What are the responsibilities and job description for the Network Security Architect position at Net2Source (N2S)?
Network Architect (Security)
Location: Richmond, VA (Onsite)
Duration: 3–6 Months Contract-to-Hire
Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced Network Architect with strong expertise in enterprise networking, network security, and SD-WAN technologies. The ideal candidate will have deep hands-on experience with Palo Alto firewalls, Cisco SD-WAN (Viptela), BGP routing, and cloud networking architectures across enterprise environments.
This role requires an architect-level professional capable of designing, implementing, and troubleshooting large-scale networking solutions in hybrid cloud and on-prem environments.
Mandatory Skills
- Palo Alto Firewall / Network Security
- Cisco SD-WAN (Viptela)
- Enterprise Networking
Required Experience
- 15 years of experience in enterprise networking
- Strong expertise in BGP routing and network architecture/design
- Hands-on experience with:
- Palo Alto Networks Firewalls (PAN-OS, Panorama)
- Cisco SD-WAN (Viptela)
- Cisco Meraki (MX, MS, MR)
Key Responsibilities
Network Architecture & Design
- Design and implement enterprise and cloud networking architectures across Azure, AWS, and hybrid environments
- Develop secure and scalable network connectivity solutions including:
- Site-to-site VPNs
- Client VPNs
- SD-WAN deployments
- Hub-and-spoke and cloud transit architectures
- Define standards for routing, segmentation, redundancy, and high availability
Cloud Networking
- Design and manage networking solutions in Azure and AWS environments
- Configure and maintain:
- VNets/VPCs
- ExpressRoute and Direct Connect
- Routing tables, NSGs, and firewall policies
- Integrate on-premises and cloud infrastructure securely
Routing & Switching
- Design and troubleshoot complex routing environments using:
- BGP
- OSPF
- EIGRP
- Optimize routing policies for performance, failover, and traffic engineering
- Troubleshoot latency, packet loss, and routing issues
Security & Firewalls
- Manage and support Palo Alto Networks firewalls
- Configure security policies, NAT, segmentation, and threat protection
- Work closely with security teams to ensure compliance and risk mitigation
SD-WAN & Branch Networking
- Design and support Cisco SD-WAN (Viptela) solutions
- Manage Cisco Meraki full-stack networking environments
- Ensure network performance, visibility, and policy consistency across locations
Carrier & Vendor Management
- Coordinate with telecom carriers and ISPs
- Troubleshoot circuit issues including MPLS, DIA, broadband, and LTE/5G connectivity
- Support network deployments, escalations, and outages
Operations & Leadership
- Serve as Tier-3 escalation point for critical network issues
- Mentor junior engineers and provide technical guidance
- Create and maintain technical documentation, standards, and runbooks
- Participate in on-call support as required
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with multi-environment or network consolidation projects
- Certifications preferred:
- CCNP / CCIE
- PCNSE (Palo Alto)
- Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700)
- AWS Advanced Networking Specialty
Important Note: Need only architect-level candidates with strong hands-on expertise in Palo Alto Security, Cisco SD-WAN, and enterprise networking.