Senior Lead Consultant

Professional Summary

Accomplished Senior Lead Consultant with 10+ years of experience in IT Infrastructure and Enterprise Networking, including over 3 years in technical consulting and solution architecture. Demonstrated expertise in designing, deploying, and optimizing secure, scalable, high-performance network solutions across LAN/WAN, SD-WAN, Wireless, Data Center, and multi-cloud environments. Proven track record of driving end-to-end network solutioning, presales technical consulting, and successful project delivery for Fortune 500 clients. Adept at leading cross-functional teams, managing critical technical escalations, and engaging with CxO-level customer stakeholders to align IT solutions with business goals. Experienced in multi-vendor environments including Cisco, Palo Alto, Fortinet, Arista, and Juniper. Holds multiple industry certifications (CCNP, PCNSE, NSE, AWS/Azure). Recognized for technical leadership, customer engagement, and ability to deliver complex enterprise transformation initiatives.

Key Responsibilities & Achievements

Technical Leadership & Solution Architecture

• Led successful end-to-end network solution design and consulting engagements, delivering high-level and low-level architectures aligned with customer business and technical requirements.
• Developed scalable, secure, and high-performing network designs, incorporating industry best practices and operational standards.
• Provided architectural guidance across hybrid and multi-vendor environments (Cisco, Palo Alto, Arista, Juniper, Fortinet).
• Conducted technical workshops, POCs, and capability development sessions to drive network transformation and modernization.
• Evaluated emerging technologies and recommended adoption strategies, supporting ongoing innovation and optimization.
  
  

Customer Interaction & Strategic Advisory

• Served as the primary technical consultant and trusted advisor for enterprise customers, including direct engagement with customer leadership teams.
• Facilitated discovery sessions, architecture reviews, and technical presentations to identify gaps and drive continuous improvement.
• Managed high-priority escalations and critical customer issues, ensuring timely resolution and customer satisfaction.
• Built and maintained strong relationships with US and European customers, effectively navigating onsite-offshore delivery models.
  
  

Presales & Business Enablement

• Supported presales activities, including technical solutioning, RFP/RFI response, proposal preparation, and technical estimations.
• Collaborated with sales and account teams to identify new business opportunities and define project scopes.
• Assisted in project planning, resource estimation, and WBS preparation to ensure successful project initiation.
  
  

Project & Delivery Leadership

• Provided hands-on technical leadership during implementation and migration activities, ensuring adherence to quality standards and project timelines.
• Worked closely with project managers and cross-functional teams to drive successful delivery of complex networking projects.
• Identified project risks, dependencies, and developed mitigation strategies to ensure delivery excellence.
  
  

Core Technical Skills

• Enterprise Networking: LAN/WAN, SD-WAN, Wireless, Data Center, Cloud (AWS/Azure/GCP)
• Security: VPN, NAC, Firewall, Load Balancing, Hybrid Connectivity
• Network Monitoring, Troubleshooting, and Performance Optimization
• Cross-technology Integration and Automation
• Stakeholder Management and Reporting
  
  

Certifications

• CCNP Enterprise (Cisco)
• PCNSE (Palo Alto Networks)
• NSE (Fortinet)
• AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate / Azure Solutions Architect (preferred)
• ITIL Foundation
  
  

Key Vendor Experience: Cisco, Palo Alto, Arista, Juniper, Fortinet

Additional Skills: Virtualization, Monitoring, Security, IT Infrastructure Project Management