Principal Technical Consultant
About The Position
As a Principal Technical Consultant in AT&T’s Technology Sector, you will serve as the lead customer-facing technical expert designing high-capacity fiber solutions for AI and compute infrastructure. The role covers wavelength and managed optical services, DWDM, optical transport network (OTN), Carrier Ethernet, dark fiber, and data center interconnect (DCI). You will guide opportunities from discovery through proposal and delivery handoff, working with sales, product, engineering, network, and delivery teams. This is an individual-contributor role for a networking expert with deep fiber and optical infrastructure knowledge who can lead customer technical engagements and raise the bar for the team. The position is full-time and onsite at the designated work location five days per week. No relocation is offered. Locations listed are Bellevue, Washington; Denver, Colorado; and several locations in California. The role has a 40-hour workweek and is a regular position.
Requirements
- Typically 8+ years of relevant network-infrastructure experience.
- Significant customer-facing experience in solutions architecture, sales engineering, consulting, or technical presales, supporting large, complex opportunities.
- Extensive experience with optical transport or fiber-based network solutions, with strong knowledge of DWDM, wavelength services, OTN, and Carrier Ethernet.
- Understanding of optical link budgets, fiber loss, amplification, regeneration, protection, and route diversity.
- Experience with high-capacity metro, long-haul, or DCI architectures.
- Ability to lead discovery, develop proposals, and explain complex designs to technical and business audiences.
- Strong consultation and cross-functional collaboration skills, including experience supporting implementation across customer and internal stakeholder groups.
- Sound judgment on solution cost, feasibility, risk, and customer outcomes; strong problem-solving and data-driven decision-making under changing conditions.
- Proactive, action-oriented approach and proven ability to influence buying decisions, shape opportunities, and contribute to revenue growth.
- Bachelor’s degree (BS/BA) in a relevant field or equivalent practical experience.
Responsibilities
- Serve as the technical lead on pursuits for optical transport, wavelength, Ethernet, dark fiber, and DCI solutions for AI-driven network demand.
- Lead customer discovery and technical workshops, translating bandwidth, locations, diversity, service dates, and growth needs into network requirements such as capacity, latency, route diversity, resiliency, and interfaces.
- Architect optical transport, wavelength, Ethernet, Managed Optical Fiber Networks, DCI, and dark fiber solutions.
- Evaluate existing fiber and capacity, route alternatives, and new-build needs; compare technical and economic trade-offs among dark fiber, wavelengths, Ethernet, and managed transport.
- Develop architecture diagrams, technical and proactive proposals, and RFP responses, including assumptions, risks, timelines, and cost or ROI inputs.
- Present recommendations to engineering, business, and executive stakeholders, simplifying complex technology while retaining credibility with network architects.
- Partner with sales, product, construction and engineering, operations, and delivery teams; identify technical and implementation risks, support high-priority escalations, and ensure effective post-sale handoff.
- Create reusable solution patterns, mentor other technical-sales professionals, and bring recurring customer needs and emerging demand patterns into product and network plans.
- Use customer needs and market demand to guide solution priorities and deliver value.
- Focus on high-value outcomes, simplify decisions, and act with appropriate urgency.
- Question assumptions and improve solutions, processes, and customer outcomes.
- Share knowledge, collaborate across functions, and help colleagues perform at their best.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- 401(k) plan
- Tuition reimbursement program
- Paid Time Off and holidays, including at least 23 vacation days each year and 9 company-designated holidays, based on date of hire
- Paid parental leave
- Paid caregiver leave
- Additional sick leave may be available beyond state and local legal requirements
- Adoption reimbursement
- Short- and long-term disability benefits
- Life and accidental death insurance
- Supplemental benefits including critical illness, accident hospital indemnity, and group legal programs
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
- Employee wellness programs
- Employee discounts up to 50% off eligible AT&T mobility plans and accessories, AT&T internet and fiber where available, and AT&T phone
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Principal
