Associate Director, AI Connect Solutions Architecture

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California, +1 more state.

📋 Description

• Establish the vision and implement the comprehensive customer design ownership model for AI Connect, Dark Fiber, Lit Fiber/Wave, and Edge Data Centers.

• Lead architects and sales engineers in supporting Verizon's premier strategic customers within a multi-billion-dollar portfolio.

• Drive bookings and achieve quota targets.

• Manage the customer design lifecycle from initial discovery through to order, hand-off, build tracking, and service activation.

• Oversee design and hand-off standards to ensure alignment between sold scope, schedule, and costs with the delivered scope.

• Minimize rework, change orders, and time to revenue.

• Conduct customer health assessments and delivery readiness evaluations.

• Address escalations across Sales, Network Planning, Construction, Right-of-Way, and Operations.

• Lead opportunity teams to synchronize customer strategy, processes, and IT resources.

• Create executive presentations, technical narratives, competitive positioning, and multi-stakeholder account strategies.

• Develop business cases, ROI and cost models, ensuring designs are in line with pricing and delivery capabilities.

• Implement automation and delegate low-value tasks.

• Recruit, mentor, inspire, and retain architects and engineers.

• Maintain certifications and represent Verizon at industry events and customer advisory boards.

• Foster a culture of empowerment, collaboration, innovation, and integrity.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field or equivalent experience directly related to the role.

• Over 10 years of experience in engineering and architecting telecommunications, IT, or network infrastructure.

• Profound knowledge in dark fiber and the convergence of physical assets with AI/ML digital transformation.

• A minimum of 3 years in leadership roles overseeing senior architects or sales engineers, focusing on workforce planning, coaching, and performance management.

• Proven experience managing complex customer solutions from design to delivery, including scope, change, and contract management.

• Experience engaging with senior executives and delivering impactful customer presentations.

• Strong financial analysis skills, including P&L, ROI, cost analysis, and business case development.

• An MS or MBA is preferred.

• Direct experience with hyperscalers, neoclouds, or carriers is preferred.

• Background in OSP engineering, construction, or delivery, particularly with ULH or metro fiber programs and contractor management is preferred.

• Familiarity with AI and GPU cluster networking, including how topology influences requirements at the fiber layer is preferred.

• Experience with IRUs, swaps, anchor-tenant builds, SLAs, and MSAs is preferred.

• Relevant certifications such as CCIE/CCNP, optical vendor, PMP, or FOA CFOS are preferred.

🏝️ Benefits

• Base salary

• Annual incentive

• Long-term incentive

• Medical insurance

• Dental insurance

• Vision insurance

• Short-term disability insurance

• Long-term disability insurance

• Basic life insurance

• Supplemental life insurance

• AD&D insurance

• Identity theft protection

• Pet insurance

• Group home and auto insurance

• Matched 401(k) savings plan

• Up to 8 company-paid holidays per year

• Up to 6 personal days per year

• Paid parental leave

• Adoption assistance

• Tuition assistance

• Other incentives

• Premium pay such as overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, and allowances

• Up to 15 days of vacation per year for newly hired employees, increasing with additional service