Network Architect

Role Overview

Network and Campus Architecture

• Own campus LAN, routing and switching, SD-WAN and high-density wireless architecture across physically separated networks.
• Design wireless coverage for residential, teaching and outdoor environments, including RF planning and controller architecture.
• Define network topology, segmentation and secure connectivity with security architects.
• Incorporate network access control, out-of-band management and air-gapped operational technology requirements.
• Define automation and assurance, including controller-based provisioning, topology discovery and configuration compliance.
• Design DHCP, DNS and NTP/PTP time distribution services.

Data Centre and Infrastructure Architecture

• Design primary and disaster recovery site architecture, Cisco ACI spine-leaf fabrics, multi-site orchestration and sovereign-cloud connectivity.
• Define reference architectures for Windows/Linux compute, VMware virtualization and SAN storage.
• Establish high availability, disaster recovery, capacity and growth models.
• Coordinate rack, power, pathways, structured cabling and spare-capacity planning.
• Integrate designs with security, unified communications and cloud platform architecture.

Governance and Delivery

• Develop architecture standards and reference designs aligned with programme requirements and the central design authority.
• Assure performance, availability, scalability, security and resilience throughout design and implementation.
• Guide engineers, review technical designs and govern build quality against approved architecture.
• Evaluate technology options and resolve complex design issues in a multi-vendor environment.
• Support operational readiness and transition to NOC and managed services teams.
• Communicate architecture decisions, dependencies and risks to technical and business stakeholders.

Bid and Solution Development

• Contribute high-level designs, bills of materials, compliance matrices and technical clarification responses for bids.
• Ensure proposed solutions are deliverable and aligned with client requirements, architecture standards and operational needs.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Typically 7+ years of relevant industry experience, including at least 3 years in network or infrastructure architecture or technical leadership.
• Hands-on experience with Cisco Catalyst 9000, Catalyst SD-WAN, Cisco ACI, Nexus spine-leaf fabrics, APIC and Nexus Dashboard multi-site capabilities.
• Experience designing high-density Cisco Wi-Fi 6E/7 and wireless controller architecture; Cisco Catalyst Center automation and assurance with Cisco ISE integration.
• Experience with Windows/Linux compute, VMware virtualization, SAN storage, Microsoft DHCP and Active Directory-integrated DNS.
• Demonstrated high-availability and disaster-recovery design across primary and DR sites.
• Understanding of TIA-942 considerations, data-centre planning, rack and power planning, pathways and structured cabling.
• Experience integrating designs with firewalls, NAC, unified communications and cloud platforms.
• CCNP Enterprise or CCNP Data Center certification and ITIL 4 Foundation certification.
• Strong problem-solving, stakeholder communication and delivery coordination skills; professional English proficiency.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Experience with large campus or multi-site environments in government, defence, higher education or critical national infrastructure.
• Experience with physically separated networks, air-gapped OT environments and sovereign-cloud connectivity.
• Systems integrator bid experience, including high-level designs and bills of materials.
• Familiarity with network automation platforms such as NetBrain.
• CCIE, relevant infrastructure certifications, TOGAF or cloud architecture certifications; an advanced relevant degree.
• Arabic language proficiency.