Role Overview

Client is seeking an experienced Solution Architect specializing in Cisco Software-Defined Access (SDA) Transition & Migration to lead the design and delivery of enterprise network transformation initiatives.

This role is responsible for developing end-to-end Cisco SDA architectures covering campus LAN, WLAN, identity services, segmentation, and security integration. The successful candidate will assess existing environments, define migration strategies, produce detailed design documentation, and provide technical leadership throughout project delivery.

Working closely with customers, project teams, and technology partners, you will ensure solutions are secure, scalable, and aligned with business and operational requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Solution Architecture & Design

• Design end-to-end Cisco SDA solutions across campus networking, wireless infrastructure, and security domains.
• Develop High-Level Designs (HLDs), Low-Level Designs (LLDs), architecture diagrams, and implementation documentation.
• Define target-state architectures and migration roadmaps aligned with customer business objectives.
• Ensure solutions meet security, scalability, resilience, and performance requirements.

Assessment & Migration Planning

• Assess current network and security environments and identify transition requirements.
• Conduct gap analysis and impact assessments for migration initiatives.
• Develop phased migration strategies, implementation plans, rollback procedures, and cutover methodologies.
• Identify technical risks and provide mitigation strategies throughout project delivery.

Stakeholder Engagement & Consulting

• Facilitate customer workshops, discovery sessions, and technical design reviews.
• Gather and analyze business and technical requirements.
• Translate business objectives into practical and scalable technical architectures.
• Present solution recommendations and architecture decisions to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Technical Leadership & Delivery Support

• Provide architectural guidance during build, testing, deployment, and cutover activities.
• Collaborate with project managers, engineers, vendors, and internal teams to ensure successful implementation.
• Support troubleshooting and issue resolution during migration and transition phases.
• Ensure adherence to enterprise architecture standards and best practices.

Documentation & Governance

• Produce comprehensive architecture documentation, migration runbooks, implementation guides, and operational handover materials.
• Maintain architecture governance and design assurance processes.
• Ensure solutions comply with organizational security policies and industry standards.

Required Skills & Experience

Technical Expertise

• Proven experience designing and implementing enterprise Cisco network and security solutions.
• Strong hands-on experience with:
  • Cisco Software-Defined Access (SDA)
  • Cisco DNA Center (DNAC)
  • Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE)
  • Campus LAN and WLAN architectures
  • Network segmentation and policy-based access control
  • Routing and switching technologies
  • Network security frameworks and best practices
• Experience delivering network transformation, migration, or modernization projects.

Architecture & Consulting

• Strong solution architecture experience with the ability to design secure, scalable, and resilient solutions.
• Experience producing detailed architecture documentation, diagrams, and migration plans.
• Strong stakeholder management and consulting skills.
• Ability to lead workshops, gather requirements, and drive architecture decisions.

Integration & Automation

• Understanding of network automation, orchestration, and API integration concepts.
• Familiarity with software development and integration principles applicable to network and security platforms.
• Knowledge of infrastructure-as-code and automation frameworks is advantageous.

Business & Communication

• Ability to align technical architectures with business processes and operational requirements.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable working in customer-facing environments and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

Essential

• Extensive experience in Solution Architecture, Network Architecture, or Senior Network Engineering roles.
• Demonstrated experience with Cisco SDA migration or transition projects.
• Strong understanding of enterprise networking and security architectures.

Highly Desirable

• Cisco CCNP Enterprise
• Cisco CCNP Security
• Cisco DNA Center or Cisco SDA Specializations
• Cisco Certified Specialist certifications
• Additional architecture or security certifications

What Success Looks Like

• Successful delivery of Cisco SDA transition and migration architectures.
• High-quality architecture documentation and migration planning artifacts.
• Effective stakeholder engagement and customer satisfaction.
• Secure, scalable, and operationally efficient network solutions delivered on time.
• Smooth migration outcomes with minimal business disruption.