Vice President, Network Architecture & Engineering

About Us We're building the fiber network you deserve. Consistently fast, refreshingly straightforward and giving you control. From our home base in Kirkland, Washington, we're connecting over one million homes and businesses across the states we serve with fiber internet that works the way it should. No gimmicks, no gotchas. Internet shouldn’t get in the way of life: it should make it better. Job Description This is a remote position. Position Title: Vice President, Network - Architecture & Engineering Base Salary: $178,600 to $263,500 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 Ziply Fiber is building one of the most technically advanced fiber-first broadband networks in the Pacific Northwest, and we're moving fast. As Vice President of Network Architecture & Engineering, you will serve as the chief technical authority for our full network stack — access, voice, subscriber edge, IP core, transport, and infrastructure. You will lead a team of Principal Architects and Directors, own the multi-year technology roadmap, and drive the transformation programs that reduce cost, accelerate deployment, and position Ziply for competitive leadership in every market we enter. This is an executive role that demands equal command of technical depth and business impact. You will build the business cases, secure the investments, and deliver the results — measured in dollars saved, deployment velocity accelerated, and operational dependencies eliminated. 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. Network Architecture Strategy & Transformation · Define and own the multi-year network architecture roadmap across voice, access, subscriber edge, IP core & metro, transport, and infrastructure domains. · Drive technology transformation programs: legacy platform exits, vendor-agnostic architecture adoption, zero-touch provisioning, and network automation. Leadership & Organizational Capability · Lead and scale a team of Principal Architects and Directors; build organizational capability through director- and principal-level hiring and development. · Represent the technology organization in executive-level discussions, board briefings, and strategic partnership negotiations. · Set clear objectives, success metrics, and accountability for architecture and engineering leaders; coach teams through complex technical, financial, and organizational tradeoffs. · Develop succession depth and leadership bench strength for critical architecture and engineering functions. Business Case, Investment & Financial Planning · Develop and own business cases for major network investments — quantifying cost savings, stranded asset recovery, and competitive positioning for executive and board approval. · Deliver measurable cost reductions through optics standardization, technology consolidation (DACS, legacy platforms), and operational independence from TSA and vendor lock-in agreements. · Collaborate with the Enterprise Delivery Office on CapEx and OpEx planning for all network engineering initiatives. Technology Certification, Vendor Strategy & Selection · Establish and operate a technology certification program: device qualification, PoC lab management, vendor-donated equipment programs, and accelerated certification cycles. · Own vendor and technology selection: RFPs, PoCs, architecture reviews, and contract negotiations across the network stack. Cross-Functional Operations & Execution · Partner with Network Planning, Platform Ops, IT/Platform Technology, and NOC to ensure architecture enables operational efficiency and autonomous network operations. 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, Telecommunications, Information Technology, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and directly relevant experience. · 15+ years of progressive network engineering and architecture experience, with 5+ years in a senior leadership role at a broadband ISP, CLEC, or telco. · Proven track record of delivering large-scale network transformation programs with quantifiable business impact — cost savings, asset recovery, or competitive differentiation measured in the tens to hundreds of millions. · Experience scaling high-performance architecture or engineering teams; demonstrated ability to add director- and principal-level talent to strengthen organizational capability. · Hands-on experience with transport (400G/100G), fiber voice/VoIP business cases, and CPE/modem platform migrations at scale. · Deep familiarity with zero-touch provisioning, vendor-agnostic orchestration, and network automation platforms. · Experience exiting legacy technology dependencies: TSA agreements, end-of-life platforms (DACS, TDM, legacy ACS), and third-party operational agreements. · Strong business acumen: ability to build, defend, and deliver on multi-million-dollar investment cases at the executive level. · Excellent cross-functional leadership: able to align engineering, operations, finance, and vendor partners around shared outcomes. Preferred Qualifications: · Advanced degree such as MS, MBA, or equivalent executive-level business or technical education. · Experience establishing or operating a technology lab or architecture center (vendor certification, PoC environments, donated equipment programs). · Background in digital transformation or operations modernization — omni-channel, automation, AI-assisted operations, or field technician tooling. · Intellectual property, publication, patent, or industry thought-leadership experience in networking, automation, platform modernization, or subscriber experience domains. · Prior experience at a fiber-first or fiber-overbuilder ISP in a competitive broadband market. 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. · Executive presence with the ability to influence across Technology, Operations, Finance, Legal, Product, and executive leadership. · Strong analytical, financial, and decision-making skills with the ability to balance technical excellence, customer impact, operational risk, and business value. · Ability to build trust, lead through ambiguity, and drive alignment in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment. 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 is an equal opportunity employer. Ziply Fiber will consider all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, and the presence of a non-job-related handicap or disability or any other legally protected status. 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.