Senior F5 SME / Architect

Job Title: Senior F5 SME / ArchitectLocation: Miami, FloridaEmployment Type: ContractExperience Level: Senior / Subject Matter Expert

Read the overview of this opportunity to understand what skills, including and relevant soft skills and software package proficiencies, are required.
Position OverviewWe are seeking an experienced Senior F5 SME / Architect to lead the design, planning, and execution of enterprise-scale F5 BIG-IP infrastructure refresh and migration initiatives. The ideal candidate will have deep technical expertise in F5 technologies, a proven track record of delivering complex infrastructure migrations, and the ability to lead technical teams through implementation, cutover, and rollback activities.
This role requires a hands-on technical leader who can define the target architecture, develop migration strategies, mitigate implementation risks, and resolve complex technical issues while ensuring minimal disruption to business-critical applications and services.
Key ResponsibilitiesArchitecture and Design: Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of F5 BIG-IP solutions supporting enterprise application delivery, load balancing, and network traffic management.Hardware Refresh: Lead complex F5 BIG-IP hardware refresh projects, including infrastructure assessment, capacity planning, platform sizing, configuration migration, and validation.Migration Strategy: Develop and own end-to-end migration strategies, including current-state assessments, target-state architecture, migration sequencing, dependencies, and risk mitigation.Implementation Planning: Develop detailed implementation plans, migration runbooks, maintenance windows, and technical execution procedures.Cutover and Rollback: Design and lead production cutovers, validation activities, contingency planning, and rollback procedures to minimize downtime and service disruption.Technical Leadership: Serve as the primary F5 Subject Matter Expert, providing architectural guidance and technical direction to engineering, network, security, infrastructure, and application teams.Complex Troubleshooting: Diagnose and resolve complex F5 BIG-IP issues involving traffic flows, load balancing, application connectivity, SSL/TLS, high availability, and performance.Risk and Change Management: Identify technical risks, document dependencies, support change approvals, and ensure appropriate implementation and recovery plans are in place.Testing and Validation: Define and oversee pre-migration testing, post-migration validation, application connectivity checks, failover testing, and performance verification.Documentation and Knowledge Transfer: Produce architecture diagrams, configuration documentation, migration plans, implementation records, and operational handover materials.Project Coordination: Collaborate with project managers, infrastructure teams, vendors, and business stakeholders to ensure successful delivery within agreed timelines and technical requirements.
Required QualificationsExtensive hands-on experience with F5 BIG-IP platforms in large, complex enterprise environments.Proven experience leading F5 hardware refreshes, platform migrations, and infrastructure modernization initiatives.Strong knowledge of F5 BIG-IP LTM (Local Traffic Manager) and associated application delivery technologies.Experience with virtual servers, pools, pool members, monitors, persistence profiles, iRules, and traffic policies.Strong understanding of TCP/IP, routing, switching, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, SSL/TLS, and application networking.Experience with high-availability configurations, failover, redundancy, and disaster recovery considerations.Demonstrated ability to develop detailed migration strategies, implementation plans, cutover procedures, and rollback plans.Experience troubleshooting complex production issues and coordinating resolution across multiple technical teams.Strong documentation, communication, stakeholder management, and technical leadership skills.Ability to manage multiple workstreams and deliver infrastructure changes within defined maintenance windows.
Preferred QualificationsExperience with F5 BIG-IP DNS/GTM, Advanced WAF, APM, or other relevant F5 modules.Experience with BIG-IP software upgrades, configuration migration, and platform compatibility assessments.Familiarity with F5 VE, rSeries, or other relevant BIG-IP hardware and virtual platforms.Experience with automation and scripting using Python, Ansible, REST APIs, or F5 automation tools.Familiarity with enterprise change management, ITIL processes, and production deployment governance.Relevant F5 certifications or equivalent demonstrated technical expertise.
Key DeliverablesCurrent-state assessment and target-state architecture.F5 hardware refresh and migration strategy.Detailed migration schedule and implementation runbooks.Cutover, testing, validation, and rollback plans.Successful migration with minimal business disruption.Post-implementation technical documentation and operational handover.
The ideal candidate is a senior-level F5 technical authority who combines deep platform expertise with architecture, project leadership, and hands-on implementation experience. xzbcwsv They can independently drive a complex hardware refresh from initial assessment through production cutover and final handover, while coordinating effectively with technical teams and business stakeholders.