Network Architect, SDA

Description
Senior/Principal Network Architect (L4-Principal) - Cisco SD Access & Enterprise Networking Los Angeles, CA (Westwood area)

Duration: 6 mo. contract to hire

• Frequent travel to the client offices in Westwood, CA and to sporting venues around LA/downtown will be required.

Summary: We are hiring senior-level network architects (L4 through Principal) to lead design and delivery of multi site Cisco Software Defined Access (SD Access) solutions at scale. You will set architecture direction, drive complex deployments across distributed campuses, and mentor engineers while partnering closely with security and operations. The ideal candidate holds an active CCIE and demonstrates deep, hands on expertise across Cisco routing/switching, Cisco Catalyst Center (formerly Cisco DNA Center), Cisco ISE, Cisco FTD firewalls, and Cisco SD WAN, with expert level command of BGP, EIGRP, OSPF, and related enterprise routing protocols.

What You'll Do (Key Responsibilities)
Own end to end SD Access architecture for large, multi site enterprises: fabric design (control/edge/border), transit options, segmentation (SGTs/TrustSec), identity policy, and integration with WAN and data center.

Lead Catalyst Center-driven automation: design templates, SDA workflows, network assurance, SWIM, and closed loop operations aligned to reliability/SLOs.

Design identity centric security with ISE: policy sets, authorization profiles, posture, PxGrid integrations, wired/wireless 802.1X/MAB, guest/BYOD, and scalable group policies.

Engineer secure edge and campus perimeters: Cisco FTD/Firepower policy design, NAT, VPN, IDS/IPS, SSL decryption strategy, and high availability.

Architect SD WAN underlay/overlay: transport independence, application aware routing, DIA/Cloud on ramp, security integration, and multi region scale.

Expert routing at scale: BGP (policy, route reflectors, communities), OSPF, EIGRP, ECMP, redistribution strategies, route filtering, summarization, and IPv6 planning.

Drive modernization roadmaps: brownfield to SDA migration, hierarchical campus design, QoS, multicast, wireless controller (Catalyst 9800) alignment, and resiliency patterns.

Deliver hands on build and escalation leadership: lab validation, pilot, phased rollout, cutover plans, MOPs, change windows, and root cause analysis for P1/P2 incidents.

Mentor and uplift engineering teams: design reviews, standards, runbooks, and enablement sessions for operations and field engineers.

Stakeholder leadership: collaborate with security, EUC, cloud, and application teams; translate business outcomes into technical architectures and measurable milestones.

Documentation & governance: HLD/LLD, as builts, standards, security exceptions, and compliance artifacts; contribute to reference architectures and reusable templates.

Required Qualifications (Must Have)
Active CCIE (any track; Enterprise Infrastructure and/or Security strongly preferred).

10+ years enterprise networking experience, including 3-5+ years leading SD Access architecture and deployment across multiple sites.

Proven, exceptional hands on skills with Cisco routing/switching and Catalyst Center (formerly Cisco DNA Center) for SDA automation and assurance.

Deep expertise with Cisco ISE (policy, 802.1X, SGT/TrustSec) and Cisco FTD (Firepower) firewalls (threat, access control, NAT/VPN, high availability).

Strong experience with Cisco SD WAN (design, policy/templating, security integration, operationalization).

Expert level knowledge of BGP, EIGRP, OSPF, redistribution, and route policy design for large enterprises.

Demonstrated success leading complex, multi phase migrations and mentoring senior engineers.

Preferred Qualifications
CCDE or dual CCIE; Cisco Certified Specialist certifications in SDA, ISE, or SD WAN.

Automation fluency (Ansible, Python, Terraform), Git based workflows, and API integration with Catalyst Center/ISE/FTD/SD WAN.

Wireless (Catalyst 9800/Prime/Catalyst Center Assurance), QoS strategy, multicast, NAC posture, and Zero Trust segmentation.

Cloud networking (Azure/AWS), hybrid connectivity, and DNS/DHCP/IPAM integration.

Familiarity with data center and campus interconnect (e.g., ACI concepts beneficial but not required).

Work Style & Travel

Must reside in the immediate Los Angles metro area and be able to work onsite at client site in Downtown LA.

Off hours change windows as needed for critical migrations.

Skills
cloud, Azure or AWS, architect, design, network, kubernetes, TOGAF

Top Skills Details
cloud,Azure or AWS,architect,design,network,kubernetes

Additional Skills & Qualifications
9.16.25

• Onsite expectations: ability to be at client site 5 days per week, may not need to be but must be available if needed.
• Must be good in front of the client but also needs to be strong technical leader for the team and bel to get their hands dirty
• Cloud is a certainty today but there is a lot of talk about it so beneficial. SD-Access and ISE Security are key technologies on top of strong routing protocol experience and Catalyst Center is very helpful.

Experience Level
Expert Level

Pay And Benefits
The pay range for this position is $ $92.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job

classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be

subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits

available for this temporary role may include the following:

Medical, dental & vision

Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital

401(k) Retirement Plan - Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available

Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)

Short and long-term disability

Health Spending Account (HSA)

Transportation benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type
This is a hybrid position in Los Angeles,CA.

Application Deadline
This position is anticipated to close on Oct 30, 2025.

About TEKsystems:

We're partners in transformation. We help clients activate ideas and solutions to take advantage of a new world of opportunity. We are a team of 80,000 strong, working with over 6,000 clients, including 80% of the Fortune 500, across North America, Europe and Asia. As an industry leader in Full-Stack Technology Services, Talent Services, and real-world application, we work with progressive leaders to drive change. That's the power of true partnership. TEKsystems is an Allegis Group company.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

About TEKsystems And TEKsystems Global Services
We're a leading provider of business and technology services. We accelerate business transformation for our customers. Our expertise in strategy, design, execution and operations unlocks business value through a range of solutions. We're a team of 80,000 strong, working with over 6,000 customers, including 80% of the Fortune 500 across North America, Europe and Asia, who partner with us for our scale, full-stack capabilities and speed. We're strategic thinkers, hands-on collaborators, helping customers capitalize on change and master the momentum of technology. We're building tomorrow by delivering business outcomes and making positive impacts in our global communities. TEKsystems and TEKsystems Global Services are Allegis Group companies. Learn more at

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.