Principal Engineer, Network Real Estate
About The Position
As a Principal Real Estate Engineer on Verizon’s AI Connect team, this role serves as the lead individual contributor and authoritative subject matter expert in site acquisition, land leasing, complex contract negotiations, and lifecycle regulatory, environmental, and zoning compliance. The position leads the due diligence, acquisition, and regulatory strategy needed to secure Inline Light Amplification Station (ILA) facilities that support next-generation AI infrastructure. The role provides technical leadership, mentorship, and governance across external vendors and internal project teams, without direct people-management responsibilities. It establishes operational and regulatory standards to support rapid, compliant network deployments. The role reports to the Associate Director of Real Estate and may be based at a Verizon hub location in the United States. It is hybrid, with a defined work location and at least three days per week in the office; travel may be up to approximately 25%.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or four or more years of work experience.
- Six or more years of relevant individual-contributor experience in network real estate, telecom site acquisition, land negotiations, or regulatory compliance.
- Deep subject matter expertise in commercial real estate contract negotiation, title clearance, land purchases, and long-term ground leases.
- Extensive hands-on experience navigating municipal zoning codes, land-use approvals, variance boards, and conditional use permitting processes.
- Thorough technical understanding of environmental compliance, including NEPA, Phase I/Phase II ESAs, wetlands/floodplain assessments, and SHPO reviews as needed.
- Demonstrated experience preparing, submitting, and tracking applications with regulatory authorities.
- Willingness to travel up to approximately 25% of the time.
- Valid driver’s license.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s degree or specialized professional real estate or planning credential.
- Direct experience securing real estate, ILA, or point-of-presence (PoP) sites along long-haul fiber routes or outside plant (OSP) corridors.
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent credentials.
- Strong background managing outside legal, site acquisition, and environmental vendor partners on multi-regional infrastructure projects.
- Experience presenting at public hearings, zoning boards of adjustment, and municipal city council meetings.
- Demonstrated ability to create standard operating procedures, compliance checklists, and risk mitigation frameworks for large-scale engineering rollouts.
- Exceptional negotiation, analytical, and written and verbal communication skills.
Responsibilities
- Lead end-to-end site acquisition, due diligence, and execution for fee-simple land purchases and ground leases for ILA facilities along long-haul routes.
- Structure and negotiate complex real estate agreements, ground leases, purchase contracts, and easement access with private landowners, commercial entities, and municipalities.
- Direct environmental due diligence, including NEPA, Phase I/II Environmental Site Assessments, and SHPO or tribal reviews, and navigate municipal zoning, land-use planning, and special or conditional use permits.
- Analyze, interpret, and monitor federal, state, and local regulatory requirements; prepare, review, and track applications with regulatory bodies and local building departments.
- Represent Verizon in discussions with municipalities, planning commissions, and civic authorities; develop and execute community outreach strategies to educate stakeholders and secure land-use approvals.
- Oversee and quality-check turnkey site acquisition firms, environmental consultants, surveyors, and title companies to ensure deliverables meet engineering requirements and project timelines.
- Establish workflows, templates, and compliance guidelines for network real estate acquisitions and regulatory processes to mitigate business risk and accelerate build cycles.
- Resolve technical and real estate obstacles with agility, provide candid input during project reviews, and take ownership of high-quality, compliant infrastructure outcomes.
- Provide technical leadership, mentorship, and governance across external vendors and internal project teams without direct people-management responsibilities.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Short- and long-term disability insurance
- Basic and supplemental life insurance
- 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
- Up to 6 personal days per year
- Paid parental leave
- Adoption assistance
- Tuition assistance
- Other incentives
- Potential premium pay, such as overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, or allowances, depending on the role
- Up to 15 days of vacation per year for newly hired employees, increasing with additional service
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
