Senior Platform Network Architect

Job Summary

The Senior Platform Network Architect/Engineer is responsible for the end-to-end design, architecture, and engineering of the Tier-1 customer platform—an industry-standard, multi-tenant, cloud-hosted ecosystem of virtualized network services with a global footprint. This role leads the technical definition and implementation of next-generation capabilities, ensuring high availability, resiliency, security hardening, and scalable connectivity (including high-speed interfaces up to 400G) across globally distributed Equinix POPs and interconnected networks.

The engineer will drive parallel-build and migration interoperability requirements between current platform iterations and the next-generation platform, while maintaining strict tenant isolation and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

Platform Architecture & Design

• Own the architecture and detailed design of the platform infrastructure and networking, including dual rack/dual rail design, high-speed leaf/spine switch fabric backplane, and flexible resiliency (local HA, geo-redundancy, regional failover, etc.).)
• Define and evolve this multi-tenant architecture ensuring data confidentiality/integrity and enforcing compute isolation requirements (e.g., no vCPU core thread sharing between customers).
• Lead next-generation platform design enhancements incorporating Dell CPU-based servers, Red Hat OpenStack and OpenShift, and SONiC Enterprise networking while incorporating novel compute (GPUs, DPUs, etc.) and networking capabilities to grow the overall platform repertoire.

Network Engineering, Connectivity & Resiliency

• Design and engineer WAN/management network reachability to ensure continuity during single and multiple network failures.
• Engineer redundant management access patterns (e.g., jump server connectivity) across platform sites using diverse paths such as AVPN, Teridion IPsec tunnels, and back-to-back links via third-party carriers (e.g., Zayo, Windstream, Zenlayer).
• Define and implement high-speed connectivity standards, including upstream/downstream connectivity up to 400G with support for sub-rate port speeds.
• Maintain and enhance geo-redundant node designs and HA patterns (logical pairs, local and geo-redundancy) aligned to contracted customer designs.

Platform Build, Parallel Deployment & Migration Interoperability

• Lead platform rollout as a full parallel build to existing platforms with no shared functions, ensuring clean separation of environments.
• Design and implement interoperability between platforms for migration purposes using cross-connects within each POP site as required.
• Support compute repurposing strategies for post-migration (e.g., repurposing eligible legacy compute into next-generation compute).

Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) & Service Enablement

• Architect platform capabilities to host Tier-1 customer endorsed/approved services (voice and data products such as AVPN, ADI, and other transport services).
• Ensure the platform can support VNFs such as virtual routers, firewalls, SBCs, and related network functions at scale.
• Contribute to simplified and scalable Layer 2/overlay designs (e.g., VXLAN-based approaches) and automation patterns that reduce manual configuration and improve consistency.

Security, Compliance & Hardening

• Ensure platform engineering aligns with Tier-1 customer ASPRR accreditation expectations, including robust hardening policies and procedures for production devices and servers.
• Partner with security stakeholders to ensure architecture supports confidentiality, integrity, and operational controls appropriate for a shared-hardware, multi-tenant cloud environment.

Operational Excellence & Documentation

• Produce high-quality architecture artifacts (HLD/LLD), standards, implementation guides, and operational runbooks.
• Provide technical leadership across engineering teams and vendors; drive design reviews, risk assessments, and implementation readiness.
• Participate in incident/problem management as a Tier 4 escalation point for complex platform/network issues impacting availability or reachability.
• • Contribute to select customer designs owned by dedicated teams (e.g.,. LCM, Consulting) requiring advanced networking, resiliency, and integration of partner ecosystem capabilities (e.g., Equinix Fabric).

Required Qualifications

• 8–12+ years of experience in network/platform engineering with significant responsibility for archit…