Network Architect

This is a Cactus Wellhead position and is located in Houston, TX.

Hybrid schedule: 4 days in office; 1 day working from home

Job Summary: The Network Architect is a technical individual contributor who defines the architecture and technical direction of Cactus Companies’ enterprise networks across offices, data centers, cloud environments, manufacturing plants, and remote field locations. This hands-on role leads complex network design and deployment, sets standards, and guides engineers through implementation and the transition to operations. Key priorities are SD-WAN, multicloud routing, network fabric, network automation, and secure IT/OT connectivity.

Essential Functions, Roles, and Responsibilities: Essential duties and responsibilities include the following:

• Own enterprise network architecture, reference designs, standards, and roadmaps for LAN, WAN, wireless, data center, cloud, and remote-site connectivity.
• Design resilient routing and switching architectures using BGP, OSPF, VLANs, VRFs, route filtering, and redundant paths.
• Design, deploy, and support network switching fabric, including topology, segmentation, service provisioning, resiliency, and routed-network integration.
• Lead SD-WAN architecture and multisite implementation, including underlay and overlay design, application-aware routing, QoS, secure internet access, and carrier failover.
• Design hybrid and multi cloud connectivity across at least two cloud platforms, including transit networks, private connections, VPNs, route propagation, and secure routing boundaries.
• Develop network automation using Ansible, Terraform, APIs, and version-controlled templates for provisioning, configuration management, validation, and repeatable deployments.
• Lead network design reviews, proof-of-concept testing, migration planning, implementation, acceptance testing, and rollback preparation.
• Partner with Cybersecurity on segmentation, firewalls, secure remote access, vulnerability remediation, and incident response.
• Collaborate with manufacturing controls engineers to define IT/OT boundaries, approved traffic flows, and safe change windows that protect production availability.
• Evaluate technology platforms, carriers, and vendors for reliability, scalability, security, performance, and cost.
• Maintain network diagrams, routing standards, IP plans, configuration baselines, architecture decisions, and operational documentation.
• Provide technical leadership and mentorship to network engineers and vendors; troubleshoot complex issues and lead root-cause analysis.
• Participate in change governance, scheduled maintenance, and an on-call rotation as needed.

Education, Training, Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• 10+ years of progressive network engineering experience, including at least 3 years leading architecture, design, or complex implementations.
• Strong hands-on routing and switching expertise, including BGP and OSPF.
• Proven experience designing and implementing SD-WAN in distributed, multisite enterprise environments.
• Experience designing hybrid and multi cloud connectivity across at least two cloud platforms, including transit routing, VPNs, and private connections.
• Practical experience with Ansible, Terraform, or comparable network automation tools, including version control and change validation.
• General knowledge of OT segmentation and the safety, uptime, and change-control needs of industrial environments.

Certifications, Licenses, Registrations:

• CCNP Enterprise, CCIE Enterprise Infrastructure, or an equivalent advanced networking certification.
• AWS Certified Advanced Networking, Microsoft Certified: Azure Network Engineer Associate, or comparable cloud networking certification.
• Relevant SD-WAN, Terraform, or network automation certifications.

Job Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Ability to translate business needs into practical network architecture, standards, and phased delivery plans.
• Advanced understanding of SD-WAN, BGP, OSPF, routing policies, resiliency, segmentation, and network security.
• Knowledge of cloud-native networking across Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud and integration with on-premises environments.
• Python scripting, API integration, or CI/CD experience for network automation is preferred.
• Experience in oil and gas, energy, or heavy manufacturing is preferred.
• Familiarity with the Purdue Model, ISA/IEC 62443, NIST SP 800-82, and industrial network security is beneficial.
• Strong collaboration, documentation, communication, problem-solving, and technical mentoring skills.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This role has no supervisory responsibilities.

Disclaimer: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this position. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Cactus Companies is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Safety is our top priority. All employees must comply with our comprehensive safety programs, participate in required safety training, and demonstrate commitment to our safety-first culture. This position may require working in potentially hazardous environments if you are traveling to a branch or plant location. Ensure that you follow all safety guidelines that are required when working in the field, branch or manufacturing facility.

This position generally operates in a professional office environment. The role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Sit for extended periods at a desk and work on a computer
• Use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls
• Reach with hands and arms
• Talk and hear
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• Walk or stand periodically throughout the day
• Maintain sustained concentration on computer screens
• Work under deadlines with frequent interruptions

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Cactus Companies maintains a drug-free workplace. We participate in E-Verify.