Network Architect Jobs in California
Network Architect jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in enterprise technology, cloud infrastructure, defense contracting, and financial services, with openings at every level from associate network engineer through principal architect. The largest hiring centers are San Jose, Los Angeles, and San Diego, where established employers such as Cisco, Northrop Grumman, and Wells Fargo maintain deep technical teams. Demand is strongest for architects with expertise in software-defined networking, cloud network design, and zero-trust security frameworks. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Lambda, The Superintelligence Cloud, is a leader in AI cloud infrastructure serving tens of thousands of customers. Our customers range from AI researchers to enterprises and hyperscalers. Lambda's mission is to make compute as ubiquitous as electricity and give everyone the power of superintelligence. One person, one GPU.
If you'd like to build the world's best AI cloud, join us.
- Note: This position requires presence in our San Jose or San Francisco office location 4 days per week; Lambda’s designated work from home day is currently Tuesday.
What You’ll Do
Architect high-performance networking solutions that power cloud platforms, with a focus on ultra-low-latency and high-bandwidth connectivity.
Define the network topology and architectural patterns for large-scale GPU clusters, storage backends, and multi-tenant environments.
Evaluate, benchmark, and select next-generation network technologies (e.g., InfiniBand NDR/XDR, RoCE, 400G-1.6T Ethernet, Ultra Ethernet, ESUN, OCI, etc) to meet AI workload requirements.
Develop and maintain network architecture standards, reference designs, and scalability roadmaps for multi-site and hybrid environments.
Partner with compute and storage architects to ensure seamless end-to-end data flow and fault tolerance.
Guide network automation strategies and tooling to enable efficient provisioning, telemetry, and operational visibility.
Mentor engineers and cross-functional teams on advanced network concepts, troubleshooting, and architectural best practices.
You
Proven experience (7+ years) architecting high-performance data center networks, preferably for HPC, AI/ML, or large-scale cloud infrastructure.
Deep expertise with InfiniBand (HDR/NDR) and advanced Ethernet fabrics, including RoCE and RDMA protocols.
Strong understanding of data center switching architectures, congestion control (PFC, ECN), QoS, and network virtualization technologies such as VXLAN and EVPN.
Skilled in designing for low-latency and high-throughput data paths, including GPU-to-GPU and storage traffic optimization.
Expertise with BGP-based fabric design, including eBGP underlays, MP-BGP EVPN, ECMP, route policy, and convergence.
Experience with SDN, APIs, automation, and network telemetry.
Strong optical networking competency, including transceiver technologies, fiber types and topologies, link budgets, breakout architectures, and WDM.
Experience building resilient, fault-tolerant high-performance network architectures with redundancy, failover, and high availability.
Excellent communication and leadership skills, capable of influencing technical decisions across diverse teams.
Strong ownership and can do attitude, self-starter who feels comfortable working in ambiguity.
Nice to Have
Hands-on experience with AI workload profiling, collective communication patterns (e.g., NCCL, MPI), and network tuning for distributed training.
Familiarity with network automation frameworks and telemetry tools.
Exposure to DPU/SmartNIC technologies, including NVIDIA BlueField, or similar.
Knowledge of large-scale, multi-site interconnect design, including DWDM or metro/long-haul networking.
Experience collaborating with hyperscale or enterprise customers on highly customized network designs.
Salary Range Information
The annual salary range for this position has been set based on market data and other factors. However, a salary higher or lower than this range may be appropriate for a candidate whose qualifications differ meaningfully from those listed in the job description.
About Lambda
Founded in 2012, with 500+ employees, and growing fast
Our investors notably include TWG Global, US Innovative Technology Fund (USIT), Andra Capital, SGW, Andrej Karpathy, ARK Invest, Fincadia Advisors, G Squared, In-Q-Tel (IQT), KHK & Partners, NVIDIA, Pegatron, Supermicro, Wistron, Wiwynn, Gradient Ventures, Mercato Partners, SVB, 1517, and Crescent Cove
We have research papers accepted at top machine learning and graphics conferences, including NeurIPS, ICCV, SIGGRAPH, and TOG
Our values are publicly available: https://lambda.ai/careers
We offer generous cash & equity compensation
Health, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents
Wellness and commuter stipends for select roles
401k Plan with 2% company match (USA employees)
Flexible paid time off plan that we all actually use
Equal Opportunity Employer
Lambda is an Equal Opportunity employer. Applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, sex, gender, marital status, sexual orientation and identity, genetic information, veteran status, citizenship, or any other factors prohibited by local, state, or federal law.
Compensation Range: $315K - $420K
Lambda, The Superintelligence Cloud, is a leader in AI cloud infrastructure serving tens of thousands of customers. Our customers range from AI researchers to enterprises and hyperscalers. Lambda's mission is to make compute as ubiquitous as electricity and give everyone the power of superintelligence. One person, one GPU.
If you'd like to build the world's best AI cloud, join us.
- Note: This position requires presence in our San Jose or San Francisco office location 4 days per week; Lambda’s designated work from home day is currently Tuesday.
What You’ll Do
Architect high-performance networking solutions that power cloud platforms, with a focus on ultra-low-latency and high-bandwidth connectivity.
Define the network topology and architectural patterns for large-scale GPU clusters, storage backends, and multi-tenant environments.
Evaluate, benchmark, and select next-generation network technologies (e.g., InfiniBand NDR/XDR, RoCE, 400G-1.6T Ethernet, Ultra Ethernet, ESUN, OCI, etc) to meet AI workload requirements.
Develop and maintain network architecture standards, reference designs, and scalability roadmaps for multi-site and hybrid environments.
Partner with compute and storage architects to ensure seamless end-to-end data flow and fault tolerance.
