Network Architect Principal-Staff

Job Posting End Date

06-25-2025

Please note the job posting will close on the day before the posting end date

Job Summary

The Network Architect will operate at an enterprise level, responsible
for creating a wholistic strategy and tactical execution plan of
implementation, as well as operationalizing investments which
ultimately result in a secure and resilient network architecture that is
scalable to meet the growing business needs as well as lowered
mean time to repair and time between incidents.
Technology areas of focus will be the AEP Enterprise Core
Backbone Network, SCADA (Supervisory, Control and Data
Acquisition) head-end aggregation networks, Internet Connectivity,
Wireless, VPN (Virtual Private Network) connections, Data Center
networks, Public Cloud connectivity and Network Security
architectures.

This key technical position is accountable for defining architecture
and engineering standards, developing network automation
solutions, documentation of best practices, system monitoring and
analytics and top tier (level 3) operational support. This position will
also mentor staff members to develop excellent enterprise
networking skills. Ensuring designs follow compliance guidelines
such as SOX and NERC-CIP.

You’ll work on a cross-infrastructure team with architects and
technical leads from other infrastructure teams (cloud, storage,
compute, applications) to establish technical strategies and
architectural design/standards across infrastructure technology.
Work closely with leadership to ensure that their technology platform
choices are well understood, the support services contracts comply
with operational standards, proper thought leadership is represented
in the negotiation of support services and those measured services
are well defined.

Job Description

Essential Job Functions:

• Demonstrated experience in network architecture at the enterprise level

• History of leading and mentoring others (in official or unofficial capacities)

• Strong technical background across a diverse set of network technologies (routing, switching, firewalls, etc)

• Demonstrated skills in support of technical documentation creation and management

• Experience with regulatory or compliance networks such as NERC / CIP or SOX is highly desired

• As mentioned above, experience with developing both IT & OT solutions is highly desired

• Design and deliver solutions to meet complex business needs

• Investigate and clarify business unit pain‐points, address needs, develop and communicate solution options

• Leverage standard reference architectures, design patterns, technology guidelines and standards.

• Produce all architectural solution and project deliverables without assistance

• Act a key Subject Matter Expert and for technology leadership on specific technical and business topics.

• Mentor, guide and oversee one or more junior solution architects.

• Work with the project team and leadership to ensure success of the projects in their portfolio.

• Participate in project decision‐making to ensure trade‐offs between project delivery and architectural goals are well‐ reasoned.

• Active contributor in the assessment of supported business unit solution portfolio, including the development of current‐ and future‐state views of a given solution portfolio efforts.

 

Basic Qualifications:

 

NOTE: This position will be filled at the experience and salary grade level commensurate with the qualifications and experience of the selected candidate as compared to the minimum requirements stated below. The selected candidate for this position will work remotely and, though location is flexible, will require vetting and final approval prior to offer and/or start.

 

Architect Principal (SG 9)

 

Education: Bachelor's degree in computer science, engineering, or related technical field is required.

 

 Experience: 8 years of relevant work experience is required.

 

An equivalent combination of e