AI Connect Solutions Architecture Leader

Verizon; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 248,000; Full time

Job summary

Verizon is seeking an Associate Director to lead architects and senior sales engineers, owning customer designs end to end from discovery through turn-up across AI Connect, Dark Fiber, Lit Fiber/Wave and Edge Data Centers. You will set vision, govern design and hand-off, build stakeholder alignment, and develop talent while ensuring delivery readiness and strong financial discipline.

This field-based role requires 10+ years in telecom/IT, 3+ years leading teams, and the ability to engage

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline or directly related equivalent experience.
• 10+ years in engineering and architecting telecom, IT or network infrastructure, with deep expertise in dark fiber and the intersection of physical assets with AI/ML digital transformation.
• 3+ years leading senior architects or sales engineers, including workforce planning, coaching and performance management.
• Experience owning complex customer solutions from design through delivery, including scope, change and contract management.
• Experience engaging senior executives and delivering effective customer presentations.
• Demonstrated financial analysis skills: P&L, ROI, cost analysis and business-case development.

Responsibilities

• Set the vision. Build and execute the model for end-to-end customer design ownership in AI Connect, Dark Fiber, Lit Fiber/Wave and Edge Data Centers.
• Lead architects and sales engineers supporting Verizon's top strategic customers across a multi-billion-dollar portfolio, driving bookings and quota attainment.
• Own the customer design lifecycle from discovery through order, hand-off, build tracking and turn-up.
• Govern design and hand-off. Set standards that keep sold scope, schedule and cost aligned with delivered scope, and reduce rework, change orders and time to revenue.
• Run delivery readiness. Operate a customer-health and readiness cadence across Sales, Network Planning, Construction, Right-of-Way and Operations.
• Build stakeholder alignment. Lead opportunity teams that give a holistic view of customer strategy, processes and IT assets.
• Coach for influence. Develop executive presentations, technical storytelling, competitive positioning and multi-stakeholder account strategy.
• Bring financial discipline. Build business cases, ROI and cost models, and ensure designs align with pricing and delivery.
• Raise efficiency. Introduce automation and off-load low-value work so senior talent focuses on customer outcomes.
• Develop talent and presence. Hire, coach, motivate, and retain top architects and engineers, maintain certifications, and represent Verizon at events and customer advisory boards.

Skills

Engineering leadership

Executive communication

Financial analysis

AI/ML awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline

Job description

Verizon is seeking an Associate Director to lead architects and senior sales engineers, owning customer designs end to end from discovery through turn-up across AI Connect, Dark Fiber, Lit Fiber/Wave and Edge Data Centers. You will set vision, govern design and hand-off, build stakeholder alignment, and develop talent while ensuring delivery readiness and strong financial discipline.

This field-based role requires 10+ years in telecom/IT, 3+ years leading teams, and the ability to engage