation between unclassified and classified network integration environments.
• Support security documentation and technical evidence required for system authorization.

Systems Integration and Testing

• Lead configuration, staging, integration, and validation of government-furnished routers, switches, firewalls, servers, and supporting network equipment.
• Develop integration procedures, test plans, acceptance criteria, and technical documentation.
• Perform hardware and software interoperability testing.
• Identify and resolve complex integration deficiencies.
• Validate equipment readiness prior to Government acceptance and deployment.
• Coordinate technical integration activities with engineers, program personnel, and other contractor engineers.

Technical Leadership

• Serve as the senior technical escalation point for the engineering team.
• Provide architecture guidance, technical oversight, and mentoring to other engineers.
• Review network configurations, engineering designs, and integration test results.
• Identify technical risks and recommend corrective actions.
• Communicate technical findings and recommendations to Government technical leadership.

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Information Technology, or a related technical field, or equivalent demonstrated experience.

• Minimum 12 years of progressively responsible network engineering experience, with 15 or more years preferred.

• Significant experience designing and supporting military and mission-critical networks.

• Expert-level Cisco routing and switching knowledge.

• Advanced experience with BGP, OSPF, MPLS, VRFs, QoS, and IPsec.

• Hands-on experience configuring and troubleshooting complex network infrastructure.

• Experience with network architecture, engineering design, configuration management, and integration testing.

• Knowledge of DoD cybersecurity requirements, including DISA STIGs.

• Ability to independently lead complex technical integration efforts.

• Strong technical writing and communication skills.

• Active SECRET security clearance and ability to obtain required program access.

Preferred Qualifications

• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE), particularly Enterprise Infrastructure or Service Provider.

• Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE).

• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Enterprise or equivalent advanced certification.

• Experience with Cisco routing and switching platforms and configurations.

• Experience with Cisco SD-WAN, including SD-WAN Manager, Controller, Validator, and WAN edge platforms.

• Experience with Dell OpenManage, iDRAC, and Cisco Integrated Management Controller (CIMC).

• Experience with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, and Red Hat OpenShift.

• Experience with VMware vSAN, distributed virtual switches, and virtual infrastructure clustering.

• Familiarity with hyperconverged infrastructure and software-defined storage.

• Experience with backup, recovery, disaster recovery, and system restoration procedures.

• Experience with Cisco Network Services Orchestrator (NSO), NETCONF, RESTCONF, YANG, or network automation.

• Experience with Ansible and Python for network configuration and validation.

• Familiarity with Cisco IOS XE, IOS XR, and NX-OS.

• Experience with DoD enterprise networks, Navy tactical networks, or Navy shore-based communications infrastructure.

• Experience with classified IT integration and testing facilities.

• Knowledge of network monitoring, performance management, and automated configuration validation.

• Familiarity with DoD RMF processes and Authority to Operate (ATO) requirements.

• Experience integrating server, virtualization, storage, and cybersecurity infrastructure.

Security and Work Environment

The successful candidate must maintain an active SECRET clearance and comply with all applicable Government and contractor security requirements.

Work will be performed primarily on-site within a secure warehouse and IT integration facility supporting unclassified and classified engineering activities, and well as remote work.

Expected Deliverables

The Senior Network Architect will contribute to:

• Network architecture diagrams and engineering design documentation.

• Approved network device configurations and configuration baselines.

• Integration and validation test plans.

• Technical test reports and deficiency resolution documentation.

• Cybersecurity configuration and compliance documentation.

• Equipment integration and deployment readiness assessments.

• Technical recommendations and engineering status reports.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a senior, hands-on network architect with deep Cisco expertise, strong systems engineering skills, and extensive experience supporting complex mission-critical and DoD networks.

This individual must be capable of independently designing a network architecture, configuring the underlying equipment, troubleshooting difficult integration problems, and leading the technical effort through successful Government acceptance.

This is a technical leadership and hands-on engineering position, not a purely advisory or management role.