Skip to main content
SAIC logo

Network Architect

SAIC

Washington, DC · HybridJob$240–280K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

Most applications go out cold — see where you stand first. No sign-up to start.

You apply on the employer's site, with no Olive account needed.

Watch jobs like this.

Don't just apply. Show up ready.

Olive works from this exact posting.

At a glance

Compensation
$240–280K/yr
Location
Washington, DCHybrid
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

TS/SCI clearance, required

Job overview

The Network Architect supports the Department of State’s Bureau of Diplomatic Technology by designing and guiding enterprise network and infrastructure solutions. The role translates customer needs into technical requirements, develops roadmaps, and provides engineering direction for global network initiatives. It is hybrid, with onsite days determined by the government, and includes customer engagement, technical documentation, testing, and infrastructure planning.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Network Engineering, requiredNetwork Security, requiredRouter Configuration, requiredSwitching, requiredVPNs, requiredVoIP Design, requiredWi-Fi Design, requiredGlobal Network Operations, requiredNetwork Integration, requiredMultivendor Networking, requiredIP Subnetting, requiredIP Routing, requiredIP Troubleshooting, requiredData Center Architecture, requiredConverged Infrastructure, requiredStorage Area Networks, requiredVMware, requiredSoftware-Defined Data Center, requiredMicrosoft File Systems, requiredMicrosoft Operating Systems, requiredMicrosoft Applications, requiredCloud Architecture, requiredEmotional Intelligence, requiredInterpersonal Communication, requiredExecutive Communication, requiredVerbal Communication, requiredWritten Communication, requiredNortel/Avaya PBX, nice to haveCisco PBX, nice to haveNetwork Monitoring Tools, nice to haveInfrastructure Protection, nice to haveDOS Environment, nice to haveForeign Affairs Handbook, nice to haveForeign Affairs Manual, nice to haveVMware SRM, nice to haveVCOPS, nice to haveSMVI, nice to haveVCAC, nice to haveCisco Networking, nice to have

Qualifications

Bachelor's in Systems Engineering or Related, requiredMaster's in Related Technology or Equivalent, required16+ Years General Engineering or Equivalent, required12 Years Experience, required10 Years Network/System Management, requiredCISSP Certification, nice to haveVCP 5+ Certification, nice to haveCCNA-DC or CCNP Certification, nice to haveITIL V4 Foundations Certificate, nice to havePMP Certification, nice to haveDepartment of State Experience, nice to haveUS Citizenship, required

Full job description

Description

The Vanguard Program provides transparent, interconnected systems and security support to the Department of State (DOS) Bureau of Diplomatic Technology (DT) technology programs. DT enables DOS to successfully carry out its foreign policy mission providing enterprise network engineering, operations and maintenance support services for desktop computing, servers, networks, firewalls, voice and data communications, infrastructure security, and other unique enterprise applications.

The Enterprise Infrastructure office has a Network Architect availability to translate business requirements into telecommunications (e.g., Voice, Data, VoIP, RoIP, LAN, WAN, and Video) requirements, designs, and orders. The successful candidate will possess outstanding interpersonal and executive level communication skills, emotional intelligence, proven thought leadership and technical guidance experience, and engineering analysis with respect to DOS’s global network infrastructure. The abilities to guide teams in conducting planning and execution of IT service enhancements, and integration qualities with a focus on security and operational readiness of all solutions; formulate concept of operations, define requirements, system architecture, analysis and design, interface, and data architecture, testing, validation and verification, system and operational performance analysis, lifecycle cost analysis and estimation, and decision analysis and resolution.

This role is hybrid and the number of days on site will be subject to government determination.

Description of Duties

Execute the duties and responsibilities as a senior member of the Vanguard team supporting the DT Bureau Enterprise Infrastructure Directorate. Provide senior level engineering design and architecture support to provide enterprise-level solutions using physical and virtual networking technologies, server hosting, and storage solutions. Provide white papers for technical systems solutions and incremental roadmaps. The Lead Network Engineer will have daily interactions with government clients related to meeting technical requirements for Data Center and Overseas infrastructure initiatives. Domain knowledge and technical decision-making will have a critical impact on overall project implementation and execution.

  • Architect, engineer, and deploy enterprise solutions for 100K+ users.

  • Work with customers to determine their functional needs, priorities, and develop/update roadmaps.

  • Translate customer needs into hardware/software requirements.

  • Provide technical direction for project team throughout SDLC.

  • Assist in the development of Enterprise policies and directives.

  • Participate in functional/user acceptance testing ensuring product meets customer's needs.

