Director, vRAN Cloud & AI Automation

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New Jersey

On-site

USD 180,000 - 240,000

Full time

14 days+

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Job summary

Verizon is seeking a senior leader to direct the architecture, deployment, and automation of vRAN and Cloud Infrastructure across thousands of Far Edge nodes.

You will collaborate with key partners (Samsung, Wind River, Ericsson, Red Hat) to drive AI-driven automation, multi-vendor integration, and resilient Day 2 operations, while mentoring teams and ensuring performance targets.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, CS, or related field.
8+ years in Cloud, vRAN, or telecom infra with leadership exposure.
Experience with OpenShift, Linux kernel tuning, and multi-vendor ecosystems.
Proven ability to drive high-stakes escalations and AI-driven automation.
MBA and strategic business acumen are a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead architectural strategy for Cloud-native RAN and vRAN deployments.
Oversee multi-vendor ecosystems and ensure SLAs and delivery timeliness.
Develop AI-driven tooling to automate diagnostics and Day 2 operations.
Mentor and groom leads; drive cross-functional collaboration.
Triage and resolve production issues including kernel and driver conflicts.
Ensure scalable, consistent infrastructure across thousands of sites.

Skills

Cloud Infrastructure

OpenShift

vRAN architecture

AI-driven automation

Technical leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring

Strategic planning

Vendor relations

Production troubleshooting

Log analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/CS

MBA

Tools

Skinny OS

AI Copilots

Virtualized environment

Containerized environment

Ticket management systems

Job description

• leads a specialized team responsible for the architectural strategy, deployment, and automation of Verizon’s virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN) and Cloud Infrastructure (VCP)
• Oversees the lifecycle of Cloud-native RAN platforms, manages complex multi-vendor ecosystems, and drives AI-driven automation
• Directing end-to-end strategy and deployment of Cloud-native RAN platforms, overseeing FOA rollouts, hardware cutovers, and infrastructure upgrades across thousands of Far Edge nodes
• Serving as the primary interface for key partners (Samsung, Wind River, Ericsson, Red Hat), holding them accountable for technical roadmaps, deliverables, and SLAs through rigorous triage and patch management
• Spearheading the development and integration of AI-driven tools and internal software (e.g., Skinny OS, AI Copilots) to automate diagnostics, site pre-checking, and 'Day 2' operational workflows
• Driving vRAN roadmap planning, ensuring integration of new technologies (e.g., Granite Rapids compute) while maintaining infrastructure consistency and performance metrics
• Facilitating cross-functional collaboration between Planning, Engineering, Maintenance Engineering (MTCE), and Operations teams to troubleshoot high-stakes production issues and maintain system stability
• Mentoring and developing team members, fostering a culture of high morale and professional excellence, while designating and grooming leads for specific workstreams (e.g., SS requirements, E/// requirements)
• Directing high-stakes technical troubleshooting for complex production issues, including kernel crashes, PTP synchronization failures, and driver-level conflicts (Intel ICE drivers)
• Identifying opportunities for process improvement and driving efficiencies to simplify repeatable tasks
• Providing coverage for any operational issues and ensuring platform outages are handled in accordance with predefined guidelines for ticket management, prioritization, documentation, escalation, and resolution
• Ensuring that the performance of the entire staff is maximized by establishing individual and group objectives, providing routine feedback and counseling (when necessary), and conducting yearly performance appraisals
• Identifying opportunities for operational and management automation while performing as a subject matter expert for the technology

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or four or more years of work experience
Eight or more years of relevant experience required, demonstrated through one or a combination of work and/or military experience, or specialized training
Experience in Cloud Infrastructure, OpenShift (CaaS), and vRAN architecture, with experience in RHEL, Linux kernel fine-tuning, and CaaS resource management
Experience in managing external technology relationships, articulating firm technical requirements, and leading high-stakes escalations to meet aggressive delivery timelines
A degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related fields is even better.
Ability to analyze issues and solve complex problems with innovative solutions
Technical leadership and experience in one or more of the following areas: Telecommunications, Networking, IT systems & Virtualization/Cloud technologies
Proven ability to make clear-headed, decisive actions under high-pressure scenarios, particularly regarding infrastructure cutovers and production troubleshooting
Demonstrable history of effective partnership and empathy across diverse organizations (MTCE, Operations, Engineering) to solve complex problems and manage executive escalations
Ability to effectively articulate technical requirements to vendors and provide clear, strategic updates to executive leadership
Automation Mindset: Experience in driving the transition from manual processes to AI-driven, automated network workflows
Experience with deploying and managing applications running in a virtualized or containerized environment
Completion of an undergraduate degree and an MBA to complement technical expertise with strong business acumen
Rotational experience or familiarity with lateral domains such as RAN or Transport to widen technical scope
Experience in developing or deploying AI-driven agents or custom scripts for log analysis, configuration management, and predictive network resilience
Experience transitioning initiatives from successful FOA/Pilot phases to full-scale enterprise rollout (100–500+ sites)

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in Cloud Infrastructure, vRAN architecture, and AI-driven automation, with a strong focus on managing complex multi-vendor ecosystems and driving operational efficiencies. Proven ability to lead technical teams, mentor staff, and effectively communicate with key partners and executive leadership.

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