Principal Architect – Technology, IPAM, Peering, Caching

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Washington.

📋 Description

• Take ownership of Ziply Fiber's enterprise IPAM architecture, encompassing tooling selection, IPv4/IPv6 address planning, allocation policy, and lifecycle management.

• Establish an IPv4 conservation strategy and create a plan for addressing IPv4 exhaustion in both dual-stack and IPv6-only transition scenarios.

• Design IPv6 address plans, allocation hierarchies, and delegation policies.

• Manage the deployment of RPKI/ROA and BGP route validation policy.

• Maintain authoritative documentation for the IP registry and ensure integration with provisioning, DNS, and network management systems.

• Develop and implement strategies for public/private peering, establish Internet Exchange presence, and optimize routing.

• Oversee transit provider architecture, diversity standards, failover policies, and commercial alignment.

• Manage peering relationships including technical onboarding, LOAs, route objects, and overall relationship health.

• Evaluate traffic matrices and peering economics to uncover opportunities, enhance routing efficiency, and reduce transit expenses.

• Coordinate the implementation of BGP policy and route propagation standards with IP Core and Metro architecture.

• Design and manage the content caching strategy, including optimal cache placement for key CDN partners.

• Define criteria for cache node placement and co-location requirements.

• Oversee CDN partner integrations, cache monitoring, and agreements for capacity scaling.

• Analyze CDN traffic reports and cache efficiency metrics to enhance placement and configuration.

• Collaborate with Network Planning and IP Core capacity models to align caching infrastructure.

• Set technical standards, guide architectural governance, mentor engineers, and influence cross-functional architectural decisions without direct management responsibilities.

• Effectively communicate complex networking and Internet performance concepts to executive, technical, operational, vendor, and non-technical stakeholders.

• Undertake additional duties as necessary to support the business and its evolving needs.

⛳️ Requirements

• High school diploma or GED is required.

• A Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Telecommunications, Network Engineering, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in IP network engineering at an ISP or broadband operator.

• Direct experience managing IPAM, peering, and/or content caching programs.

• Senior independent contributor experience in setting technical standards, influencing architecture, mentoring engineers, and driving cross-functional decisions.

• Expert-level knowledge of BGP, including peering policy, community design, route filtering, RPKI/ROA, and traffic engineering at Internet Exchange scale.

• Practical experience with NetBox, Infoblox, or similar IPAM platforms.

• Proven experience in designing IPv4/IPv6 address plans and integrating IPAM with network management systems.

• Experience in developing IPAM governance, allocation standards, reclamation workflows, data quality controls, and operational reporting.

• In-depth understanding of CDN caching architectures and significant CDN embedded-cache programs.

• Strong knowledge of Internet Exchange operations, IRR/ARIN route-object management, LOA workflows, and peering economics.

• Familiarity with RPKI/ROA deployment and BGP route-origin validation.

• Ability to articulate complex technical concepts to executive, technical, operational, vendor, and non-technical audiences.

• Must be authorized to work in the US for any employer; sponsorship is not available.

• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, manage multiple tasks, collaborate effectively, meet critical deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities.

• Strong verbal and written communication, organizational, analytical, and systems-thinking skills.

• Possess executive presence with the ability to explain IPAM, peering, transit, routing security, CDN caching, and Internet performance decisions.

• JNCIE-SP, CCIE-SP, or equivalent certification is preferred.

• Experience with RIPE STAT, PeeringDB, IX traffic analytics, DNS anycast, transit cost optimization, and executive presentations is preferred.

• Must successfully pass a pre-employment background check.

• Must meet physical requirements including prolonged sitting/standing, occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds, and specified vision abilities.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• 401(k) plan.

• Flexible spending account.

• Paid sick leave.

• Paid time off.

• Parental leave.

• Target annual bonus.

• Quarterly performance bonus.

• Training opportunities.

• Career growth programs.

• Education reimbursement programs.

• Reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities.

• Pre-employment drug screening and adherence to a drug-free workplace.