Description
At CDW, we make it happen, together. Trust, connection, and commitment are at the heart of how we work together to deliver for our customers. It's why we're coworkers, not just employees. Coworkers who genuinely believe in supporting our customers and one another. We collectively forge our path forward with a level of commitment that speaks to who we are and where we're headed. We're proud to share our story and Make Amazing Happen at CDW.
Job Summary
At CDW, we deliver customer outcomes through deep technical expertise, trusted relationships, and a strong services-led approach.
The Senior Network Architect operates as a senior presale overlay within the Secure Networks practice, responsible for shaping, designing, and leading complex network and security solutions aligned to customer business outcomes.
This role translates business requirements into high-level architectures, drives solution strategy across multi-vendor environments, and leads engagements from early discovery through to proposal and handover to delivery.
Role Overview
The Senior Network Architect is accountable for:
Owning solution architecture for complex customer opportunities
Leading discovery, design, and proposal activities
Aligning technology solutions to business outcomes, KPIs, and commercial objectives
Driving the integration of CDW's Professional and Managed Services into solution designs
Supporting revenue growth through high-value, outcome-led engagements
What you will do
Customer Engagement & Solution Ownership
Lead customer discovery sessions to capture business and technical requirements
Translate customer outcomes into scalable, high-level architectures
Act as the technical authority throughout the engagement lifecycle
Present solutions confidently to technical and non-technical stakeholders
Architecture & Design
Produce high quality solution proposals and where necessary High Level Designs (HLDs) aligned to customer requirements
Design secure, scalable, and resilient network architectures across campus, data centre, WAN and cloud domains
Ensure alignment with best practices, vendor validated designs, and CDW standards
Support pricing, sizing, and commercial positioning
Identify opportunities to enhance solutions with additional services or capabilities
Contribution to pipeline growth and strategic opportunities
Multi-Vendor Solution Strategy
Define optimal technology stacks across networking and security domains
Assess multiple vendor solutions for compatibility, scalability, and business fit
Leverage vendor relationships, tools, and resources to validate designs
Services Integration
Embed Professional and Managed Services into solution designs
Support scoping and estimation of services aligned to customer outcomes
Collaborate with delivery teams to ensure smooth transition post-sale
What we expect of you
Core Experience
10+ years in network architecture, design, or consulting roles
Strong experience across enterprise and/or data centre networking
Proven track record of leading customer-facing technical engagements
Technical Expertise
Enterprise networking: LAN, WAN, Data Centre (EVPN/VXLAN desirable)
Security technologies: NGFW, ZTNA, IPS/IDS, segmentation (Micro & Macro), WAF
Strong vendor experience (e.g. Cisco, Juniper, HPE Aruba, Arista, Fortinet, Palo Alto)
Architecture & Consulting Skills
Ability to translate business requirements into technical solutions
Strong problem-solving and solution design capability
Experience producing high-quality technical documentation (HLDs, proposals)
Communication & Stakeholder Management
Confident presenter to senior stakeholders
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to influence and build consensus across technical and commercial teams
Commercial Awareness
Understanding of solution pricing, risk, and commercial positioning
Ability to align technical design with revenue and margin objectives
Key Competencies
Customer focused and outcome driven
Strong analytical and decision making capability
Effective collaboration across cross functional teams
High level of accountability and ownership
Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
Nice to Have
Experience with Zero Trust architectures and modern security frameworks
Exposure to cloud networking (AWS, Azure)
Exposure within observability and AIOps (Splunk, Logic Monitor, Big Panda)
Experience with automation and AI-driven operations (Python, NetBox, Ansible, Terraform)
Relevant certifications (e.g. CCNP/CCIE, JNCIP/JNCIE, etc.)
Working experience with AI within the workplace i.e. Microsoft CoPilot
Additional Requirements
Willingness to travel as required (typically up to 25%)
CDW is committed to being an AI-fluent organization
We're looking for people who bring curiosity, a learner's mindset, and a willingness to engage with ever-evolving technology and tools. We value adopting AI as a partner, openness to experimentation, and a shared interest in learning together on AI. Our goal is to create a culture where AI enhances- not replaces- human creativity and decision-making. You don't need to be an expert today; what matters is your readiness to explore, adapt, and grow with us as we integrate AI responsibly and effectively into our work.Additionally, CDW is committed to fostering an equitable, transparent, and respectful hiring process for all applicants. During our application process, our goal is to understand your experience, strengths, skills, and qualifications. As an AI forward company, we see AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for new ways of thinking, creating, and communicating. We encourage candidates to embrace an AI mindset, one that's curious, adaptive, and ready to explore what's possible. We welcome thoughtful use of AI to expand your perspective and elevate how you share your story, while ensuring your application remains rooted in your own background, judgment, and voice.
About Us
CDW is a Fortune 500 technology solutions provider that helps businesses, government, education, and healthcare organizations achieve what's possible through technology. What makes CDW different isn't just what we do- it's how we do it. At CDW we act as one- building trust, speaking candidly, and working together to achieve more. We play to win- focusing on what matters most and delivering for our customers. And we think forward- staying curious, moving fast, and continuously learning. We believe meaningful work happens when people feel supported, heard, and empowered to contribute. That's why we think of ourselves as coworkers, not just employees- working together to solve complex challenges and deliver real impact for our customers and communities.
As a full-stack, full-lifecycle technology partner, CDW brings deep expertise, strong relationships, and broad industry knowledge to help turn ideas into outcomes. When you join CDW, you become part of a collaborative environment where your work matters, your growth is supported, and your contributions help shape what's next.
Together, we deliver the full promise of what technology can do. Together, we Make Amazing Happen.
CDW is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other basis prohibited by state and local law.
