VP of Network Engineering

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

📋 Description

• Develop protocols, standards, and reference architectures that are foundational for the entire ecosystem.

• Make architectural decisions that lack textbook solutions: determining how to segment a shared physical backbone across multiple partner ISPs at a multi-tenant scale, expressing policy universally, deciding on the future of the control plane, identifying what to retire, and what to retain.

• Approach the network as a learning system. Propel the integration of AI in operational processes.

• Take ownership of our BGP edge strategy.

• Manage the policy framework: including filter chains, route policy, communities, RPKI, and traffic-engineering logic across our border fabric and downstream networks.

• Oversee MPLS implementation in the backbone and determine future control plane developments.

• Negotiate and establish new peering agreements, optimizing for cost, performance, and resilience.

• Lead the strategy for disaggregated, white-box switching.

• Guide L2/L3 aggregation and BNG strategies.

• Take responsibility for passive optical access and the fiber infrastructure.

• Collaborate with the Systems team on the AAA stack.

• Manage the network-layer services that the AAA plane relies on.

• Recruit, develop, and lead the network engineering team.

• Create a culture of documentation within the team.

• Foster a team environment that minimizes ticket-shuffling and bureaucratic processes.

• Lead the technical relationship with our partner ISPs.

• Uphold the technical credibility of Share with our partners.

• Ensure end-to-end reliability for PoP and backbone.

• Represent the network as a key voice at the leadership table.

⛳️ Requirements

• Proven senior leadership experience within an ISP, carrier, or similar network operator: managing a team, owning architecture, and being accountable for uptime. This role should not be purely focused on enterprise networking or detached from operations.

• A solid history of building or leading network engineering teams: responsibilities include hiring, defining levels, setting technical direction, and being the primary escalation point for the team.

• Extensive knowledge of BGP: including route policy, communities, RPKI, route reflection, upstream/peer selection, traffic engineering, and the ability to troubleshoot a leaking origin at 2am, not just directing others.

• Experience with MPLS in production environments at scale (L3VPN and EVPN), including understanding control-plane components (LDP, SR, BGP address families) and insights on future architectural directions.

• Practical operational experience with passive optical access (GPON or XGS-PON), OLT/ONU provisioning, and service modeling. If you haven't managed PON, you have experience with an access network of similar scale and familiarity with the protocol stack.

• Comfortable operating in disaggregated, white-box environments (SONiC, IP Infusion OcNOS, etc.). You don't require a vendor's badge to manage a switch.

• Proficient with MikroTik (RouterOS) and Huawei (access or core), as these will frequently be part of partner interactions; you can navigate a partner's CLI with the same fluency as your own.

• Strong understanding of L2/L3 fundamentals: VLANs, STP family, LACP, OSPF/IS-IS, VRFs, NAT, VPNs, QoS.

• Capable of driving end-to-end troubleshooting (tcpdump, Wireshark, iperf, MTR, packet captures on both session ends) and leading a team in similar efforts.

• Maturity in partner- and customer-facing scenarios. You can engage with a partner's engineering team and leadership, analyze their network, articulate necessary changes without condescension. This role is technical, not back-office.

• A strong focus on execution. You prefer to implement and iterate rather than circulate strategy memos. Hierarchical structures and corporate theatrics can be draining.

• Based in Kenya or willing to relocate, as proximity to our facilities in Mombasa and Nairobi is essential, along with coordinating with partners in the same time zone.

🏝️ Benefits

• Executive-level compensation: competitive salary and substantial equity in a mission-driven, investor-backed company (incorporated in the US; operational entity in Kenya).

• Comprehensive private health and wellness benefits.