Guide network automation strategies and tooling to enable efficient provisioning, telemetry, and operational visibility.
Mentor engineers and cross-functional teams on advanced network concepts, troubleshooting, and architectural best practices.
You
Proven experience (7+ years) architecting high-performance data center networks, preferably for HPC, AI/ML, or large-scale cloud infrastructure.
Deep expertise with InfiniBand (HDR/NDR) and advanced Ethernet fabrics, including RoCE and RDMA protocols.
Strong understanding of data center switching architectures, congestion control (PFC, ECN), QoS, and network virtualization technologies such as VXLAN and EVPN.
Skilled in designing for low-latency and high-throughput data paths, including GPU-to-GPU and storage traffic optimization.
Expertise with BGP-based fabric design, including eBGP underlays, MP-BGP EVPN, ECMP, route policy, and convergence.
Experience with SDN, APIs, automation, and network telemetry.
Strong optical networking competency, including transceiver technologies, fiber types and topologies, link budgets, breakout architectures, and WDM.
Experience building resilient, fault-tolerant high-performance network architectures with redundancy, failover, and high availability.
Excellent communication and leadership skills, capable of influencing technical decisions across diverse teams.
Strong ownership and can do attitude, self-starter who feels comfortable working in ambiguity.
Nice to Have
Hands-on experience with AI workload profiling, collective communication patterns (e.g., NCCL, MPI), and network tuning for distributed training.
Familiarity with network automation frameworks and telemetry tools.
Exposure to DPU/SmartNIC technologies, including NVIDIA BlueField, or similar.
Knowledge of large-scale, multi-site interconnect design, including DWDM or metro/long-haul networking.
Experience collaborating with hyperscale or enterprise customers on highly customized network designs.
Salary Range Information
The annual salary range for this position has been set based on market data and other factors. However, a salary higher or lower than this range may be appropriate for a candidate whose qualifications differ meaningfully from those listed in the job description.
About Lambda
Founded in 2012, with 500+ employees, and growing fast
Our investors notably include TWG Global, US Innovative Technology Fund (USIT), Andra Capital, SGW, Andrej Karpathy, ARK Invest, Fincadia Advisors, G Squared, In-Q-Tel (IQT), KHK & Partners, NVIDIA, Pegatron, Supermicro, Wistron, Wiwynn, Gradient Ventures, Mercato Partners, SVB, 1517, and Crescent Cove
We have research papers accepted at top machine learning and graphics conferences, including NeurIPS, ICCV, SIGGRAPH, and TOG
Our values are publicly available: https://lambda.ai/careers
We offer generous cash & equity compensation
Health, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents
Wellness and commuter stipends for select roles
401k Plan with 2% company match (USA employees)
Flexible paid time off plan that we all actually use
Equal Opportunity Employer
Lambda is an Equal Opportunity employer. Applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, sex, gender, marital status, sexual orientation and identity, genetic information, veteran status, citizenship, or any other factors prohibited by local, state, or federal law.
Compensation Range: $315K - $420K
See All 21 Network Architect Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Network Architect JobsNetwork Architect Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Network Architect Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software
- Electronics & Hardware
- Science & Research
- Law & Legal Services
- Banking & Financial Services
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in network architect jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or a related engineering field
- CCIE, CCNP, or equivalent vendor-neutral certification such as JNCIE or CISSP
- Hands-on experience designing and implementing large-scale enterprise or data center networks
- Proficiency with SD-WAN, BGP routing protocols, and cloud network platforms including AWS and Azure
- Experience producing network architecture documentation, diagrams, and capacity planning models
- Familiarity with California regulatory and security frameworks including CCPA data handling requirements
Network Architect Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a network architect in California?
Network architecture has no California state license requirement, so the path runs through education and industry credentials. Most California employers expect a bachelor's degree in computer science, information technology, or electrical engineering, followed by hands-on network engineering experience before moving into an architect role. Earning a Cisco CCIE or CCNP, or a vendor-neutral credential from CompTIA or ISACA, is the clearest way to qualify for senior architect openings at California's enterprise and government contractors.
How much do network architects make in California?
Network architects in California earn a median of about $158,870 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $97,070 for the lowest 10% to over $224,930 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire network architects in California?
Employers hiring network architects in California right now include Apple, NVIDIA, and NTT DATA, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of technology headquarters, defense prime contractors, and large financial institutions means demand for architects is distributed across multiple industries rather than a single sector.
Which California cities have the most network architect jobs?
Santa Clara, San Jose, and San Diego account for the most network architect openings in California. San Jose anchors hiring because of the density of technology company headquarters and hyperscale data centers in Silicon Valley, while Los Angeles draws openings from entertainment, aerospace, and financial firms, and San Diego reflects strong demand from defense contractors and biotech campuses in the region.
Are there remote network architect jobs in California?
Yes, and more than many technical roles, because architecture work centers on design, documentation, and vendor coordination rather than physical hardware installation. About 31% of network architect openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how much of the work can be done off-site. The hands-on implementation and data center audit portions of the role are the most likely to require an in-person presence.
How can I get hired as a network architect in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a network engineer or network analyst role first and building toward architecture from there. California's large technology employers, defense contractors such as Northrop Grumman and Leidos, and county and state government IT departments hire associate network engineers as a stepping stone. Earning a CCNA or CompTIA Network+ credential before applying distinguishes candidates without a lengthy work history, and roles in network operations centers at California-based managed service providers offer direct exposure to the architecture decisions that lead to the senior title.
Where can I find and apply to network architect jobs in California?
You can find and apply to network architect jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated in real time. Find a role that fits and apply directly from the listing.
See All 21 Network Architect Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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