Senior Network Architect - €700 per day Prominent Irish Government department requires a Senior Network Architect to join the team at their Head Office in advance of a major upgrade programme that is due to begin in early January 2025. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in the design and rollout of a 'Zero Trust' network model across the organisation. They will work the department's Strategic Infrastructure and Architecture team to develop a High-Level Network Design(HLD), and a roadmap for the transition to a 'Zero Trust' model. The HLD will include micro-segmentation, VxLAN, and other cutting-edge technologies. This role is located in a very easily accessible part of Dublin City centre, and attendance will be on a hybrid (2 days per week basis). While the role is initially offered on a 12 month contract basis, the scale and scope of this project is such that there is a very high probability of it being extended for at least one additional year if not further. Responsibilities of Role Analyse current LAN/WAN infrastructure and develop a high-level design (HLD) for a 'Zero Trust' network deployment across DoE office locations. Document low-level requirements, specifications and produce a roadmap for the transition to the proposed network model. Design a spine-leaf network architecture for the DoE's on premises compute-storage and HCI environments. Redesign access switching ACL's and VLAN's with design considerations based on a Blended working environment and a cost- efficient operating model. Lead the planning, testing, and deployment phases of LAN/WAN infrastructure upgrades. Collaborate with the DoE security team on the roll out of 802.1x authentication and ensure that the network architecture complies with cybersecurity frameworks. Participate at weekly CAB meetings and provide progress reports to management and other stakeholders when required. Contribute to the development and promotion of technical standards and templates, such as architecture assessment documents, and assist in prioritising work requests in conjunction with project managers and business units. Implementation of energy-efficient technologies into the network design to support green networking. Contribute to the Departments Enterprise Architecture function Provide subject matter expertise on LAN, WAN, VOIP, Hybrid DC's, and cloud integration strategies. Essential Candidate Requirements Third level degree or postgraduate qualification in IT, Computer Science or other relevant area Minimum 7 years' experience in Network Engineering, a significant portion of which should have been spent in a leadership or managerial role Certification - Have held some form of Cisco Certification such as CCNA/CCNP or similar is a must have. Proven track record of successful large-scale network deployments. Familiarity with compliance standards and regulations affecting network security. Expertise in network virtualisation technologies, specifically VXLAN. Proficient in configuring and troubleshooting 802.1x authentication. Strong understanding of 'Zero Trust' security principles and micro- segmentation strategies. Experience with network segmentation in cloud and hybrid environments. Ability to create detailed network design documentation and diagrams. Excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to work under pressure. Strong leadership qualities and experience managing cross-functional teams. Highly desirable Previous experience Just-In-Time and Just-Enough-Access (JIT/JEA), risk-based adaptive policies, and data protection. Additional certification from Microsoft, like MCSE would be a distinct advantage) IMPORTANT! This vacancy needs to be filled as soon as possible. All applicants must have immediate availability to work in the EU as our client cannot wait for the length of time it would take for Visa/Work Permit to come through. For more information on this role, please contact Nall on or. To apply directly, please send current CV along with brief cover letter through this site Skills: Network Engineering Cisco Microsoft Windows Architecture