Associate Director, AI Connect Sales Engineering

Verizon•Atlanta, GA

1d•$130,000 - $248,000

About The Position

Verizon is building AI Connect as an intelligent fabric for the AI economy. The Associate Director leads sales engineers who design dark fiber, ultra-long-haul, metro, and campus interconnect solutions for hyperscalers and neoclouds. The role guides route strategy, fiber count, diversity, latency, and cost inputs before deals are won, while ensuring quoted solutions can be built. The leader sets strategy and standards for AI Connect and dark fiber design engineering, directs solutions across GPU campus and data center interconnect, long-haul and intercity routes, metro rings, and cloud on-ramps, and supports Verizon’s largest strategic customers across a multi-billion-dollar portfolio. The role applies commercial rigor to major pursuits, connects design with delivery partners, improves engineering efficiency, develops talent, and represents Verizon at industry events and customer advisory boards. This is a mobile role primarily based at customer or field locations, with occasional visits to a Verizon location for in-person training and meetings. Scheduled weekly hours are 40. The position is commission-based, with an annual salary range of $130,000 to $248,000 for listed locations, and $142,500 to $248,000 for New York locations, based on a full-time schedule. Salary depends on location, skills, and experience; the role offers the potential to earn more.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline, or directly related equivalent experience.
10 or more years of experience engineering and architecting telecom, IT, or network infrastructure, with deep expertise in dark fiber and the intersection of physical assets with AI/ML digital transformation.
3 or more years leading senior technical talent, including workforce planning, coaching, and performance management.
Proven record designing and winning large, multi-year infrastructure deals, including technical qualification, pricing, and contract negotiation.
Experience engaging senior executives and delivering effective customer presentations.
Demonstrated financial analysis skills, including P&L, ROI, cost analysis, and business-case development.

Nice To Haves

MS or MBA.
Direct experience with hyperscalers or neoclouds.
OSP engineering, construction, or delivery background, including ultra-long-haul or metro fiber programs, permitting and right-of-way, and contractor management.
Knowledge of AI and GPU cluster networking, including scale-out and scale-across topologies and their requirements on the fiber layer.
Familiarity with power-driven site selection and its effect on network routes.
Experience with IRUs, swaps, anchor-tenant builds, SLAs, and MSAs.
Relevant certifications, such as CCIE/CCNP, optical vendor certifications, or FOA CFOS.

Responsibilities

Set and execute the strategy for dark fiber and AI Connect design engineering.
Lead sales engineers supporting Verizon’s top strategic AI Connect customers, driving bookings and revenue growth across a multi-billion-dollar portfolio.
Direct designs for GPU campus interconnect, data center interconnect, long-haul and intercity routes, metro rings, and cloud on-ramps.
Define design standards for ultra-high-count fiber, route diversity, latency budgets, splice and handhole strategy, ILA/regen siting, and phased growth for multi-stage AI builds.
Evaluate build, IRU, lease, and swap options with Finance and Product, and develop ROI and cost models for large pursuits.
Partner with Network Planning, Construction, Right-of-Way, Legal, and Operations to ensure quoted routes are constructible, on schedule, and on budget.
Equip the team to communicate Verizon’s advantages across AI Connect, Dark Fiber, Lit Fiber/Wave, and Edge Data Centers, and establish the team as thought leaders.
Introduce automation and off-load low-value work so senior engineers can focus on customer-facing design.
Hire, coach, and retain engineers; maintain certifications and build a succession bench.
Represent Verizon at industry events, in thought leadership, and on customer advisory boards.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Short- and long-term disability insurance.
Basic and supplemental life insurance and AD&D insurance.
Identity theft protection.
Pet insurance.
Group home and auto insurance.
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.
Tuition assistance.
Other incentives and an award-winning total rewards package.
Newly hired employees receive up to 15 days of vacation per year, increasing with additional service.
Potential premium pay, such as overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, and allowances, depending on the role.