Senior Network Architect

Job Description

Responsible for the strategic design, implementation, optimization, and maintenance of complex enterprise network infrastructures, integrating both Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) systems to support business and operational objectives. This role encompasses enterprise-level architecture planning, including voice, data, cloud-integrated, and industrial network systems. The Senior Network Architect leads efforts to ensure network reliability, scalability, and security while addressing evolving technology trends and regulatory compliance.

This position requires a deep understanding of advanced network technologies, including VoIP, LAN/WAN, IP/MPLS, optical networks (CWDM/DWDM), hybrid cloud connectivity, data center interconnect (DCI) networking, and SAN integration. Additionally, the role emphasizes the integration of OT systems (e.g., SCADA, plant distributed control systems) and adherence to industry standards and cybersecurity requirements including NERC CIP compliance.

Tri-State recognizes the value of a highly-engaged and committed workforce and provides an excellent benefits program that includes:

Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Work Schedules including compressed work week and telecommuting opportunities to work remotely up to 50%, Life Insurance, 401K, Long Term Disability (LTD), Short Term Disability (STD), Employee Assistant Program (EAP) and Paid Leave Benefits. 

Senior Network Architect

Hiring Salary Range: $106,000-$135,000

Actual compensation offer to candidate may vary outside of the posted hiring salary range based upon work experience, education, and/or skill level.

Responsible for the strategic design, implementation, optimization, and maintenance of complex enterprise network infrastructures, integrating both Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) systems to support business and operational objectives. This role encompasses enterprise-level architecture planning, including voice, data, cloud-integrated, and industrial network systems. The Senior Network Architect leads efforts to ensure network reliability, scalability, and security while addressing evolving technology trends and regulatory compliance.

This position requires a deep understanding of advanced network technologies, including VoIP, LAN/WAN, IP/MPLS, optical networks (CWDM/DWDM), hybrid cloud connectivity, data center interconnect (DCI) networking, and SAN integration. Additionally, the role emphasizes the integration of OT systems (e.g., SCADA, plant distributed control systems) and adherence to industry standards and cybersecurity requirements including NERC CIP compliance.

Tri-State recognizes the value of a highly-engaged and committed workforce and provides an excellent benefits program that includes:

Medical Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Work Schedules including compressed work week and telecommuting opportunities to work remotely up to 50%, Life Insurance, 401K, Long Term Disability (LTD), Short Term Disability (STD), Employee Assistant Program (EAP) and Paid Leave Benefits. 

Senior Network Architect

Hiring Salary Range: $106,000-$135,000

Actual compensation offer to candidate may vary outside of the posted hiring salary range based upon work experience, education, and/or skill level.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the organization’s network architecture, including standards, roadmaps, and models for LAN, WAN, IP/MPLS, SD-WAN, and cloud networking.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to align network infrastructure strategies with business and operational goals.
• Evaluate and integrate emerging networking technologies to enhance system performance, scalability, and security.
• Lead the design and deployment of hybrid cloud architectures, including Virtual Cloud Networks (VCNs) and secure connectivity to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) using FastConnect, VPN, or other methods.
• Architect and deploy resilient, high-performance network solutions for voice (Cisco Unified Communications), video, and data systems.
• Design, implement, and maintain IP/MPLS networks to support critical SCADA, metering, and system protection applications, ensuring low-latency, secure, and reliable operations.
• Oversee data center networking, including advanced switching, routing (e.g., VLANs, BGP, VxLAN), and storage area network (SAN) integration (e.g., FC, iSCSI).
• Design and implement redundant enterprise internet access and multihoming solutions with load balancing and failover mechanisms.
• Develop IP address allocation schemas and optimize routing protocols and network segmentation.
• Ensure robust Wi-Fi network coverage and performance through design, deployment, and wireless link budget analysis.
• Monitor network and security events, ensuring compliance with NERC CIP and other cybersecurity regulations and standards.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to implement security measures that protect against unauthorized access, cyber threats, and data breaches.
• Participate in the development and testing of incident response, disaster recovery, and business continuity plans.
• Lead large-scale network implementation and migration projects, ensuring timely delivery within scope and budget.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to assess near- and long-term network capacity needs.
• Mentor and guide network engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for network configurations, processes, and procedures.
• Prepare status reports and communicate project progress to management and stakeholders.
• Maintain inventory of network assets and related technical specifications.
• Maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures and attain knowledge and remain knowledgeable of regulations, laws, standards, and best practices applicable to functional area.
• Because Tri-State has an obligation to provide continuous, reliable electric service to its customers, the ability to work overtime at any time of the day or week is considered an essential function of the job.

