Stadium Network Architecture - The National Football League

Overview /Objective

The National Football League (NFL) is looking for a Senior Network Architect with a strong background in Wireless Design & Spectrum Analysis in the Stadium and Arena space to join an innovative team of solutions engineers and architects. The Senior Network Architect will be responsible for developing network architecture diagrams, defining technical requirements, and serving as the technical lead for football technology network infrastructure. We are looking for a candidate who can drive the implementation and maintenance of complex and specialized network services, ensuring the highest levels of reliability, performance, and uptime. 

The stadium senior network architect will act as a leader and hands on technical engineer for the Infrastructure Engineering Team across a wide range of areas including the production Football Technology Network, Stadium and Arena Wireless and DAS Design, NFL temporary Fan Event Setups, and more.  This is a hands-on Director level role.  

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and architecture of Football Technology network services considering performance, redundancy, scalability, and security.  
  • Document standards and guidelines for best practice stadium network, wireless, and DAS architecture as they align to industry standards and best practices. 
  • Develop and present comprehensive network design proposals to stakeholders, addressing business requirements and technical specifications.
  • Assist in the research, design and documentation for upgrades and adoption of new network technologies.
• Maintain and publish NFL Stadium DAS Guidelines 
  • Review and plan DAS updates for NFL Tentpole Events.
  • Lead audits of Cellular and DAS Performance around NFL stadiums to adhere to NFL guidelines.
  • Collaborate with Cellular Vendors on stadium enhancements, and testing.
• Responsible for the installation, operation, administration, and maintenance of wired and wireless networks at stadiums and corporate offices.
  • Provide dedicated support for on-site stadium network and Wi-Fi technicians during NFL game days throughout the NFL season.
  • Responsible for managing and maintaining network diagrams, configurations, support, and training documentation.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including operations, security, Events, and others to align network strategies with business goals.
  • Responds to technical escalations for wired and wireless service issues, working with product support teams, IT staff and business groups to ensure resolution.
  • Provide reports for network KPIs to show service levels, capacity analysis, performance, troubleshooting, and areas for improvement in network infrastructure.
  • Provide technical support to various activities and internal infrastructure within the company.
  • Responsible for effectively engaging with IT project management and reporting project status.
  • Establish and adhere to set project plans and release dates.
• Mentor and provide guidance to junior network engineers, sharing expertise and knowledge.
• Remain on the cutting edge by studying state-of-the-art network technologies, participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or related field preferred, with 10+ years of experience or equivalent military service.
• Extensive hands-on experience exceeding 10 years in network implementation, troubleshooting, and lifecycle maintenance, particularly in wireless networks.
• Demonstrated leadership with over 5 years in network architecture roles.
• Specialized experience of over 5 years in wireless design, implementation, and support for large networks, including spectrum analysis and stadium DAS design.
• Proficient in network administration, particularly Cisco products, with expertise in controllers, access points, routers, and switches.
• Advanced knowledge of networking protocols (TCP/IP, UDP, DHCP, DNS, STP, NAT, IPSEC, GRE, VPC/VSS, etc.)
• Advanced understanding of networking concepts and principles, including but not limited to routing static/dynamic (RIP, EIGRP, OSPF, & BGP) and multi-layer switching (standard and private VLANs, VTP, Spanning Tree, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications

• CCNP, CCIE, JNCIP, or equivalent preferred.
• Familiarity with Cisco Identity Services Engine and DNA.

Other Key Attributes / Characteristics

• Strong grasp of network best practices, security principles, design architecture, and analysis with use of tools such as Wireshark, etc.
• Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze and troubleshoot complex network issues. 
• Experience in troubleshooting networking device drivers and client system issues. 
• Experience in troubleshooting video and voice performance over wired and wireless networks. 
• Capability to research and evaluate new network technologies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Skilled in creating and updating detailed infrastructure topologies using MS Visio, Excel, and Word.

Physical Demands

• This role will require long periods of standing or walking and surveying stadiums and arenas. It will also require the racking of Network and Data Center Hardware.

Travel

• This role will require working weekends, holidays, shifts outside of normal business hours, and overtime. It will also require travel between offices domestically in NY, NJ, and CA, and stadiums throughout North America and Internationally for installations, maintenance, and support. 

Terms / Expected Hours of Work

• FSLA Exempt 
• This role will require working weekends, holidays, shifts outside of normal business hours, and overtime. It will also require travel between offices domestically in NY, NJ, and CA, and stadiums throughout North America and Internationally for installations, maintenance, and support. 

Salary / Pay Range

This job posting contains a pay range, which represents the range of salaries or hourly rates that the NFL believes, in good faith, at the time of this posting that it might be willing to pay for the posted job in the location(s) specified. The NFL expects to hire for this position near the middle of the range. Only in truly rare and exceptional circumstances, where an external candidate has experience, credentials or expertise that far exceed those required or expected for the position, would the NFL consider paying a salary or rate near the higher end of the range.