Principal Architect, Technology - CPE & In-Home Networking
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AI Summary
This is a remote position.
Position Title: Principal Architect, Technology - CPE & In-Home Networking
Base Salary: $155,000 to $230,000 annually DOE
Bonus: Target annual bonus
Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401k, flexible spending account, paid sick leave and paid time off, parental leave, quarterly performance bonus, training, career growth and education reimbursement programs.
Ziply Fiber is a local internet service provider dedicated to elevating the connected lives of the communities we serve. We offer the fastest home internet in the nation, a refreshingly great customer experience, and affordable plans that put customers in charge.
As our state-of-the-art fiber network expands, so does our need for team members who can help us grow and realize our goals.
Our Company Values:
- Genuinely Caring: We treat customers and colleagues like neighbors, with empathy and full attention.
- Empowering You: We help customers choose what is best for them, and we support employees in implementing new ideas and solutions.
- Innovation and Improvement: We constantly seek ways to improve how we serve customers and each other.
- Earning Your Trust: We build trust through clear, honest, human communication.
Job Summary
For most Ziply Fiber subscribers, the CPE and home network is the network. The Principal Architect for CPE & In-Home Networking owns the strategy, architecture, and operational platform for every device we put in a subscriber's home — from ONT and residential gateway selection through Wi-Fi evolution, firmware lifecycle, and the digital orchestration layer that manages them all at scale. You will drive the roadmap for our In-Home CPE ecosystem, lead the transition to Wi-Fi 6/6E/7 across our fiber footprint, and build the operational tools that reduce support costs and improve subscriber experience across 1M+ customers.
This is a hands-on senior independent contributor role for a CPE and in-home networking architect who has designed, certified, launched, and operated broadband device ecosystems at scale. Reporting to the VP, Network Architecture & Engineering, this role serves as the senior CPE architecture authority responsible for setting standards, influencing technical direction, and guiding engineering, product, operations, field, and vendor partners through complex device, firmware, Wi-Fi, orchestration, and subscriber-experience decisions without direct people-management responsibility.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
The Essential Duties and Responsibilities listed below are a range of duties performed by the employee and not intended to reflect all duties performed.
CPE Architecture & Digital Orchestration
● Design and own Ziply's digital orchestration platform for In-Home CPE: managing residential gateway and ONT configuration, monitoring, and lifecycle across 1M+ unique subscribers.
● Define CPE architecture roadmap: platform selection, multi-gig support, Wi-Fi 6/6E/7 evolution strategy, and integration with Ziply's fiber access network.
● Own the orchestration layer that unifies CPE management, subscriber diagnostics, and operational tooling — reducing manual intervention and driving measurable cost savings.
● Architect FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) and ATA CPE strategy: carrier-agnostic device selection, integration with fiber services, and deployment at scale.
Firmware & Device Lifecycle Management
● Own firmware lifecycle management: version strategy, staged rollout planning, KPI definition (code-download success rates, reboot rates, error rates), and rollback procedures.
● Define DevOps processes for CPE firmware delivery: CI/CD pipeline integration, automated testing in lab environments, and production rollout governance.
● Establish CPE lifecycle policy: device qualification, end-of-life criteria, field replacement planning, and inventory alignment with supply chain.
● Coordinate with the Technology & Architecture Lab on CPE qualification: test plan development, acceptance criteria, and field readiness certification.
● Own ACS platform migration programs: assessment and migration of subscriber CPE devices from legacy Auto Configuration Server platforms to next-generation ACS infrastructure, including migration tooling, subscriber communication, and rollback planning.
Wi-Fi & In-Home Network Architecture
● Lead Ziply's Wi-Fi evolution: define the roadmap for Wi-Fi 6/6E/7 across the fiber In-Home CPE footprint, including gateway Wi-Fi and mesh extender platform strategy.
● Own Wi-Fi performance standards: channel planning, band steering, roaming (802.11r/k/v), and minimum performance SLAs by service tier.
● Architect Wi-Fi automated troubleshooting and remote diagnostic tools for repair agents and call center teams — reducing in-call support time and field dispatch rates.
● Define in-home network segmentation standards: service VLANs, guest network, and IoT isolation.
Operational Tools & Customer Experience
● Design and own customer and operational tools that surface CPE telemetry, diagnostic data, and device health to call center agents, field technicians, and subscribers directly.
● Build AI/ML-assisted diagnostic capabilities: log collection automation, anomaly detection, and remote access tooling that enables faster issue resolution without truck rolls.
● Define integration architecture between CPE management platforms and OSS/BSS systems: provisioning, ticketing, and workforce management.
● Establish a global/multi-vendor support model for CPE platforms: technical escalation processes, vendor bug tracking (JIRA or equivalent), and cross-team communication standards.
