Lead Network Architect
Ashburn, VAFull-time$160–267K/yrPosted 1w agoStill listed today
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At a glance
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Requirements
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Job overview
AMERICAN SYSTEMS seeks a Lead Network Architect to serve as the subject-matter expert for enterprise network architecture and engineering supporting a large, geographically distributed federal network. The role leads architecture and design, develops business cases and alternatives analyses, advises government stakeholders, and recommends solutions to complex network challenges. It designs and evolves secure, scalable network services across field sites, data centers, colocations, and cloud environments while aligning with agency standards and mission requirements.
Skills & qualifications
Skills
Qualifications
Benefits
Full job description
Overview AMERICAN SYSTEMS is an employee-owned federal government contractor supporting national priority programs through our strategic solutions in the areas of Information Technology, Test & Evaluation, Program Mission Support, Engineering & Analysis, and Training. We are seeking a Lead Network Architect to serve as the subject-matter expert for enterprise network architecture and engineering supporting a large, geographically distributed federal network. The successful candidate will lead architecture and design efforts; develop business cases and analyses of alternatives; advise government stakeholders on network strategy; and recommend solutions to complex architecture, performance, resiliency, security, cloud, and operational challenges. This role will help design and evolve secure, scalable, high-performing network services across field sites, data centers, colocations, cloud and hybrid-cloud environments, while ensuring alignment with agency’s enterprise architecture, technical standards, security policies, and mission requirements. Responsibilities
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Lead enterprise network architecture and engineering activities across the full lifecycle, from requirements analysis and conceptual design through implementation, operations, modernization, and technology refresh.
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Establish and maintain network architecture standards; develop, review, and maintain System Design Documents, topology diagrams, logical designs, network taxonomies, and other architecture artifacts for new and existing network solutions.
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Conduct requirements analysis and analyses of alternatives; evaluate performance, availability, resiliency, interoperability, security, operational efficiency, total cost of ownership, and compliance with agency’s policies.
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Develop business cases and return-on-investment analyses for new network technologies and services, including lifecycle, sustainment, supply-chain, cost, risk, and mission-value considerations.
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Research and evaluate emerging technologies; recommend solutions for enterprise networking, SDN, SD-WAN, cloud connectivity, colocation, network management, automation, monitoring, and technology refresh.
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Guide engineering and implementation of SDN and SD-WAN solutions, including policy-based routing, multiple network transports, standardized configurations, automation, and centralized troubleshooting.
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Support testing, patching, release management, change control, field-site implementation, as-built documentation, and Tier 3 escalation activities; perform or direct root-cause analysis for complex network incidents.
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Architect secure and resilient connectivity to commercial, private, and hybrid cloud environments; support cloud migration and ensure alignment with FedRAMP, agency’s security requirements, and applicable TIC 3.0 capabilities.
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Integrate security controls and Zero Trust principles into architecture and engineering decisions; collaborate with ISSOs, ISSMs, cybersecurity personnel, and stakeholders to address vulnerabilities, audit findings, RMF requirements, and ATO/ATT documentation.
Qualifications
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Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, Networking, Telecommunications, or a related technical field.
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Experience supporting large federal agencies or other mission-critical enterprise networks, including geographically distributed field sites and 24x7 operations.
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Experience with cloud service providers such as AWS, Microsoft Azure, and/or Google Cloud Platform; TIC 3.0, FedRAMP, and cloud network migration experience.
Security Clearance
- Ability to obtain Public Trust, Preferred Secret/Top Secret Clearance
Certifications
- Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE) certification
Pay Transparency Statement AMERICAN SYSTEMS is committed to pay transparency for our applicants and employee-owners. The salary range for this position is USD $159,600.00/Yr. - USD $266,500.00/Yr. Actual compensation will be determined based on several factors permitted by law. AMERICAN SYSTEMS provides for the welfare of its employees and their dependents through a comprehensive benefits program by offering healthcare benefits, paid leave, retirement plans, insurance programs, and education and training assistance. EEO Statement EEO Race/Sex/Disability Status/Veteran Status
How this job compares
Set against the 515 open Network Architect jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.
- Pay
- This posting$160–267K/yr
- Virginia median$136–206K/yr28 salary ranges
- US median$139–207K/yr400 salary ranges
This range's midpoint, $213K, is 20% above the Virginia median midpoint ($177K) — in the top quarter of Network Architect salary ranges in Virginia.
- Openings
- Olive Jobs lists 35 open Network Architect jobs in Virginia and 515 across the US. 13% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
- Hiring the most in Virginia
- TekSynap5 open
- BAE Systems3 open
- Amentum2 open
- Experience
- Network Architect postings that state a minimum ask for 10 years of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 7 to 10 years (468 postings).
- Education
- This posting asks for a bachelor's degree; 224 of the 515 open Network Architect jobs (43%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.
Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 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.
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