Architect-Network Engineer

Lifepoint Health has an opportunity for an Architect-Network Engineer!

You must be authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.

Location: Remote

Travel: Travel up to 25% (To facilities)

Job Summary

The Network Security Architect is responsible for responsible for the enterprise architecture, design, and technical direction of Lifepoint Health’s network infrastructure across routing, switching, wireless, SD-WAN, data center, and cloud connectivity in a large, distributed healthcare environment. This role is within the Network Engineering team, who has responsibility for translating business, clinical, and security requirements into scalable, resilient, and supportable network solutions.

The architect develops and maintains network design standards, reference architectures, and technology roadmaps; leads design and pilot efforts for new and emerging technologies; and provides technical leadership, mentoring, and escalation support from other network teams. Working across Network Services, Network Security, Infrastructure, Cybersecurity, application teams, and vendor partners, this role ensures solutions align with the overall IT infrastructure roadmap and are delivered in partnership with Network Services for ongoing operational support.

The position serves as a subject matter expert and trusted advisor to IT leadership, presenting solutions, diagrams, and cost analyses appropriate to technical, executive, and financial audiences.

Essential Functions

Architecture & Design

• Leads network architecture, planning, design, and engineering efforts across routing, switching, wireless, SD-WAN, data center, and cloud connectivity, ensuring solutions are scalable, resilient, and aligned with the overall IT infrastructure roadmap and business needs.
• Designs, pilots, and validates network solutions and new technologies, and supports their implementation with Network Engineering, Network Services, and other IT teams.
• Evaluates emerging technologies and recommends adoption as they relate to the organization’s network strategy, including supporting business cases and cost analysis.

Standards and Governance

• Works with management to develop, communicate, implement, and maintain network design policies, standards, reference architectures, and procedures.
• Ensures consistent design documentation and diagram standards, including high-level diagrams for IT leadership and low-level diagrams for engineering teams.
• Participates in lifecycle and standardization planning for network hardware, software, and licensing to maintain supportability and reduce risk.

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

• Collaborates with Network Services, Network Security, infrastructure, cybersecurity, and application teams to gain input and consensus and to deliver secure, compliant network solutions.
• Builds and maintains relationships with the user community, remote IT staff, infrastructure teams, and vendors to understand business and clinical needs related to the design of new networking technologies.
• Leads virtual whiteboard and design review sessions describing current state and solution options for given use cases.
• Presents solutions in the format appropriate for the audience, including cost analysis for financial teams.

Technical Leadership and Support

• Supports department staff in the analysis, resolution, and documentation of network issues; analyzes and resolves complex errors escalated by Tier 1 & Tier 2 teams.
• Participates in major incident response and root cause analysis, and recommends design changes that prevent recurrence.
• Coaches, mentors, and provides feedback to less experienced team members regarding departmental procedures, policies, and standards that pertain to Network Engineering.
• Continually enhances knowledge of network architecture, emerging technologies, and company standards to support departmental objectives and professional growth.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, or a related technical field, or equivalent technical experience.
• One or more intermediate to advanced industry-recognized certifications preferred, such as Cisco CCNP/CCIE, Aruba ACMP/ACMX, Palo Alto Prisma SD-WAN, Arista ACE, Fortinet NSE, or CompTIA Network+. Current or previously held certifications are acceptable.

Experience

• Minimum of ten (10) years of experience as a Network Engineer in a large-scale inter-network environment with proven complex network design experience.
• Demonstrated experience developing network design standards, leading technical design initiatives, and delivering infrastructure projects at enterprise scale.
• Additional experience with SD-WAN solutions such as Palo Alto Prisma SD-WAN, Viptela, Fortinet, or Meraki preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Established expertise with enterprise network technologies, including configuration of Aruba, Arista, Cisco IOS, Meraki, and Fortinet equipment.
• Expertise in LAN/WAN design, wireless architectures (802.11), and data center networking, including Ethernet topologies and network segmentation.
• Expertise in routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, EIGRP, static routes) and SD-WAN policy design with Palo Alto Prisma SD-WAN, Viptela, Fortinet, or other SD-WAN solutions.
• Knowledge of firewall platforms, and of network security integration.
• Knowledge of telecom services (MPLS, broadband, DIA) and of Azure and Google Cloud connectivity.
• Experience with network management and observability platforms such as LogicMonitor, Aruba Central, Meraki Dashboard, and Prisma SASE/Strata Cloud Manager.
• Working knowledge of network automation, scripting, and modern productivity tools to improve engineering efficiency and reduce manual effort.
• Skilled in protocol analysis and problem determination.
• Ability to manage projects, ensuring projects are clearly defined, systematically executed, and results oriented, in adherence with project management best practices, processes, and standards.
• Established skills to coach and mentor less experienced Network Engineers.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate technical information to technical and non-technical audiences, including executive leadership.
• Ability to work independently and in a cross-functional team, providing appropriate and timely feedback to senior team members and management as required.

Organizational Expectations

• Maintains compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and supports hospital and department policies, procedures, and standards.
• Consistently supports the mission, vision, values, and goals of the hospital and Lifepoint Health.
• Acts in a positive, proactive, and professional manner when interacting with employees, leaders, physicians, patients, visitors, and community partners.
• Maintains confidentiality, complies with HIPAA requirements, and handles sensitive business and patient information appropriately.
• Demonstrates accountability for workplace safety and completes assigned education, training, and mandatory requirements in a timely manner.
• Maintains required licensure, certification, and professional credentials, if applicable, in good standing.

Work Environment

• Remote based position
• Business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (40 hours weekly)- schedules may vary based on business necessity
• Well-lit, ventilated, and climate-controlled office and hospital environments with routine office equipment. In hospital settings, the individual may be exposed to hazards and unusual elements that require appropriate safety precautions.
• Travel up to 25% as required for business needs, including potential overnight travel by land and/or air.

EEOC Statement

“Lifepoint Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Lifepoint Health is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity for all applicants and employees and complies with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment in employment.”

Lifepoint Health is a leader in community-based care and driven by a mission of Making Communities Healthier. Our diversified healthcare delivery network spans 29 states and includes 63 community hospital campuses, 32 rehabilitation and behavioral health hospitals, and more than 170 additional sites of care across the healthcare continuum, such as acute rehabilitation units, outpatient centers and post-acute care facilities. We believe that success is achieved through talented people. We want to create places where employees want to work, with opportunities to pursue meaningful and satisfying careers that truly make a difference in communities across the country. We employ and provide care to people from all walks of life. We are committed to promoting healing, providing hope, preserving dignity and producing value with an inclusive workforce in which diversity is leveraged, respected, and reflective of the patients, family members, customers and team members we serve.