Vendor & Ecosystem Management
● Manage CPE vendor relationships: TP-Link, Gemtek, eero, and ONT vendors — technical roadmap alignment, firmware commitments, and commercial terms.
● Define CPE RFP and evaluation criteria: functional requirements, performance benchmarks, TCO analysis, and vendor scorecard methodology.
● Partner with field operations and supply chain on CPE deployment logistics, inventory standards, and field swap procedures.
Other Duties
· Performs other duties as required to support the business and evolving organization.
Required Qualifications:
· High school diploma or GED.
· Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, Telecommunications, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and directly relevant CPE, broadband, or in-home networking architecture experience.
● 10+ years of CPE, broadband, ISP, device platform, in-home networking, Wi-Fi, or telecommunications technology experience with deep expertise in residential gateways, ONTs, managed Wi-Fi, device lifecycle management, firmware governance, subscriber diagnostics, or CPE orchestration platforms. Demonstrated senior independent contributor experience setting CPE and in-home networking architecture standards, influencing technical direction, mentoring engineers, and driving cross-functional architecture decisions without direct people-management responsibility.
● Deep Wi-Fi expertise, including Wi-Fi 6/6E architecture, mesh platforms, RF performance optimization, automated Wi-Fi diagnostics, and Wi-Fi 7 roadmap, lab validation, or implementation exposure. Proven experience designing, modernizing, or owning large-scale CPE management, ACS, device orchestration, telemetry, diagnostics, or operational tooling platforms that improve support efficiency, device health, customer experience, or operating cost outcomes. Hands-on firmware lifecycle management: staged rollout governance, KPI tracking, DevOps integration, and production rollback procedures.
● Experience with broadband CPE ecosystems such as residential gateways, ONTs, mesh extenders, managed Wi-Fi, FWA, ATA, or related subscriber-premise platforms, including device integration, certification, supportability, and deployment considerations. Ability to design and deliver operational tools, telemetry, diagnostics, remote access, automation, or data-assisted troubleshooting capabilities that improve support efficiency, reduce avoidable dispatches, and improve subscriber experience. Strong cross-functional communication skills: able to translate technical CPE decisions into business impact for executive and marketing stakeholders.
Preferred Qualifications:
● Experience with TR-069/CWMP or TR-369 (USP) device management platforms at carrier scale.
● Agile/DevOps methodology experience in a CPE firmware or platform delivery context.
● Prior work at a CPE OEM or equipment vendor with multi-operator, multi-region support responsibilities.
● Experience supporting CPE or subscriber-device environments at or near 1M+ customers or devices with measurable operational impact.
● Experience with IoT network segmentation, guest network architecture, or residential managed Wi-Fi services.
● Experience with AI/ML-assisted diagnostics, anomaly detection, device telemetry analytics, or subscriber-experience analytics for broadband CPE and in-home networking environments.
● Experience presenting CPE, Wi-Fi, firmware, device lifecycle, customer-experience, or operational transformation strategy to VP-level or executive audiences.
● Experience with compliance-sensitive remote access, subscriber telemetry, device management, or customer data handling controls in production broadband environments.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
· Ability to work independently and apply sound judgment and reasoning skills to a variety of situations.
· Ability to multi-task and collaborate effectively with other personnel to meet deadlines.
· Strong verbal and written communication, attention to detail, and organizational skills.
· Ability to work within critical deadlines.
· Ability to adjust to rapidly changing priorities and schedules.
· Ability to provide excellent customer service.
· Senior technical leadership skills with the ability to influence CPE and in-home networking architecture, mentor technical teams, establish standards, and build alignment without direct people-management authority.
· Strong analytical and systems-thinking skills with the ability to balance device performance, subscriber experience, security, supportability, operational efficiency, cost, vendor risk, and lifecycle complexity.
· Executive presence and communication skills to explain complex CPE, Wi-Fi, firmware, orchestration, and device lifecycle decisions clearly and credibly to Technology, Operations, Product, Customer Experience, Marketing, Supply Chain, vendors, and senior leadership.
Work Authorization
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the US for any employer. Sponsorship is not available for this position.
Physical Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Essential and marginal functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for bending, stooping, sitting, walking, or standing for prolonged periods of time; most of time is spent sitting in a comfortable position with frequent opportunity to move about. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to computer screens and requires extensive use of a computer, keyboard, mouse, and multi-line telephone system. The work is primarily a modern office setting.
At all times, Ziply Fiber must be your primary employer. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, employees may not hold outside employment nor be self-employed without obtaining approval in writing from Ziply Fiber. In holding outside employment or self-employment, employees should ensure that participation does not conflict with responsibilities to Ziply Fiber or its business interests.
Diverse Workforce / EEO:
Ziply Fiber requires a pre-employment background check as conditions of employment. Ziply Fiber may require a pre-employment drug screening.
Ziply Fiber is a drug free workplace.
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