Principal Solutions Architect - Network

What the role needs

• Role Description
• Lead architecture assessments, discovery workshops, design sessions, and technical decision-making for large or complex customer environments.
• Design secure, resilient, scalable, and supportable solutions across routing, switching, wireless, load balancing, segmentation, VXLAN/EVPN, SD-WAN, Cloud WAN, firewalls, VPN, SSE, and SASE.
• Develop current-state assessments, future-state architectures, transition roadmaps, standards, reference designs, and implementation strategies.
• Provide technical governance during deployment, migration, upgrade, troubleshooting, and optimization activities, including review of high-level and low-level designs.
• Identify architectural risks, dependencies, constraints, and tradeoffs, and present practical recommendations aligned to customer objectives.
• Serve as the escalation point for complex design and delivery issues and guide teams toward timely resolution.
• Act as a trusted advisor to customer executives, technology leaders, architects, engineers, and operations teams.
• Connect business goals, security requirements, operational needs, and financial considerations to clear network architecture decisions.
• Lead technical workstreams and multidisciplinary teams while remaining accountable for quality, scope alignment, and customer outcomes.
• Create and deliver executive briefings, architecture presentations, whiteboard sessions, workshops, and written recommendations for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Produce and maintain professional design, deployment, operational, and knowledge transfer documentation.

From the employer

About Us Since 1989, SHI International Corp. has helped organizations change the world through technology. We’ve grown every year since, and today we’re proud to be a $16 billion global provider of IT solutions and services. Over 17,000 organizations worldwide rely on SHI’s concierge approach to help them solve what’s next. But the heartbeat of SHI is our employees – all 7,000 of them. If you join our team, you’ll enjoy: Our commitment to diversity, as the largest minority- and woman-owned enterprise in the U.S. Continuous professional growth and leadership opportunities. Health, wellness, and financial benefits to offer peace of mind to you and your family. World-class facilities and the technology you need to thrive – in our offices or yours. Job Summary The Principal Network Solution Architect serves as a senior technical authority and trusted advisor for enterprise networking. This role leads the discovery, strategy, architecture, and delivery of complex solutions spanning campus, branch, data center, cloud, and hybrid environments. The architect translates business priorities and risk considerations into scalable technical roadmaps, reference architectures, and implementation plans while guiding customers, sales teams, delivery resources, and technology partners toward successful outcomes. The position combines deep hands-on expertise with consultative leadership. The architect is expected to influence executive and technical stakeholders, provide architectural governance, shape service offerings, mentor other consultants, and remain accountable for solution quality across the engagement lifecycle. Role Description Architecture & Technical Leadership: Lead architecture assessments, discovery workshops, design sessions, and technical decision-making for large or complex customer environments. Design secure, resilient, scalable, and supportable solutions across routing, switching, wireless, load balancing, segmentation, VXLAN/EVPN, SD-WAN, Cloud WAN, firewalls, VPN, SSE, and SASE. Develop current-state assessments, future-state architectures, transition roadmaps, standards, reference designs, and implementation strategies. Provide technical governance during deployment, migration, upgrade, troubleshooting, and optimization activities, including review of high-level and low-level designs. Identify architectural risks, dependencies, constraints, and tradeoffs, and present practical recommendations aligned to customer objectives. Serve as the escalation point for complex design and delivery issues and guide teams toward timely resolution. Customer Advisory & Engagement Leadership: Act as a trusted advisor to customer executives, technology leaders, architects, engineers, and operations teams. Connect business goals, security requirements, operational needs, and financial considerations to clear network architecture decisions. Lead technical workstreams and multidisciplinary teams while remaining accountable for quality, scope alignment, and customer outcomes. Create and deliver executive briefings, architecture presentations, whiteboard sessions, workshops, and written recommendations for technical and non-technical audiences. Produce and maintain professional design, deployment, operational, and knowledge transfer documentation. Sales, Practice & Market Leadership: Partner with sales and presales teams on opportunity discovery, qualification, solution strategy, scoping, estimates, statements of work, and customer presentations. Shape and continually improve Network service offerings, delivery methods, reusable intellectual property, and quality standards. Build relationships with strategic technology partners and represent SHI through webinars, conferences, meetups, and customer events. Monitor industry direction, emerging technologies, and market behavior; translate relevant trends into practical customer and practice recommendations. Coach and mentor architects, consultants, and engineers; promote consistent architecture practices and continuous improvement. Behaviors and Competencies Adaptability: Demonstrates agility in dynamic environments, proactively anticipating change and adjusting strategies to address evolving business and technical needs. Executive Communication: Effectively communicates complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences, influencing decision-making at all levels. Documentation & Governance: Produces and maintains high-quality architectural documentation, ensuring clarity, consistency, and adherence to standards. Leadership: Leads by influence, mentoring teams, driving technical excellence, and fostering innovation across projects and initiatives. Problem Solving: Anticipates risks, identifies root causes, and architects innovative, forward-thinking solutions to complex challenges. Collaboration: Drives cross-functional alignment, enabling teams to work cohesively toward shared outcomes. Self-Leadership: Demonstrates initiative, continuous learning, and a commitment to advancing both personal expertise and organizational capability. Skill Level Requirements Deep expertise in enterprise network and cloud architecture across Cisco and at least one additional major networking platform (e.g., Juniper, HPE Aruba), with strong knowledge of AWS, Microsoft Azure, and/or Google Cloud connectivity models. Strong experience designing and architecting solutions across campus, branch, data center, cloud, hybrid connectivity, network security, WAN, SD-WAN, cloud WAN, and modern connectivity frameworks including VXLAN/EVPN. Proven ability to architect solutions across enterprise systems, integration layers, data platforms, and complex network infrastructures, including routing, switching, segmentation, high availability, resiliency, and traffic flow design. Advanced knowledge of cybersecurity principles, network security architecture, data privacy, and regulatory compliance frameworks, including next-generation firewalls, VPNs, NAC, Zero Trust, SSE, and SASE. Ability to translate complex technical and architectural concepts into clear, business-focused insights, recommendations, and executive-level presentations that support strategic decision-making. Experience leading discovery, architecture development, implementation planning, migration initiatives, technical governance, and delivery standards for complex technology engagements and transformations. Strong understanding of modern technology delivery methodologies, including Agile and DevOps practices, with experience developing consulting offerings, reusable architecture assets, and standardized delivery frameworks. Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with deep expertise in one or more strategic domains such as enterprise networking, data center fabrics, SD-WAN, cloud networking, network security, or SASE, and experience supporting complex presales engagements. Other Requirements Bachelor’s or technical degree in Network Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or a related discipline, or equivalent relevant experience. 12 years of progressive experience in enterprise networking, network security, architecture, engineering, consulting, or operations. 8 years leading the design and delivery of complex customer-facing networks or security solutions. Industry-recognized networking, cloud, security, and enterprise architecture certifications strongly preferred, including Cisco (CCNP/CCIE), Juniper (JNCIP/JNCIE), HPE Aruba professional/expert certifications, AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, SASE/security architecture certifications, and TOGAF. Availability to travel to customer sites up to 30% annually. The estimated annual pay range for this position is $150,000 - $275,000 which includes a base salary and bonus. The compensation for this position is dependent on job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and market location and, therefore, will vary from individual to individual. Benefits may include, but are not limited to, medical, vision, dental, 401K, and flexible spending. Equal Employment Opportunity – M/F/Disability/Protected Veteran Status