Principal Solutions Architect

Our client, a professional services partner, is looking to hire a Principal Solutions Architect for a 6-month remote contract.  The consultant will serve as a senior technical leader and trusted advisor within a complex, high-demand Fortune 10 client environment. This role requires designing, validating, and guiding the implementation of enterprise-scale network and security solutions across multiple concurrent workstreams.

The role demands a professional who is outspoken, results-driven, and an exceptional communicator, capable of influencing stakeholders, driving technical decisions, and ensuring delivery excellence while maintaining alignment with company standards and client expectations.
 
Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the architecture and design of large-scale network and security solutions, including data center, WAN/LAN, cloud, and hybrid environments.
• Collaborate with and drive teams to assess requirements, define solutions, and ensure alignment with enterprise standards, compliance frameworks, and strategic objectives.
• Delegate and lead small teams of engineers, providing guidance and oversight to ensure high-quality, on-time delivery.
• Oversee multiple workstreams concurrently, managing dependencies, priorities, and risks to maintain solution integrity and on-time delivery.
• Provide technical governance and quality assurance throughout solution lifecycle, from initial design through deployment, validation, and optimization.
• Develop, review, and present architectural documentation, high-level designs (HLDs), and detailed designs (LLDs) to technical and executive audiences.
• Act as a primary escalation point for complex network and security challenges, applying independent judgment to recommend actionable solutions.
• Maintain awareness of industry trends, emerging technologies, and vendor roadmaps (Arista, Cisco, Palo Alto, etc.) to inform strategic decisions.
• Communicate with authority and professionalism in client meetings, architecture reviews, and steering committees to influence direction and build consensus.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure solution consistency, knowledge sharing, and alignment with delivery methodologies.
• Drive results proactively, anticipating challenges, mitigating risks, and ensuring commitments are met with a focus on client satisfaction and operational excellence.

Required Skills

• Extensive networking background.
• 10 to 12+ years in enterprise infrastructure, data center design, networking, or system architecture
• Architect Level, broad understanding across the technical pillars (data center, enterprise, security, cloud)
• Experience working with major solutions like Arista, Cisco, Palo Alto, etc

• Experience serving as a primary escalation point for complex network and security challenges, applying independent judgment to recommend actionable solutions.
• Extremely strong customer facing skills with ability to lead and drive projects