How to hire a senior network architect

How to hire a senior network architect, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior network architect hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior network architect job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior network architect
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a senior network architect do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the senior network architect you need to hire. Certain senior network architect roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A senior network architect's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior network architects from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list shows salaries for various types of senior network architects.

   Type of Senior Network Architect	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Network Architect	Computer networks are critical parts of almost every organization. Network and computer systems administrators are responsible for the day-to-day operation of these networks.	$39-75
   Information Technology Administrator	An Information Technology (IT) administrator is a professional responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of an organization's IT systems and ensuring that the systems are running effectively. IT administrators must conduct consistent analyses of the computer system and install updates when needed... Show more	$24-50
   Administrator	Administrators are administrative professionals who oversee the whole office or department. They manage office activities and supervise administrative functions in the office... Show more	$22-54

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Cloud
   • Azure
   • OSPF
   • EIGRP
   • Emerging Technologies
   • VMware
   • IPv6
   • Firewall
   • Enterprise Architecture
   • Virtualization
   • Switches
   • Leveraged
   • Nexus
   • Network Architecture

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Control fully mesh MPLS network and relationship with manage services tie to the service.
   • Experience implementing and managing Cisco power networks, including QOS, IBGP and BGP.
   • Manage all application network impact studies, high availability needs and QoS traffic controls.
   • Manage Visio drawing for Aviva HQ as well as Aviva data center and remote branches.
   • Configure, install and manage enterprise network infrastructure (various Cisco routers switches, IPS and ASA firewalls).
   • Redesign and modernize the campus infrastructure as well manage and maintain the current LAN while implementing the new network.

   More senior network architect duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior network architect job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A senior network architect salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, senior network architects' average salary in alaska is 43% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior network architects earn 48% less than senior-level senior network architects.
   • Certifications. A senior network architect with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a senior network architect's salary.

   Average senior network architect salary

   $114,322yearly

   $54.96 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior network architect salary

   $82,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 20, 2026

   Average senior network architect salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$157,227	$76
   2	Massachusetts	$108,894	$52
   3	Michigan	$108,829	$52
   4	Delaware	$108,606	$52
   5	New Hampshire	$107,244	$52
   6	Arizona	$105,260	$51
   7	Pennsylvania	$105,224	$51
   8	Texas	$103,755	$50
   9	New York	$103,258	$50
   10	New Jersey	$103,045	$50
   11	Illinois	$101,144	$49
   12	Georgia	$101,062	$49
   13	Virginia	$99,605	$48
   14	Maryland	$98,938	$48
   15	Colorado	$97,809	$47
   16	North Carolina	$95,314	$46
   17	Tennessee	$94,145	$45
   18	District of Columbia	$93,183	$45
   19	Mississippi	$92,623	$45
   20	Arkansas	$92,402	$44

   Average senior network architect salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	NVIDIA	$172,799	$83.08	228
   2	Palo Alto Networks	$158,939	$76.41	33
   3	Bloomberg	$153,556	$73.83	15
   4	Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group	$149,339	$71.80
   5	Fairview Health Services	$148,013	$71.16	2
   6	Amazon	$147,674	$71.00	401
   7	Everstream	$140,951	$67.76	4
   8	Arch Capital Group	$134,347	$64.59	11
   9	ZTE USA	$134,247	$64.54
   10	Insight Enterprises	$133,578	$64.22	8
   11	Equinix	$131,389	$63.17	3
   12	Broadridge	$130,886	$62.93	22
   13	Versa Networks	$130,082	$62.54	3
   14	NIO	$129,505	$62.26
   15	Tri-State G&T	$128,856	$61.95	2
   16	Ernst & Young	$128,775	$61.91	665
   17	Randstad North America, Inc.	$128,474	$61.77	14
   18	Spirent Communications	$127,402	$61.25
   19	NTT Europe Ltd	$127,146	$61.13	190
   20	Management Recruiters International(MRI)	$126,760	$60.94	8

4. Writing a senior network architect job description

   A senior network architect job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a senior network architect job description:

   Senior network architect job description example

   In this product-centric model, the Senior Cloud Network Product Architect is a strategic role that directly collaborates with the Product Owners, Engineering Leads and other key partners to define a target state and technical roadmap for the product including its end-to-end architecture while ensuring adherence to standards and strategic initiatives. You'll be able to innovate in collaboration with technologists across JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s Global Technology community, as well as in partnership with of the most important tech firms in the world. In this role, you will always have interesting, fascinating work and be part of a great team.
   
