Director, Network Architect - Optical

Responsibilities

• Strategic Architecture Leadership
• Define and maintain the long-term architectural vision for Zayo’s optical transport, wavelength, and transport infrastructure.
• Lead development of multi-year technology roadmaps supporting scalability, resiliency, automation, service innovation, and operational efficiency.
• Establish architectural standards, design principles, and technical governance across optical and transport domains.
• Evaluate emerging technologies, market trends, and vendor capabilities to guide strategic investment decisions.
• Support integration efforts, providing strategic direction for combined network assets.
• Optical & Transport Technology Leadership
• Provide executive-level technical leadership across DWDM, ROADM, coherent optics, OTN, fiber optic cable, construction, and transport network evolution initiatives.
• Drive architectural direction for core and metro optical transport networks including fixed-grid and flex-grid deployments.
• Oversee technology evaluation, lab validation, certification strategy, and first office application activities for new platforms and services.
• Lead lifecycle planning and modernization strategies for transport infrastructure and optical platforms.
• Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Lead and mentor a team of network architects focused on optical transport and wavelength technologies.
• Partner closely with Network Engineering, Planning, Operations, Product, Security, and Automation teams to align architecture strategy with business priorities.
• Support strategic customer opportunities by providing architectural guidance for complex transport and wavelength solutions.
• Drive alignment between architecture standards and engineering implementation practices.
• Vendor & Industry Engagement
• Maintain strategic relationships with key technology suppliers including Ciena, Nokia, Infinera, and related ecosystem partners.
• Influence vendor roadmaps and advocate for capabilities aligned to Zayo’s network evolution strategy.
• Participate in industry forums, standards discussions, and technology reviews to maintain awareness of emerging innovations and competitive trends.
• Network Automation & Innovation
• Promote automation-first architecture principles across transport provisioning, assurance, telemetry, and operational workflows.
• Support adoption of software-driven networking, orchestration, and network intelligence capabilities.
• Collaborate with internal teams to identify opportunities for operational simplification and improved network efficiency.

  Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline.
  • Minimum of twelve (12) years of experience in telecommunications or service provider environments with deep focus on optical transport and network architecture.
  • Minimum of five (5) years of leadership experience managing senior technical teams, architects, or strategic engineering organizations.
  • Expert-level knowledge of:
    • DWDM and optical transport architectures
    • ROADM technologies (fixed and flex-grid)
    • Coherent optics and wavelength services
    • OTN, Carrier Ethernet, SONET/SDH, and transport protocols
    • Optical fiber engineering and transport design principles
    • Core and metro transport network architectures
  • Experience working with optical transport vendors including Ciena, Nokia, and Infinera.
  • Strong understanding of network automation, network telemetry, and software-driven operational models.
  • Demonstrated success developing technology roadmaps and leading large-scale infrastructure evolution initiatives and forecasting and managing budgets on key initiatives.