Director, AI Connect Design & Sales Engineering

Cellco Partnership; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Verizon is seeking an Associate Director to lead the design engineering team for AI Connect and dark fiber initiatives in Irvine, CA. You will guide sales engineers, shape route strategy, and ensure designs are constructible and profitable.

You will partner with Finance, Product, and Network Planning to deliver multi-year infra deals, mentor senior engineers, and represent Verizon at industry events. The role requires 10+ years in telecom engineering, strong leadership, and a proven track record

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 technical talent, including workforce planning, coaching and performance management.
• Proven record designing and winning large, multi-year infrastructure deals, including technical qualification, pricing and contract negotiation.
• 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 strategy for dark fiber and AI Connect design engineering so customers reach AI-forward outcomes.
• Lead the design team. Guide sales engineers supporting Verizon's top strategic AI Connect customers across a multi-billion-dollar portfolio, driving bookings and revenue growth.
• Direct world-class designs. Own solutions for GPU campus interconnect, data center interconnect, long-haul and intercity routes, metro rings, and cloud on-ramps.
• Set design standards. Define standards for ultra-high-count fiber, route diversity, latency budgets, splice and handhole strategy, ILA/regen siting and phased growth for multi-stage AI builds.
• Bring commercial rigor. Evaluate build, IRU, lease and swap options with Finance and Product, and build ROI and cost models for every large pursuit.
• Connect design to delivery. Partner with Network Planning, Construction, Right-of-Way, Legal and Operations so quoted routes are constructible, on schedule and on budget.
• Differentiate Verizon. Equip the team to articulate Verizon's advantages across AI Connect, Dark Fiber, Lit Fiber/Wave and Edge Data Centers, and to be recognized as thought leaders.
• Raise efficiency. Introduce automation and off-load low-value work so senior engineers spend time on customer-facing design.
• Develop talent. Hire, coach and retain top engineers, maintain certifications and build a succession bench.
• Build a public presence. Represent Verizon at industry events, in thought leadership and on customer advisory boards.

Skills

Leadership vision

Technical architecture

Finance and ROI

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline

Job description

Verizon is seeking an Associate Director to lead the design engineering team for AI Connect and dark fiber initiatives in Irvine, CA. You will guide sales engineers, shape route strategy, and ensure designs are constructible and profitable.

You will partner with Finance, Product, and Network Planning to deliver multi-year infra deals, mentor senior engineers, and represent Verizon at industry events. The role requires 10+ years in telecom engineering, strong leadership, and a proven track record