Lead Network Architect

Location: Operations - Raleigh - Creedmoor Rd

Time Type: Full time

Job Description

If you are motivated and believe in the credit union philosophy of "People Helping People," join our team!

Position Overview:

The Lead Network Architect is an enterprise technical leadership role responsible for defining and driving the strategic direction, architecture, and evolution of the organizations network infrastructure.  This role serves as the senior technical authority for enterprise networking, ensuring that the network environment is secure, scalable, resilient, and aligned with business objectives. 

The role partners closely with cybersecurity, cloud/infrastructure, and application teams to establish architectural standards, reference designs, and roadmaps that support modernization, operational efficiency, and high service availability.  The role evaluates emerging technologies, guides major network transformation initiatives, and ensures that network capabilities support enterprise growth, regulatory requirements, and evolving cyber security threats.

The Lead Network Architect also provides technical leadership and mentorship to network engineers and technicians, acting as a key advisor during complex troubleshooting, solutions design, and major infrastructure initiatives.  Through strong collaboration with IT leadership and business stakeholders, the role ensures network strategy enables reliable connectivity, optimal performance, and seamless integration across on-premises, cloud, and partner ecosystems.

Essential Responsibilities:

• (20%) Define long-term enterprise network architecture roadmaps.
• (20%) Establish governance frameworks and architectural principles.
• (20%) Lead large scale modernization and transformation programs.  
• (20%) Advise senior leadership on investment, strategy, and risk posture.
• (20%) Develop technical talent and succession strategy.     

Required Education & Experience (Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities):

• Bachelors in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 7 years of experience in enterprise network architecture.
• Advance network infrastructure knowledge (e.g., TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, routers/switches/wireless, cellular, traffic monitoring solutions, cloud, firewalls, load balancers, proxies, and DNS).
• Advanced cybersecurity knowledge and experience with zero trust architectures, segmentation methods, and other security principles.
• Experience across a wide range of related technologies such as, end user devices and applications, server virtualization, storage design, containers, Unified Communications, etc. 
• Strong experience with cloud networking.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, are essential for both deeply technical discussions and less technical management discussions.
• Demonstrated teamwork and leadership abilities. Ability to influence without direct authority.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Education & Experience (Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities):

• Master’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related field.
• 7+ years of network architecture, cloud, and security experience.
• Desired Certifications: CCIE/CCDE, CCAr, F5 301/302, AWS/Azure Network Specialty, CISSP, VCP, TOGAF
• Disaster Recovery planning and testing.
• Experience using automation tools for network efficiency and capacity planning.

Job Environment & Physical Requirements:

• This position is primarily remote with the expectation that you come into the office for required meetings and in-person training.
• After-hours work to support critical changes and major incidents as needed.

SECU provides equal employment opportunity to all qualified persons regardless of race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other classification protected by law.

Disclaimer

State Employees' Credit Union reserves the right to fill this role at a higher/lower level based on business need.