Akima · 21 hours ago
WAN Architect SME - Remote
United States
Full-time
Remote
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$115K/yr - $135K/yr
10+ years expAkima is a company that supports federal projects and shareholder communities in Alaska. They are seeking a highly skilled WAN Architect SME to lead the design, implementation, and optimization of Wide Area Network (WAN) infrastructure for the USCIS enterprise network environment, providing expert architectural guidance and ensuring compliance with cybersecurity mandates.
ConstructionConsultingCyber SecurityInformation TechnologyLogisticsManagement ConsultingSupply Chain ManagementTechnical Support
No H1B
Security Clearance RequiredU.S. Citizen Only
Responsibilities
Lead the architectural design, planning, and implementation of WAN infrastructure to support USCIS enterprise systems and field office connectivity
Provide SME-level guidance for routing, switching, MPLS, SD-WAN, VPN, and cross-domain connectivity (on-prem to cloud)
Design and support secure, scalable, and highly available WAN architectures that meet mission and performance requirements
Conduct WAN performance analysis, capacity planning, failover analysis, and network optimization
Collaborate with cybersecurity, infrastructure, and cloud teams to ensure secure and compliant data transmission in accordance with DHS/USCIS policy
Evaluate emerging technologies (e.g., SASE, ZTNA, IPv6) and recommend enhancements aligned with modernization and Zero Trust initiatives
Develop and maintain WAN architecture documentation including topology diagrams, design artifacts, SOPs, and standards
Support enterprise initiatives such as cloud migration, telework enablement, application modernization, and disaster recovery planning
Interface with USCIS stakeholders, DHS OCIO, and external carriers to coordinate WAN service delivery, performance SLAs, and issue resolution
Support the development of WAN-related ATO packages, security assessments, and change control documentation
Qualification
Required
U.S. Citizenship (required for federal contract compliance)
Active DHS Public Trust clearance or ability to obtain; Secret/Top Secret preferred
Bachelor's degree in computer science, Engineering, Information Systems, or related discipline (or equivalent experience)
10+ years of experience in network engineering or architecture, with a strong focus on WAN infrastructure
Expert knowledge of WAN technologies and protocols, including: MPLS, BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, QoS
SD-WAN technologies (e.g., Cisco Viptela, Silver Peak, Meraki, Fortinet)
IPsec VPNs, GRE, DMVPN
Experience designing and supporting large-scale enterprise or federal WANs
Familiarity with cloud-based networking (AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute) and hybrid networking strategies
Deep understanding of network security architecture, encryption, and DHS TIC (Trusted Internet Connections) 3.0 guidelines
Strong communication and documentation skills for both technical and executive-level audiences
Preferred
Experience supporting DHS, USCIS, or other federal civilian agencies
Professional certifications such as: Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) or Expert (CCIE - Enterprise Infrastructure or Security)
Juniper Networks Certified Specialist (JNCIS) or higher
AWS or Azure Networking Specialty Certification
CompTIA Security+, CASP+, or CISSP
Experience with SDN (Software-Defined Networking), network automation, and orchestration tools (e.g., Ansible, Python scripting)
Knowledge of ITIL, NIST SP 800-53, RMF, and FISMA compliance processes
Familiarity with Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), SASE, and DHS reference architectures
Benefits
Comprehensive benefits
Competitive pay
Growth opportunities
Excellent retirement options
Company
Akima
Akima focuses on delivering services in the areas of logistics, IT, supply chain, systems engineering, construction and protective services.
5001-10000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Chris Jenkins
Group President
Michael Alvarado
Chief Growth Officer
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