Director, Network Architect - Optical

Company Description

Zayo provides mission-critical bandwidth to the world’s most impactful companies, fueling the innovations that are transforming our society. Zayo’s 141,000-mile network in North America and Europe includes extensive metro connectivity to thousands of buildings and data centers. Zayo’s communications infrastructure solutions include dark fiber, private data networks, wavelengths, Ethernet, and dedicated Internet access. Zayo serves wireless and wireline carriers, media, tech, content, finance, healthcare and other large enterprises.

Location: This position can be remote, based in the US.

The Director, Network Architecture – Optical is responsible for defining and driving the strategic architecture, technical standards, and technology roadmap for Zayo’s optical transport and wavelength networks across core, metro, and edge environments.

This role leads a team of senior and principal network architects responsible for evaluating, certifying, and evolving transport technologies supporting Zayo’s optical service portfolio and fiber infrastructure. The Director will partner closely with Engineering, Planning, Operations, Product, Security, and executive leadership to ensure the network architecture aligns with business objectives, operational scalability, customer requirements, and long-term technology evolution.

The ideal candidate possesses deep expertise in DWDM and transport technologies, strong leadership capabilities, strategic vendor engagement experience, and a proven track record leading large-scale network architecture initiatives within a carrier or service provider environment.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Architecture Leadership

• Define and maintain the long-term architectural vision for Zayo’s optical transport, wavelength, and transport infrastructure.

• Lead development of multi-year technology roadmaps supporting scalability, resiliency, automation, service innovation, and operational efficiency.

• Establish architectural standards, design principles, and technical governance across optical and transport domains.

• Evaluate emerging technologies, market trends, and vendor capabilities to guide strategic investment decisions.

• Support integration efforts, providing strategic direction for combined network assets.

Optical & Transport Technology Leadership

• Provide executive-level technical leadership across DWDM, ROADM, coherent optics, OTN, fiber optic cable, construction, and transport network evolution initiatives.

• Drive architectural direction for core and metro optical transport networks including fixed-grid and flex-grid deployments.

• Oversee technology evaluation, lab validation, certification strategy, and first office application activities for new platforms and services.

• Lead lifecycle planning and modernization strategies for transport infrastructure and optical platforms.

Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead and mentor a team of network architects focused on optical transport and wavelength technologies.

• Partner closely with Network Engineering, Planning, Operations, Product, Security, and Automation teams to align architecture strategy with business priorities.

• Support strategic customer opportunities by providing architectural guidance for complex transport and wavelength solutions.

• Drive alignment between architecture standards and engineering implementation practices.

Vendor & Industry Engagement

• Maintain strategic relationships with key technology suppliers including Ciena, Nokia, Infinera, and related ecosystem partners.

• Influence vendor roadmaps and advocate for capabilities aligned to Zayo’s network evolution strategy.

• Participate in industry forums, standards discussions, and technology reviews to maintain awareness of emerging innovations and competitive trends.

Network Automation & Innovation

• Promote automation-first architecture principles across transport provisioning, assurance, telemetry, and operational workflows.

• Support adoption of software-driven networking, orchestration, and network intelligence capabilities.

• Collaborate with internal teams to identify opportunities for operational simplification and improved network efficiency.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or related technical discipline.

• Minimum of twelve (12) years of experience in telecommunications or service provider environments with deep focus on optical transport and network architecture.

• Minimum of five (5) years of leadership experience managing senior technical teams, architects, or strategic engineering organizations.

• Expert-level knowledge of:

• o    DWDM and optical transport architectures

• o    ROADM technologies (fixed and flex-grid)

• o    Coherent optics and wavelength services

• o    OTN, Carrier Ethernet, SONET/SDH, and transport protocols

• o    Optical fiber engineering and transport design principles

• o    Core and metro transport network architectures

• Experience working with optical transport vendors including Ciena, Nokia, and Infinera.

• Strong understanding of network automation, network telemetry, and software-driven operational models.

• Demonstrated success developing technology roadmaps and leading large-scale infrastructure evolution initiatives and forecasting and managing budgets on key initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, or Business Administration.

• Experience supporting hyperscale, carrier, or large enterprise optical infrastructure environments.

• Familiarity with IP/MPLS transport integration and packet-optical convergence strategies.

• Experience with transport network security and resiliency frameworks.

• Knowledge of automation and scripting technologies such as Python, APIs, or orchestration platforms.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinking and long-range technology planning

• Executive communication and stakeholder management

• Cross-functional leadership and collaboration

• Vendor negotiation and partnership management

• Technical mentorship and organizational influence

• Innovation and continuous improvement mindset

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Estimated base salary range: $126,600 - $194,700 USD/annually.

The base pay range shown is a guideline and reasonable estimate for this role. It takes into account the wide variety of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions. Actual compensation offered may vary from the posted range based upon geographic location, work experience, skill level, certifications, and other business and organizational needs. Non- sales roles may be eligible to participate in a discretionary annual incentive plan. Sales roles may be eligible to participate in a sales incentive plan.

Additionally, this position may be eligible for certain benefits, such as health insurance, life insurance, disability retirement plans, paid time off.

The posting will be active for a minimum of 3 days. The active posting will continue to extend by 3 days until the position is filled.

Benefits, Rewards & Wellness

• Excellent Health, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Retirement 401(k) Savings Plan
• Generous paid time off policy including paid parental leave

Zayo is an equal opportunity employer to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation as part of the employment selection process, please contact us.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.