   Working as an Architect, your passion for technology and thirst for innovation will help shape the future of global digital commerce, now and for years to come. Every day, you'll bring critical day-to-day leadership and thinking to the table, working with teams of architects, aligning cross-functional projects, ensuring that they're within reason, fiscally and technically. You'll collaborate with internal teams and business leaders alike, creating strategically sound Target State Architectures. You'll have a major say in budgeting, hiring, mentoring, setting priorities and fostering a client-centric environment where everyone learns and grows. At the end of the day, your work will have tremendous and positive impact, whether it's in-house, in collaboration with technologists across JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s global technology community or in partnership with some of the most important tech firms in the world.
   This role requires a wide variety of strengths and capabilities, including:
   BS/BA degree or equivalent experience Expertise in application, data, and infrastructure architecture disciplines Experience with AWS and its network services Fluency in architecture and design across all systems Knowledge in at least one area of technical architecture Strategic thinking and passion for business strategy and business processes Experience in risk and risk control compliance Ability to work collaboratively in teams and develop meaningful relationships to achieve common goals Participating in major technical decisions, developing technical proposals that consider the alternatives and business case Possessing and maintaining a strong working knowledge of multi-platform technical environments Serve as a leader, consultant, or mentor in technical architecture areas of expertise to staff throughout the product teams Have a broad expertise in application, data and infrastructure architecture disciplines Strong understanding of network technology and infrastructure Excellent interpersonal and written/oral communication skills, including ability to negotiate compromise and demonstrate diplomacy Influencing skills that can create a culture of change, excellence and innovation Providing strategic and tactical direction to the product teams Understanding of industry wide technology strategies and best practices
   Global Technology's Network Product-Line provides connectivity to ensure that all people and devices connect together smoothly, enabling transport and sharing of data. We are a team of innovators who love technology as much as you do. Together, you'll use a disciplined, innovative and business focused approach to create a wide variety of high-quality products and solutions. You'll work in a stable, resilient and secure environment where you-and the products you deliver-will thrive. We are aggressively pursuing a product-centric architecture, delivered with modern practices and continuous, automated, measured value. Working as an Architect, your passion for technology and thirst for innovation will help shape the future of global digital commerce, now and for years to come.
   
   In this product-centric model, the Network Cloud Product Architect is a strategic role that directly collaborates with the Product Owners, Engineering Leads and other key partners to define a target state and technical roadmap for the product including its end-to-end architecture while ensuring adherence to standards and strategic initiatives. You'll be able to innovate in collaboration with technologists across JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s Global Technology community, as well as in partnership with of the most important tech firms in the world. In this role, you will always have interesting, fascinating work and be part of a great team.
   
   "High Risk Roles (HRR) are sensitive roles within the technology organization that require high assurance of the integrity of staff by virtue of 1) sensitive cybersecurity and technology functions they perform within systems or 2) information they receive regarding sensitive cybersecurity or technology matters. Users in these roles are subject to enhanced pre-hire screening which includes both criminal and credit background checks (as allowed by law). The enhanced screening will need to be successfully completed prior to commencing employment or assignment.\"
   
   JPMorgan Chase & Co., one of the oldest financial institutions, offers innovative financial solutions to millions of consumers, small businesses and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Our history spans over 200 years and today we are a leader in investment banking, consumer and small business banking, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management.
   
   We recognize that our people are our strength and the diverse talents they bring to our global workforce are directly linked to our success. We are an equal opportunity employer and place a high value on diversity and inclusion at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs.
   
   The health and safety of our colleagues, candidates, clients and communities has been a top priority in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. JPMorgan Chase was awarded the "WELL Health-Safety Rating" for all of our 6,200 locations globally based on our operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans to address a post-COVID-19 environment.
   
   As a part of our commitment to health and safety, we have implemented various COVID-related health and safety requirements for our workforce. Employees are expected to follow the Firm's current COVID-19 or other infectious disease health and safety requirements, including local requirements. Requirements include sharing information including your vaccine card in the firm's vaccine record tool, and may include mask wearing. Requirements may change in the future with the evolving public health landscape. JPMorgan Chase will consider accommodation requests as required by applicable law.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veterans

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right senior network architect for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior network architect job on Zippia to find and recruit senior network architect candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as dice, engineering.com, stack overflow, it job pro.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting senior network architects requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   While interviews are great, you will only sometimes learn enough from a conversation with a senior network architect applicant. In those cases, having candidates complete a test project can go a long way in figuring out who's the most likely to succeed in the role. If you aren't a technical person and don't know how to design an appropriate test, you can ask someone else on the team to create it or take a look at these websites to get a few ideas:

   • TestDome
   • CodeSignal
   • Testlify
   • BarRaiser
   • Coderbyte

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior network architect

   Once you've decided on a perfect senior network architect candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new senior network architect. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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