Principal Architect

Verizon; Wilmington (NC); On-site; USD 125,000 - 239,000; Full time

Job summary

Verizon is seeking a senior technical architect to design and deliver enterprise-grade 5G connectivity solutions, including private core, MEC, and Mobile Private Networks. You will lead PoC efforts, client demonstrations, and reference architectures while guiding product teams to ensure scalable, secure deployments.

The role emphasizes collaboration with sales, engineering, and operations, with a focus on strategic customer engagements and advisory support to executives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or 4+ years of work experience.
• 6+ years in network architecture, pre-sales, or wireless systems engineering.
• 6+ years of relevant experience in one or more of the required areas.

Responsibilities

• Strategic customer engagement with enterprise clients leveraging assets and partners.
• Design modern 5G connectivity solutions including private core and MEC.
• Lead PoC, demonstrations, and FOA testing to accelerate adoption.
• Integrate NaaS components into cohesive client architectures.
• Collaborate with NaaS, SD-WAN, and SASE product teams to align solutions.

Skills

GenAI tools

REST APIs

Verizon ThingSpace

Executive stakeholder communication

Multi-engagement management

Education

Bachelor's degree or 4+ years experience

Tools

GenAI tools

REST APIs

Verizon ThingSpace

Job description

When you join Verizon

You want more out of a career. A place to share your ideas freely - even if they're daring or different. Where the true you can learn, grow, and thrive. At Verizon, we power and empower how people live, work and play by connecting them to what brings them joy. We do what we love - driving innovation, creativity, and impact in the world. Our V Team is a community of people who anticipate, lead, and believe that listening is where learning begins. In crisis and in celebration, we come together - lifting our communities and building trust in how we show up, everywhere & always. Want in? Join the #VTeamLife.

What you’ll be doing...

As a technical expert in emerging technologies, you will leverage deep wireless expertise to architect complex solutions for enterprise and public sector customers. This role serves as a senior subject matter expert and technical design authority, providing Tier 1 Solution Architects and key client stakeholders with guidance across macro networks, IoT, and Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) featuring 5G Standalone and Network Slicing.

You will also drive the integration of Verizon wireless offerings with critical Network as a Service (NaaS) components-including Managed DNS, SD-WAN, and SASE-into cohesive, customer-centric architectures. In this position, you will lead technical pre-sales engagements, conduct deep-dive needs analyses, design repeatable reference architectures, and support product engineering to ensure end-to-end operational viability and business growth.

Accountabilities:

• Strategic Customer Engagement: Partner with sales and enterprise clients on complex, custom, and transformational business engagements, leveraging Verizon's assets, managed services, and partner ecosystem to drive strategic business outcomes.

• 5G & Next-Gen Solution Architecture: Design modern 5G connectivity solutions, incorporating complex private core, edge compute (MEC), and Mobile Private Networks (MPN) tailored to expressed customer business objectives.

• Prototyping & Field Validation: Lead technical proofs of concept (PoC), customer demonstrations, feature validation trials, and First Office Application (FOA) testing to accelerate adoption.

• Ecosystem & OAM Integration: Utilize familiarity with enterprise wireless OAM/CPE platforms (e.g., Cradlepoint, Inseego, Digi, CSG) to build end-to-end, manageable client architectures.

• Portfolio & Product Alignment: Develop and maintain deep technical alignment with NaaS, SD-WAN, MNS, SASE, MSS, and CPE product teams to ensure wireless access services remain a key differentiator across the broader Verizon portfolio.

• Operational AI Innovation: Integrate AI/AIOps capabilities into field operations and site workflows, including automated site surveys and Wireless Network Performance (WNP) optimization.

• Technical Design Authority & Deal Execution: Own the technical elements of the sales cycle, including requirement gathering, reference architecture creation, quote validation, technical presentations, and ensuring solutions align with operational SLAs.

• Regulatory & Industry Standards: Stay informed on evolving regulatory, compliance, and industry standards, adjusting reference architectures accordingly to maintain security and compliance.

• Trusted Advisory: Act as an unbiased technical advisor to customer executives, bridging the gap between customer requirements, product development, and field implementation.

What we're looking for...

You’ll need to have:

• Bachelor's degree or four or more years of work experience.

• Six or more years of relevant experience required, demonstrated through one or a combination of work and/or military experience, or specialized training.

• Six or more years of relevant work experience in network architecture, technical pre-sales, or wireless systems engineering.

Even better if you have one or more of the following:

• Hands-on experience with GenAI tools, operational integration, and prompt engineering.

• In-depth knowledge of LTE/5G RAN and Core technologies, RF design principles, system performance tuning, and 3GPP standards (e.g., 5QI/QCI mapping, RSRP, SINR).

• Experience with network automation tools, REST APIs, and platform integration (e.g., Verizon ThingSpace).

• Broad exposure to large-scale enterprise WLAN/Wi-Fi design, SD-WAN, and SASE frameworks.

• Proven track record in the telecommunications or managed network services industry.

• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills, with proven success delivering complex technical presentations to executive-level stakeholders.

• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex data sets, solve technical hurdles, and influence long-term technology roadmaps.

• Strong business acumen, sense of urgency, and the ability to manage multiple high-priority engagements concurrently in a fast-paced environment.

If Verizon and this role sound like a fit for you, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every "even better" qualification listed above.

Where you’ll be working

In this mobile role, you’ll primarily work from customer or field location(s), with occasional visits to a Verizon location for in-person training and meetings.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Equal Employment Opportunity

Verizon is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to veteran status, disability or other legally protected characteristics.

Benefits and Compensation

Our benefits are designed to help you move forward in your career, and in areas of your life outside of Verizon. From health and wellness benefit options including: medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, AD&D insurance, identity theft protection, pet insurance and group home & auto insurance. We also offer a matched 401(k) savings plan, up to 8 company paid holidays per year and up to 6 personal days per year, paid parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition assistance, plus other incentives, we've got you covered with our award-winning total rewards package. Depending on the role, employees have the opportunity to receive compensation in the form of premium pay such as overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, allowances, etc. Newly hired employees receive up to 15 days of vacation per year, which grows with additional service. For part-timers, your coverage will vary as you may be eligible for some of these benefits depending on your individual circumstances.

The salary will vary depending on your location and confirmed job-related skills and experience. This is an incentive based position with the potential to earn more. For part-time roles, your compensation will be adjusted to reflect your hours.The annual salary range for the location(s) listed on this job requisition based on a full-time schedule is: $124,500.00 - $239,000.00.The annual salary range for the Colorado location(s) listed on this job requisition based on a full-time schedule is: $137,000.00 - $239,000.00.The annual salary range for the Illinois location(s) listed on this job requisition based on a full-time schedule is: $137,000.00 - $239,000.00.The annual salary range for the Maryland location(s) listed on this job requisition based on a full-time schedule is: $137,000.00 - $239,000.00.The annual salary range for the New York location(s) listed on this job requisition based on a full-time schedule is: $124,500.00 - $217,000.00.