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The Senior Network Architect is part of the Generac Global IT team, responsible for the overarching enterprise architecture, technical strategy, and high-level design of network connectivity and services across the global enterprise. This role encompasses Private Cloud (premise/datacenter) and Public Cloud (hyperscaler) environments, establishing design standards and software-defined network architectures across all global locations.

The successful candidate will drive enterprise standardization on HPE Aruba networking stacks, encompassing route/switch, datacenter fabrics, wireless architecture, software-defined networking (SDN), SD-WAN, firewall, policy-based access control, and dynamic segmentation strategies. The Senior Network Architect will define the global strategy for Network Automation and Infrastructure as Code (IaC), partnering with network engineers to establish reusable design blueprints and code repositories.

This role works with senior IT leadership and peer architects to build future-state hybrid infrastructure architectures that support growing business connectivity needs across service offices, manufacturing plants, warehouses, and subsidiary organizations.

This position is on site at our headquarters in Waukesha, Wisconsin.

Major Responsibilities

Enterprise Network and SDN Architecture:

• Research emerging networking technologies and recommend their strategic adoption.
• Develop multi-year future state roadmaps and design blueprints supporting a scalable vision for the global enterprise network stack.
• Design high-level, globally scalable multi-cloud and enterprise network architectures (HPE Aruba CX data center fabrics, Aruba EdgeConnect SD-WAN, cloud transit VPCs/VNets), ensuring alignment with business growth and security requirements.

Network Automation and IaC Strategy:

• Define the enterprise strategy and architectural standards for Network Automation and Infrastructure as Code (IaC)
• Establish declarative infrastructure design patterns, code repository structures (Git), CI/CD pipeline architectures for network validation, and Source-of-Truth models for network engineering teams to build and deploy against.

Wireless Network Architecture and Design:

• Design scalable, high-performance enterprise wireless architectures (HPE Aruba ESP / Central, Wi-Fi 6E/7, private 5G, and IoT connectivity).
• Define global RF planning standards, predictive modeling guidelines, coverage analysis protocols, and enterprise wireless policies and best practices.

Security Architecture and Zero Trust Design:

• Develop and enforce global network security strategies, policy-based access controls, and dynamic micro-segmentation models (Aruba ClearPass / Dynamic Segmentation).
• Design firewall perimeters and secure access protocols in accordance with enterprise cybersecurity strategies.

Standards, Governance and Capacity Planning:

• Establish hardware lifecycle standards, capacity models, and architectural governance for network infrastructure.
• Represent the team's technology roadmap with IT leadership, and provide architectural leadership for facility expansions, cloud migrations, and M&A integrations.

Architecture Review and Team Leadership:

• Provide third-tier architectural escalation guidance, mentor network engineers in automation and software-defined network principles, conduct peer architecture reviews, and maintain detailed enterprise architecture design documentation and topology maps.

Minimum Job Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent experience. Certification / License
• Work Experience
• 7 years of experience in network architecture or engineering. 10 years of network administration.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Sound understanding of Enterprise Architecture principles, frameworks, and methodologies, preferably within a manufacturing or industrial enterprise.
• Deep knowledge of core routing and switching protocols (TCP/IP, BGP, OSPF, etc.), high-level architectural design, and software-defined networking (SDN).
• Advanced architectural expertise in HPE Aruba enterprise networking stacks (Aruba CX, Aruba Central, ClearPass, EdgeConnect SD-WAN), wireless architecture, dynamic segmentation, cloud networking (AWS/Azure), and Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible, Python, Git).
• Strong organizational, strategic vision, and interpersonal communication skills, with proven ability to present technical roadmaps to IT leadership and mentor engineering staff.

Preferred Job Requirements

Education

• Master’s degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or equivalent experience.

• Certification / License

• HPE Aruba Certified Design Expert (ACDE) or Professional (ACDP), HPE Aruba Certified Campus Access Architect / Data Center Architect, HashiCorp Certified: Terraform Authoring, AWS Certified Advanced Networking - Specialty, or Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700). AWS Certified Advanced Networking and/or Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700)

Work Experience

• Experience architecting global cloud transit networks, multi-cloud connectivity, automated CI/CD network deployment pipelines, and industrial OT network segmentation.

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Physical Demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear; and use hands to manipulate objects or controls.  The employee is regularly required to stand and walk.  On occasion, the incumbent may be required to stoop, bend, or reach above the shoulders.  The employee must occasionally lift up to 25 pounds. Specific conditions of this job are typical of frequent and continuous computer-based work requiring periods of sitting, close vision, and the ability to adjust focus. Occasional travel. 

“We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.”