Information Technology Architect 2 (Network Solution)

Job description

Duties Description The New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) provides operational support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days of the year, supporting more than 4,900 applications for 53 New York State Agencies.

The New York State Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of Traffic Safety and Mobility (OTSM) and ITS are in year one of five years, implementing a Technology Plan designed to improve both safety and mobility by enhancing, streamlining, and improving resiliency of transportation system management and operations (TSMO) strategies.

The portfolio of work includes 29 overall projects that address governance, legacy technology replacement, and installation of proven technology innovations.

OTSM and ITS have established a joint Operational Technology Team (OT Team) to design, build, test and implement the portfolio of work and provide ongoing operational support of the portfolio.

Under the direction of the Director of IT/OT Convergence within Dedicated Support, Department of Transportation (DOT), the Information Technology Architect 2 (Network Solution) will be responsible for the design, implementation, maintenance, and security of network infrastructure supporting critical Operational Technology (OT) systems within the transportation environment.

This role demands a deep understanding of both IT and OT networking principles, cybersecurity best practices, and transportation safety regulations.

The Information Technology Architect 2 (Network Solution) will function as the technical lead on projects, mentor junior engineers, and serve as a subject matter expert on network-related issues impacting the safety, reliability, and efficiency of transportation operations.

Duties include, but are not limited to, the following:

Network Design and Implementation
• Design, configure, and implement robust and secure network architectures for OT systems, including SCADA, industrial control systems (ICS), and intelligent transportation systems (ITS).
• Develop network diagrams, documentation, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for OT network infrastructure.
• Select and evaluate network hardware and software solutions, ensuring compatibility with OT systems and adherence to industry standards.

Network Security
• Implement and maintain network security measures to protect OT systems from cyber threats, including firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), and network segmentation.
• Conduct regular security assessments and vulnerability scans of OT networks.
• Develop and implement security policies and procedures specific to OT environments, aligning with industry best practices (., NIST Cybersecurity Framework, ISA/IEC 62443).
• Respond to and investigate security incidents affecting OT networks.

Network Maintenance and Troubleshooting
• Monitor network performance and proactively identify and resolve network issues impacting OT systems.
• Perform routine maintenance tasks, including software updates, firmware upgrades, and configuration changes.
• Troubleshoot complex network problems, utilizing network analysis tools and techniques.
• Provide on-call support for critical network issues.

Transportation Safety and Compliance
• Ensure network infrastructure complies with relevant transportation safety regulations and standards (., FRA, FTA, DOT).
• Participate in safety audits and risk assessments related to OT network infrastructure.
• Implement and maintain network configurations that support failover and redundancy to ensure system availability in critical situations.

Project Leadership and Mentorship
• Lead network-related projects, including planning, execution, and documentation.
• Mentor junior network engineers, providing technical guidance and training.
• Collaborate with other IT and OT teams to ensure seamless integration of network infrastructure.
• Perform the full range of supervisory duties.

Documentation and Reporting
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date documentation of network configurations, diagrams, and procedures.
• Prepare reports on network performance, security incidents, and project status.

Emerging Technologies
• Stay abreast of emerging network technologies and trends, particularly those relevant to OT and transportation.
• Evaluate and recommend new technologies to improve network performance, security, and efficiency.

Minimum Qualifications EMPLOYMENT:
• Seven (7) years of broad information technology (IT) experience, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of network engineering, IT network project management, IT network architecture, network administration or other IT networking-related specialty and its application within large-scale organizations.
• Five (5) years of specialized experience in IT network engineering, with a focus on Operational Technology (OT) environments.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE SUBSTITUTIONS:
Earned college degrees in computer science, electrical engineering, information technology or a related field of study may substitute for the specified years of broad IT experience as follows:
• Bachelor's or higher-level degree in any field including or supplemented by 15 semester credit hours in computer science, electrical engineering, information technology, or related field substitutes for three (3) years of general information technology experience; any bachelor’s substitutes for two (2) years of general information technology experience.
• Associate degree with 15 semester credit hours in computer science, electrical engineering, information technology, or related field may substitute for one (1) year of general information technology experience.

Candidates in a bachelor’s degree program with at least 15 semester credit hours in computer science, electrical engineering, information technology, or related field may substitute such credits for one (1) year of general information technology experience.
• Master’s degree or higher in computer science, electrical engineering, information technology, or related field substitutes for one (1) year of general information technology experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Certifications
• Preference for candidates holding relevant IT networking industry certification, such as Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) or higher, Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Global Industrial Cyber Security Professional (GICSP), or other relevant certification in networking, security, or Operational Technology (OT).

Technical Skills
• Expert-level knowledge of networking protocols and technologies (., TCP/IP, Ethernet, VLANs, routing protocols, VPNs).
• Strong understanding of network security principles and best practices (., firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention, network segmentation).
• Experience with network monitoring and analysis tools (., Wireshark, SolarWinds, Nagios).
• Proficiency in configuring and managing network devices (., routers, switches, firewalls) from major vendors (., Cisco, Palo Alto).
• Familiarity with industrial control systems (ICS) and SCADA systems.
• Knowledge of wireless communication technologies (., Wi-Fi, cellular, radio).
• Experience with cloud networking technologies (., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) is a plus.
• Understanding of virtualization technologies (., VMware, Hyper-V).

Operational Technology (OT)-Specific Skills
• Knowledge of industrial networking protocols (., Modbus TCP, Profinet, DNP3, OPC UA).
• Understanding of OT network architectures and security considerations (., Purdue Model).
• Experience with OT security appliances and software (., industrial firewalls, intrusion detection systems).
• Familiarity with OT asset management and vulnerability management tools.
• Knowledge of real-time operating systems (RTOS) used in OT devices.
• Experience with PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and HMI (Human Machine Interface) systems.
• Understanding of SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems and their communication protocols.
• Experience with deploying and managing wireless networks in industrial environments.

Transportation Skills
• Understanding of intelligent transportation systems (ITS) architectures and technologies.
• Experience with transportation-specific communication protocols (., NTCIP).
• Knowledge of transportation safety regulations and standards (., FRA, FTA, DOT).
• Experience with video surveillance systems used in transportation environments.

Soft Skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and manage time effectively.
• Ability to communicate technical information to non-technical audiences.
• Strong leadership and mentoring skills.

PLEASE NOTE:
• Appointment to this position and continued employment with the agency is contingent upon obtaining and/or maintaining New York State residency within six months of hiring.


• Appointment to this position is not final until all agency approvals have been granted.

Required Skill Profession

Computer Occupations