OTHER DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Develop and maintain the organization’s network architecture, including standards, roadmaps, and models for LAN, WAN, IP/MPLS, SD-WAN, and cloud networking.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to align network infrastructure strategies with business and operational goals.
• Evaluate and integrate emerging networking technologies to enhance system performance, scalability, and security.
• Lead the design and deployment of hybrid cloud architectures, including Virtual Cloud Networks (VCNs) and secure connectivity to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) using FastConnect, VPN, or other methods.
• Architect and deploy resilient, high-performance network solutions for voice (Cisco Unified Communications), video, and data systems.
• Design, implement, and maintain IP/MPLS networks to support critical SCADA, metering, and system protection applications, ensuring low-latency, secure, and reliable operations.
• Oversee data center networking, including advanced switching, routing (e.g., VLANs, BGP, VxLAN), and storage area network (SAN) integration (e.g., FC, iSCSI).
• Design and implement redundant enterprise internet access and multihoming solutions with load balancing and failover mechanisms.
• Develop IP address allocation schemas and optimize routing protocols and network segmentation.
• Ensure robust Wi-Fi network coverage and performance through design, deployment, and wireless link budget analysis.
• Monitor network and security events, ensuring compliance with NERC CIP and other cybersecurity regulations and standards.
• Collaborate with cybersecurity teams to implement security measures that protect against unauthorized access, cyber threats, and data breaches.
• Participate in the development and testing of incident response, disaster recovery, and business continuity plans.
• Lead large-scale network implementation and migration projects, ensuring timely delivery within scope and budget.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to assess near- and long-term network capacity needs.
• Mentor and guide network engineers, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation for network configurations, processes, and procedures.
• Prepare status reports and communicate project progress to management and stakeholders.
• Maintain inventory of network assets and related technical specifications.
• Maintain compliance with all company policies and procedures and attain knowledge and remain knowledgeable of regulations, laws, standards, and best practices applicable to functional area.
• Because Tri-State has an obligation to provide continuous, reliable electric service to its customers, the ability to work overtime at any time of the day or week is considered an essential function of the job.

OTHER DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education and Training: 

• Bachelor’s degree in telecommunications, computer science, engineering, or a related field.
• One or more advanced certifications (e.g., CCDP, CCIE, Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate, AWS Certified Advanced Networking, CSSA) strongly preferred.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Eight (8) years’ experience in voice, data, and optical networking.
• Extensive experience in designing and managing enterprise and industrial-level network architectures.
• Deep knowledge of network protocols, infrastructure, and security practices, including MPLS, SD-WAN, and cloud integrations.
• Familiarity with utility-specific technologies and standards, such as SCADA systems and NERC CIP compliance.

Skills:

• Exceptional problem-solving skills and ability to lead in a dynamic, mission-critical environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to explain technology solutions in business terms across technical and non-technical teams; an effective listener and communicator.
• Superior analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving abilities.
• Keen attention to detail.

Other:

• Willingness to travel as required for project work and meetings throughout service territory by posing a current valid driver’s license. Must be able to physically deploy routers, switches, wireless access points, firewalls, and other networking devices.
• Because Tri-State has an obligation to provide continuous, reliable electric service to its customers, the ability to work overtime at any time of the day or week is considered an essential function of the job.

Education and Training: 

• Bachelor’s degree in telecommunications, computer science, engineering, or a related field.
• One or more advanced certifications (e.g., CCDP, CCIE, Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate, AWS Certified Advanced Networking, CSSA) strongly preferred.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Eight (8) years’ experience in voice, data, and optical networking.
• Extensive experience in designing and managing enterprise and industrial-level network architectures.
• Deep knowledge of network protocols, infrastructure, and security practices, including MPLS, SD-WAN, and cloud integrations.
• Familiarity with utility-specific technologies and standards, such as SCADA systems and NERC CIP compliance.

Skills:

• Exceptional problem-solving skills and ability to lead in a dynamic, mission-critical environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills for cross-functional collaboration.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; able to explain technology solutions in business terms across technical and non-technical teams; an effective listener and communicator.
• Superior analytical, evaluative, and problem-solving abilities.
• Keen attention to detail.

Other:

• Willingness to travel as required for project work and meetings throughout service territory by posing a current valid driver’s license. Must be able to physically deploy routers, switches, wireless access points, firewalls, and other networking devices.
• Because Tri-State has an obligation to provide continuous, reliable electric service to its customers, the ability to work overtime at any time of the day or week is considered an essential function of the job.

About Us

Tri-State is a wholesale power supply cooperative, operating on a not-for-profit basis, with 44 members, including 41 utility electric distribution cooperative and public power district members in four states: Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. Together with its members, Tri-State delivers reliable, affordable and responsible power and energy services to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West.

Tri-State was founded in 1952 by its member systems to provide a reliable, cost-based supply of electricity. Headquartered in Westminster, Colo., approximately 1,200 people are employed by Tri-State across five states.

Tri-State’s electricity is generated from coal, natural gas and hydropower, with a rapidly increasing supply generated from wind and solar. Tri-State delivers power to its members through a transmission system that includes substation facilities, telecommunications sites and over 5,700 miles of high voltage transmission lines. Tri-State’s transformative Responsible Energy Plan is reducing emissions, increasing renewable resources, developing new energy services and delivering more flexibility for its members.

Tri-State is a wholesale power supply cooperative, operating on a not-for-profit basis, with 44 members, including 41 utility electric distribution cooperative and public power district members in four states: Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico and Wyoming. Together with its members, Tri-State delivers reliable, affordable and responsible power and energy services to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West.

Tri-State was founded in 1952 by its member systems to provide a reliable, cost-based supply of electricity. Headquartered in Westminster, Colo., approximately 1,200 people are employed by Tri-State across five states.

Tri-State’s electricity is generated from coal, natural gas and hydropower, with a rapidly increasing supply generated from wind and solar. Tri-State delivers power to its members through a transmission system that includes substation facilities, telecommunications sites and over 5,700 miles of high voltage transmission lines. Tri-State’s transformative Responsible Energy Plan is reducing emissions, increasing renewable resources, developing new energy services and delivering more flexibility for its members.

Job Info

• Job Identification 295
• Job Category Information Technology
• Posting Date 12/16/2024, 05:34 PM
• Apply Before 12/29/2024, 05:34 PM
• Degree Level Bachelor’s Degree
• Job Schedule Full time
• Locations 1100 W 116th Ave, Westminster, CO, 80234, US
• Hiring Salary Range $106,000-$134,000
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• 1100 W 116th Ave, Westminster, CO, 80234, US
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