Senior Network Architect

Function

Information technology

Facility

Head Office, Dunkeld

Position

Senior Network Architect

Introduction

A vacancy exists for a Senior Network Architect, based at Life Healthcare Head Office in Dunkeld, reporting to the Enterprise Architect, IT. The Senior Network Architect’s role is to develop and maintain the high-level design plan for the overall logical and technical network architecture. This individual will provide technical leadership and consulting across the organization, from strategic decision making down to the project planning level. The Network Architect will gain organizational commitment for all high-level network infrastructure plans and initiate and participate in projects to evaluate technologies and methods for implementing these plans. Furthermore, the Senior Network Architect provides technology guidance, road maps, principles, standards, and best practices.

Critical Outputs

• Design and implement short- and long-term strategic plans to make certain network capacity meets existing and future requirements to effectively support the corporate business strategy.
• Supports the other architectural disciplines and champions’ architectural initiatives.
• Develop and deploy methodologies for testing network performance and providing network performance statistics and reports.
• Document the company’s existing network architecture and technology portfolio; make recommendations for improvements and/or alternatives.
• Provide architectural consulting expertise, direction, and assistance to Network Analysts, Network Engineers, Network Administrators, and other Network Architects.
• Conduct research on emerging technologies in support of network development efforts and recommend technologies that will increase cost effectiveness and network flexibility.
• Develop, document, make recommendations, and communicate plans for investing in network technologies, including analysis of cost reduction opportunities.
• Participate in the development of network strategies in collaboration with the executive team.
• Conduct research and make recommendations on products, services, protocols, and standards in support of all network procurement and development efforts.
• Create and maintain documentation as it relates to network configuration, network mapping, processes, and service records.
• Plan and document firewall rules to support the solutions to be deployed into the organization.
• Build relationships with vendors of network infrastructure deployed in the organization’s IT environment to learn about and provide feedback on their technical capabilities.
• Works on highly complex projects that require in-depth knowledge across multiple specialized architecture domains, including business capability modeling, application architecture, data and information architecture and infrastructure architecture.
• Advice on options, risks, costs versus benefits, system impacts, and technology priorities.
• Participate in solution evaluation and selection, buy vs. build decisions, and early-phase project estimates which contribute to the business case and reevaluate benefits realisation as required.
• Design company LANs, WANs, VMs, virtual networks, and wireless networks, including servers, routers, hubs, switches, UPSs, and other devices.
• Interact and negotiate with vendors, outsourcers, and contractors to secure network products and services.
• Development and governance of the technology roadmap for the organization.
• Develop prototypes with the Product Team to evaluate solution options.
• Make recommendations for target architecture, architecture strategy and vision as well as process changes, and gains acceptance and buy-in for them.
• Ensure that appropriate architecture patterns and practices are applied to design, including security considerations.

Requirements

Formal Education

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, information systems, computer engineering, system analysis, or a related field, or equivalent of 10 years work experience.
• Certification in one of the following: CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, Cisco Certified Design Expert (CCDE), Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) Enterprise, Cisco Meraki Solutions Specialist (CMSS), Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate (AZ-700) 

Knowledge and Experience

• 10 or more years’ experience designing enterprise-wide LANs, WANs, WLANs, SD-WAN, VPNs, VMs, virtual networks, etc.
• Cisco Meraki and Fortinet (Preferred)
• Excellent knowledge of current protocols and standards, including TCP/IP, HTTP, FTP, SMTP, UDP, DNS, DHCP, SD-WAN, IEEE 802.1Q
• Knowledge and understanding of system flow charts, traffic flow, and data processing concepts.
• Proven experience with network capacity planning, network security principles, and general network management best practices.
• Familiarity with the software development lifecycle.
• Awareness of end-user computing and collaborative technologies.
• Large-scale distributed systems architecture.
• of hospital industry and practices
• Computer proficiency

Competencies

• Ability to exercise independent judgment and take action on it.
• Exceptional analytical, conceptual, and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent architecture and technical support documentation skills.
• Ability to present ideas in user-friendly language.
• Ability to conduct research into emerging technologies and trends, standards and products as required.
• Strong presentation and interpersonal skills
• Logical and efficient, with keen attention to detail.
• Highly self-motivated and directed.
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks while under pressure.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Experience working in a team-oriented, collaborative environment.
• Knowledge of applicable data privacy practices and laws.

Email

Careers@lifehealthcare.co.za

Closing date

Tuesday, October 7, 2025