Manager, Network Connectivity & Carrier Strategy

Vultr

About The Position

Vultr is seeking a Manager, Network Connectivity & Carrier Strategy to lead how new data center sites connect to the world. The role owns the end-to-end site connectivity selection process, including evaluating fiber and carrier infrastructure, negotiating with national and regional carriers, deciding where to place network points of presence (POPs), and shaping backbone expansion strategy. The manager will lead a small team of carrier relations professionals and work closely with Network Architecture & Engineering and Network Operations to turn greenfield sites into on-net, production-ready facilities. The role also advises executives and network leadership on expansion opportunities, evaluates self-build fiber partnerships, and develops carrier engagement practices to support reliable delivery on aggressive timelines. Travel to carrier meetings, site walks, and construction reviews may be required, up to 25%.

Requirements

10+ years of experience in network infrastructure, telecommunications, or data center connectivity, including 5+ years negotiating fiber, transport, peering, transit, and colocation deals.
Deep knowledge of fiber construction economics and logistics, including route surveys, make-ready, rights-of-way, permits, ILA/hut placement, splice and amplifier engineering, and realistic construction timelines.
Demonstrated ability to assemble multi-party connectivity deals involving dark fiber IRUs, wavelength leases, colocation agreements, national and regional carriers, and self-built metro fiber arrangements.
Track record of building carrier relationships at engineering and executive levels and securing responses, quotes, and honored commitments.
Strong grasp of long-haul and metro transport technology, including 800/400G-ZR/ZR+, DWDM, amplification, distance limits, and route-diversity design.
Experience advising on network POP/site placement strategy, carrier hotels, IX presence, PeeringDB, and rural-versus-metro build trade-offs.
Knowledge of relevant IP networking technologies and best practices, including BGP, Segment Routing, MPLS, Traffic Engineering, SLOs, and SLAs.
Knowledge of relevant software development and tooling, including GIS, scripting, agentic coding, network traffic analysis, network simulation, and synthetic monitoring.
3+ years of people management experience, or clear readiness to manage, and comfort running a small team of carrier relations professionals.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to produce concise executive briefs and detailed engineering requirements documents.
Willingness to travel to carrier meetings, site walks, and construction reviews, up to 25%.

Responsibilities

Own the end-to-end site connectivity selection process for each new data center site, including assessment, requirements, carrier outreach, engineering, procurement, and turn-up.
Map regional fiber and carrier infrastructure using tools such as FiberLocator, PeeringDB, state 811/one-call records, and local knowledge to assess buildability, providers, and timelines.
Negotiate master service agreements, nondisclosure agreements, colocation agreements, dark fiber IRUs, and wavelength or transport contracts with national and regional carriers.
Lead engineering sessions with carriers to develop construction budgets, build timelines, and route-diversity commitments.
Manage and develop a small team of carrier relations TPMs/reps, setting priorities, coaching carrier engagements, and holding delivery to timelines.
Advise executive and network leadership on expansion locations by synthesizing carrier capability, fiber availability, power and land economics, and regional demand.
Partner with Network Engineering and Architecture on connectivity design and with Operations on POP turn-up and backbone integration.
Track carrier performance, delivery accuracy, responsiveness, and construction quality, and improve the carrier engagement playbook, including escalation and pivot strategies.
Evaluate self-build fiber opportunities with local construction partners where regulatory conditions and economics favor partnership over turnkey carrier builds.

Benefits

100% company-paid premiums for employee medical, dental, and vision plans.
401(k) plan with a 100% match up to 4%, with immediate vesting.
Professional development reimbursement of $2,500 each year.
11 holidays, paid time off accrual, and a rollover plan.
Increased PTO at the 3-year and 10-year anniversaries.
One month of paid sabbatical every 5 years.
Annual anniversary bonus.
$500 remote office setup stipend in the first year and $400 each following year.
Internet reimbursement up to $75 per month.
Gym membership reimbursement up to $50 per month.
Company-paid Wellable subscription.