Network Architecture Lead - IT Architecture Senior/Specialist - Permanent - 2026

Posting number: 2026-08704

Department: Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

Job classification: IT ARCHITECTURE - SENIOR/SPECIALIST

Posting type: Open & Promotional

Categories: IT and Computers, Telecommunications, Natural Resources, Green-Collar/Environmental, Office and Administrative Support, Database Administration

Title- Network Architecture Lead

Classification- IT Architecture Senior/Specialist

Job Status- Full-Time – Permanent WDFW Program- Directors Office - Information Technology Services Duty Station- Olympia, Washington – Thurston County

Learn more about being a member of Team WDFW!

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Lead the agency’s network infrastructure in this senior level role, where you’ll develop technology strategies that keep offices, field teams, and critical operations securely and reliably connected. You’ll guide major network architecture and modernization initiatives, develop long-term technology roadmaps, and provide technical leadership to build a resilient, high-performing network. What to Expect:

Among the varied range of responsibilities held within this role, the Network Architecture & Strategy Lead,

Network Architecture and Technology Strategy:

• Develop and maintain the agency’s enterprise network architecture and multi-year technology roadmap.
• Define current-state and target-state network architectures.
• Develop architectural standards, patterns, and reference designs for network infrastructure.
• Ensure network architecture aligns with Washington State Enterprise strategy and DFW CIO IT strategy, cybersecurity requirements, cloud strategy, and agency business needs.

Network Modernization and Transformation:

• Lead or provide architectural direction for major network modernization initiatives.
• Develop modernization strategies for aging network equipment, connectivity, WAN, wireless, data centers, and remote locations.
• Evaluate traditional WAN against SD-WAN, cloud networking, internet-based connectivity, and other modern approaches.
• Develop strategies for integrating on-premises, cloud, field, and remote-office environments.

Network Resilience, Continuity and Disaster Recovery:

• Develop network resilience strategies for critical agency services.
• Create recovery operating procedures and train Network Engineers for Disaster Recovery efforts.

• Closely related qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-by-year basis.
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, Network Engineering, or a related field.
• Must pass a Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) background check.

Preferred Qualifications:In addition to the required qualifications, our ideal applicant will possess one or more of the following:

• Leadership Training.
• Five (5) years of professional experience with enterprise routing, switching, LAN/WAN, wireless, VPN, network services, and network infrastructure.
• Three (3) years planning or leading network modernization, infrastructure lifecycle, migration, or technology refresh initiatives.
• Two (2) years designing or supporting network connectivity between on-premises infrastructure, cloud environments, and external services.
• Three (3) years incorporating network security, segmentation, high availability, redundancy, disaster recovery, or resilience into network designs.
• Two (2) years developing investment recommendations, risk assessments, or business cases related to infrastructure or network technology.
• Three (3) years providing technical leadership, mentoring engineers, conducting design reviews, establishing standards, or directing complex technical work.
• Three (3) years communicating complex technical concepts, risks, alternatives, and recommendations to technical staff, managers, executives, and nontechnical stakeholders.
• Two (2) years designing or supporting network architectures across geographically dispersed, remote, or operationally diverse locations.
• Two (2) years AWS Networking experience and certification.

• Incorporate cybersecurity principles into network architecture and design.
• Partner with cybersecurity staff to implement segmentation, zero-trust principles, secure remote access, identity-aware networking, and other security controls.

• Develop architecture for connectivity between agency facilities, data centers, cloud environments, 3rd party SAAS services, field work locations, and staff home offices.
• Design secure and resilient AWS/Azure/State Datacenter connectivity.

• Develop connectivity strategies for geographically dispersed offices, hatcheries, wildlife areas, enforcement facilities, field stations, and other remote locations.

• Establish and maintain network engineering standards and configuration standards that are consistent with Federal, State, and agency policies, standards, and strategies.
• Provide technical leadership for network-related projects.

• Serve as the senior technical authority and mentor for network engineering staff.

• Establish network performance and capacity-management practices.
• Identify emerging capacity constraints.

• Evaluate network products, services, and technologies.
• Conduct technical evaluations and proof-of-concept activities.

• Serve as the network architecture lead for major IT and business projects.

• Maintain authoritative network architecture documentation. Establish standards for documenting network dependencies and configurations.

Working Conditions: Work setting, including hazards:Office setting typically at the Natural Resources Building (NRB) in Olympia, Washington. May be required to work in tight spaces, data closets and datacenter. Office hazards include working under fluorescent light, repetitively entering data into computer and extended periods of looking at computer monitor, sitting or standing.

Schedule:This position is full-time, working 40 hours per week. The standard work schedule includes the potential for occasional evening or weekend work and variable hours as needed. Alternative schedules may be considered based on business needs.

Travel Requirements: Some travel will be required to regional and other remote offices.

Customer Interactions:Interact withWDFW staff, WaTech, ISPproviders and vendors.

• Eight (8) years of recent, progressively responsible professional experience designing, implementing, engineering, or operating complex enterprise networks.

• Three (3) years of recent experience performing network architecture responsibilities, including target-state architecture, standards, major network designs, or technology roadmaps.

• A completed online application showcasing how your qualifications align with the job requirements.
• An up-to-date resume.
• A cover letter detailing your interest in the position, your relevant skills and experience, and why you are the ideal candidate.
• At least three professional references with current contact information.

In addition to pay and other special employee programs, there are other benefits that WDFW employees may be eligible for. Click the “Benefits” tab at the top of this announcement to learn more.

All new employees must complete an Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9 Form) on their first day of work. If hired for this or any position at WDFW, you will be required to provide documentation proving you are eligible to work in the United States.

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the State of Washington, Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE). This recruitment may be used to fill positions in addition to those listed.

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Per RCW 73.16.010 Veterans and qualifying spouses who meet the minimum qualifications of a position are eligible for preference during the initial application review stage. To receive this benefit, please do the following:

• Notify us of your veteran or military spouse status by email at Elizabeth..
• Veterans only –Attach a copy of your DD214 (Member 4 copy), NGB 22 or USDVA signed verification of service letter.
• Please redact any PII (personally identifiable information) data such as social security numbers.
• Subject line must include recruitment number, position, and spouse/veteran (example: 2024-1234 – Biologist 1 – Veteran)
• Include your name as it appears on your application in careers.wa.gov.

This is a rectangle-shaped logo with dark blue border around a Rainbow Pride LGTBQ Flag, and centered on top of the flag is small colorful oval shaped WDFW Logo with carton images of pine trees, a river, a fish, crab and deer. At the bottom of the rectangle, it reads: EVERYONE BELONGS OUTDOORS in white, all capital letters.

As part of WDFW’s efforts to advance respectful and inclusive work environments, the Agency expects inclusivity as part of our professional interactions and communications. Therefore, we want to ensure that all individuals feel welcome, are treated fairly and respectfully. All staff are empowered to fully contribute to serving their work unit, Agency, and the citizens of Washington.

The Department of Fish and Wildlife is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create a working environment that includes and respects cultural, racial, ethnic, sexual orientation and gender identity diversity. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans and people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply.

Other questions:If you have other questions regarding this position, please reach out to Elizabeth.

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