  • Conduct Technical Exchange Meetings.

  • Review and document functionality of existing legacy applications.

  • Create technical specifications and white papers as required.

  • Communicate regularly to government POCs regarding project activities and status.

  • Plan, research, evaluate and recommend new equipment and related technologies.

  • Develop contingency plans for infrastructure related software/hardware failures.

Qualifications

Required Education, Experience, Skills, & Attributes

  • A bachelor’s degree in systems engineering, information technology, or related field and 12 years of experience; master’s degree in related technology field and 10-years of experience in network/system management; or 16+ years of general engineering experience with an emphasis in LAN/WAN engineering and support;

  • Knowledge and experience in network/system engineering and security, routers, switches, and VPNs.

  • Experience with VoIP/Wi-Fi design and implementation.

  • Experience with global network operations, network/system integration, and network/system hardware.

  • Must possess strong emotional intelligence, interpersonal and executive level communication skills.

  • Must be able to work in a multivendor network.

  • Working knowledge of IP subnetting, IP routing and troubleshooting IP-related issues.

  • Knowledge of Data Center Architecture’s and designs for large scale Data Centers.

  • Knowledge of Integrated Converged Stack infrastructure (i.e., VCE Vblock, FlexPod).

  • Knowledge and experience with Large Scale Storage Area Network Systems (Design, Build, Operate).

  • Knowledge and experience with VMware (Design, Build, Operate).

  • Knowledge of IP Networking VPN’s, switching, and routing.

  • Knowledge of Software Defined Data Center (SDDC) concepts and principles.

  • Knowledge of Microsoft File Systems, Operating Systems and Applications.

  • Knowledge and experience with Microsoft OS systems.

  • Systems Engineering background with understanding of Cloud Computing Reference Architecture.

  • Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Travel Requirements

  • Candidate must be willing to: travel within the Washington DC Metro area to support various program initiatives; support a rotational on-call posture after normal working hours in response to technical support requests; and travel within and outside the continental United States, if required (not to exceed 10%).

Required Clearance

  • US Citizenship

  • Active Top Secret Clearance with the ability to obtain TS/SCI

Desired Experience, Skills, & Attributes

  • Experience with Nortel/AVAYA and Cisco PBX products.

  • Familiar with the setup, configuration, and maintenance of Network Monitoring tools.

  • Knowledge of network security, infrastructure protection and possess an active CISSP certification.

  • Familiarity with DOS environment (data and voice networks, IT systems, policies, and procedures), Foreign Affairs Handbook (FAH), Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM).

  • VMware: VCP 5+ Certified, working knowledge of SRM, VCOPS, SMVI, VCAC

  • Networking: Design knowledge and experience with Cisco Network components (switches, routers), Certifications (i.e., CCNA-DC, CCNP) CISCO training 7000/5000/1000.

  • Compute: Design knowledge of Cisco UCS technologies and HP blade technologies. Maintain server/blade hardware include failed component replacement.

  • Storage: Design knowledge of EMC Storage Area Network arrays and associated storage systems. Working knowledge with Recover Point, Viper, VCE vision.

  • Virtual Desktop: Design knowledge and experience with Virtual Desktop Infrastructures.

  • ITIL v4 Foundations certificate.

  • Current and active PMP certification by PMI.

  • Prior experience working within the Department of State will be considered as a significant plus.

Target salary range: $240,001 - $280,000. The estimate displayed represents the typical salary range for this position based on experience and other factors.

REQNUMBER: 2618875

SAIC is a premier technology integrator, solving our nation's most complex modernization and systems engineering challenges across the defense, space, federal civilian, and intelligence markets. Our robust portfolio of offerings includes high-end solutions in systems engineering and integration; enterprise IT, including cloud services; cyber; software; advanced analytics and simulation; and training. We are a team of 23,000 strong driven by mission, united purpose, and inspired by opportunity. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, SAIC has annual revenues of approximately $6.5 billion. For more information, visit saic.com. For information on the benefits SAIC offers, see Working at SAIC. EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability

How this job compares

Set against the 472 open Network Architect jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 12, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$240–280K/yr
  • US median$136–195K/yr367 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $260K, is 46% above the US median midpoint ($178K) — in the top quarter of Network Architect salary ranges across the US.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 472 open Network Architect jobs across the US. 5% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most across the US
Experience
This posting asks for at least 12 years of experience — more than three in four Network Architect postings that state a minimum ask for (median 9 years, across 423 postings).
Education
171 of the 472 open Network Architect jobs (36%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 12, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

Prepare for this role

You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.