Innovation Lead - Office of the CTO | AI (10505)

Over 50,000 customers globally trust our end-to-end, cloud-driven networking solutions. They rely on our top-rated services and support to accelerate their digital transformation efforts and deliver unprecedented progress.

About the role

The Innovation Lead will discover, prototype, and develop transformative ML/AI and edge computing solutions that position Extreme Networks at the forefront of intelligent networking. You will be a hands-on contributor who turns ambitious ideas into real products and validated business cases. Working as an individual contributor within a matrix of cross-functional teams—data scientists, product managers, engineers, architects, and customers—you will:

• Explore emerging technologies and build proofs of concept
• Drive adoption and help define product roadmaps
• Help commercialize innovations—ensuring that innovation without market realization remains just research

Success is measured by validated ideas that advance to product, launched innovations that expand our market position, customer and partner engagement on breakthrough solutions, and thought leadership that establishes Extreme as the industry voice on networked AI and edge intelligence.

Responsibilities

• Hands-On Prototyping & Implementation
  • Identify and evaluate emerging opportunities in ML/AI, edge computing, and adjacent technologies
  • Conceptualize, prototype, and validate innovative solutions—moving fast from question to proof of concept
  • Maintain awareness of industry trends, standards bodies, and competitive innovation
  • Build and architect real solution prototypes, not just advise on them—coding, validating, and documenting as needed
  • Partner with data scientists, engineers, and product teams to turn validated ideas into production-ready features
  • Contribute directly to solution delivery through prototyping, testing, and technical demonstrations
  • Drive continuous improvement by identifying and fixing technical and architectural bottlenecks
• Customer & Partner Co-Innovation
  • Engage customers, partners, and prospects to co-develop solutions and understand unmet needs
  • Translate complex technical ideas into compelling narratives for CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and business executives
  • Build reference and lighthouse accounts by delivering early access to breakthrough capabilities
  • Help commercialize innovations—market realization is essential for innovation success
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence
  • Work effectively in a matrix with product management, engineering, marketing, and field teams
  • Participate in standards bodies and open-source communities to shape industry direction
  • Influence product roadmaps and feature prioritization based on customer insights
  • Champion a culture of critical thinking, experimentation, and calculated risk-taking
• Thought Leadership & Evangelism
  • Author and present on emerging technologies, innovation frameworks, and breakthrough solutions
  • Evangelize our leadership in AI-powered networking and edge intelligence to customers and prospects
  • Build visibility for Extreme's innovation strategy and technical differentiation in the marketplace

Requirements

• Experience & Background
  • Proven track record of ownership from ideation to productization with GenAI and Multi-Agent solutions either in a large corporation or in a startup
  • Proven experience building engineering teams for GenAI and Multi-Agent solutions
  • Proven experience with complex AI and data-centric projects outside of the networking market
• Technical Skills
  • Fluent in at least one programming language; expertise in Python, Java, or Go is highly preferred
  • Deep knowledge of ML/AI principles, emerging architectures, and practical applications in enterprise systems
  • Understanding of edge computing, distributed systems, and cloud networking architectures
  • Knowledge of efficient data structures, query optimization, and analytics technologies
  • Ability to evaluate and integrate third-party technologies and frameworks
• Collaboration & Communication
  • Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills—able to work effectively across diverse audiences
  • Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear narratives for CTOs, VPs, and executives
  • Proven track record of driving issues to resolution with strong customer satisfaction
  • Thrive working both independently and within high-performing cross-functional teams
  • Comfortable with ambiguity and defining problems before solutions exist
• Professional Qualities
  • Ambitious and driven, thriving in a demanding and fast-paced environment
  • Willing to roll up your sleeves, take ownership, and be a proactive team player
  • Excellent critical thinking and business acumen to identify solutions with widespread adoption potential
  • Ability to balance exploration with execution, knowing when to pivot and when to commit
  • Comfortable with occasional travel and significant remote engagement with customers and partners

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, related field, or equivalent professional experience

Nice to Have

• 10+ years experience in networking, security, or cloud platforms (especially cloud-driven networking)
• Participation in open-source projects or standards bodies
• Background in product management or go-to-market strategy
• Published thought leadership or speaking experience at industry conferences
• Experience with AI operations (MLOps), data platforms, or analytics systems

What Success Looks Like

In your first year, you will:

• Identify and validate 2–3 high-impact innovation opportunities
• Deliver working prototypes that demonstrate customer value
• Build relationships with key customers and partners co-innovating with us
• Contribute to product roadmap decisions that accelerate our leadership
• Establish thought leadership through speaking, writing, or industry participation
• Help evangelize our innovation strategy to the market

Why Join the Office of the CTO

• Work on problems that matter—networking the edge, securing cloud infrastructure, and bringing intelligence to billions of connected devices
• Be part of a team where critical thinking and human creativity set us apart in the age of AI
• Have the freedom to define the questions we need to ask
• Have support to pursue ambitious ideas
• See your innovations become products that change an industry

Pay

$200,000 - $230,000 a year. This role offers a market-competitive salary with an anticipated base compensation range of $220,000 to $230,000 USD. Actual compensation will depend on the selected candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and work location. In addition to base pay, this role is eligible for a performance-based bonus.

Benefits

Extreme Networks offers a comprehensive benefits package. Specific benefits vary by country and may include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Flexible work schedules and work-from-home opportunities where role permits
• Paid time off, including open time off in eligible markets and statutory leave in all markets
• Paid holidays in accordance with local practice
• Retirement savings programs, including RRSP matching in Canada
• Employee Stock Purchase Program, where eligible
• Adoption assistance and fertility treatment support, where eligible
• Flexible spending accounts, where eligible
• Employee assistance program
• Tuition reimbursement, where eligible
• Life and disability insurance

Benefits eligibility is based on country of employment, role, and employment status.