Network Design Lead Specialist Engineer

Job Title : Network Design Lead Specialist Engineer

Location : Chicago, Illinois

Experience : 12+ Years

Employment Type : Contract

Interview Type : In-Person or Webcam

Job Description

We are seeking a highly experienced Network Design Lead Specialist Engineer with extensive expertise in enterprise-level network architecture and design. The ideal candidate will lead the planning, design, and implementation of scalable, secure, and high-performance network solutions. This role involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including infrastructure, security, and operational support teams, to ensure alignment of network strategies with business needs.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end design and architecture of enterprise network infrastructure, including LAN, WAN, WLAN, SD-WAN, data center networks, and cloud network connectivity.

Develop high-level and low-level network design documentation, topology diagrams, and capacity planning models.

Assess current network environments, identify improvement opportunities, and drive modernization and optimization initiatives.

Implement advanced routing, switching, firewall, and load-balancing solutions across complex networks.

Work closely with security teams to integrate network security controls and maintain compliance with organizational standards.

Provide technical guidance to engineering and operations teams and support the deployment of new technologies and solutions.

Lead network-related incident resolutions, root cause analyses, and performance tuning.

Evaluate new technologies, vendor products, and tools; provide recommendations for adoption.

Develop engineering standards, best practices, and design frameworks.

Present architectural solutions and findings to leadership and stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field.

Minimum 12+ years of professional experience in network engineering and architecture.

Strong hands-on expertise in routing and switching technologies (Cisco, Juniper, Arista, or similar).

Proven experience designing enterprise or data center networks, MPLS, BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, and QoS.

Experience with SD-WAN technologies, cloud networking (AWS, Azure, GCP), and hybrid networking.

Proficiency with network security technologies such as firewalls, VPN, IDS / IPS.

Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical projects and mentor engineering teams.

Strong documentation skills and architectural presentation experience.

Industry certifications such as CCNP, CCIE, JNCIP, or equivalent.

Preferred Skills

Experience with automation and scripting using Python, Ansible, or similar tools.

Knowledge of network monitoring and performance management systems (SolarWinds, NetScout, Splunk, etc.).

Familiarity with zero-trust security architectures and SASE frameworks.

Prior consulting or customer-facing engineering experience.

Master's degree in a related field strongly preferred.