Director, vRAN Cloud & AI Automation

• leads a specialized team responsible for the architectural strategy, deployment, and automation of Verizon’s virtualized Radio Access Network (vRAN) and Cloud Infrastructure (VCP)
• Oversees the lifecycle of Cloud-native RAN platforms, manages complex multi-vendor ecosystems, and drives AI-driven automation
• Directing end-to-end strategy and deployment of Cloud-native RAN platforms, overseeing FOA rollouts, hardware cutovers, and infrastructure upgrades across thousands of Far Edge nodes
• Serving as the primary interface for key partners (Samsung, Wind River, Ericsson, Red Hat), holding them accountable for technical roadmaps, deliverables, and SLAs through rigorous triage and patch management
• Spearheading the development and integration of AI-driven tools and internal software (e.g., Skinny OS, AI Copilots) to automate diagnostics, site pre-checking, and 'Day 2' operational workflows
• Driving vRAN roadmap planning, ensuring integration of new technologies (e.g., Granite Rapids compute) while maintaining infrastructure consistency and performance metrics
• Facilitating cross-functional collaboration between Planning, Engineering, Maintenance Engineering (MTCE), and Operations teams to troubleshoot high-stakes production issues and maintain system stability
• Mentoring and developing team members, fostering a culture of high morale and professional excellence, while designating and grooming leads for specific workstreams (e.g., SS requirements, E/// requirements)
• Directing high-stakes technical troubleshooting for complex production issues, including kernel crashes, PTP synchronization failures, and driver-level conflicts (Intel ICE drivers)
• Identifying opportunities for process improvement and driving efficiencies to simplify repeatable tasks
• Providing coverage for any operational issues and ensuring platform outages are handled in accordance with predefined guidelines for ticket management, prioritization, documentation, escalation, and resolution
• Ensuring that the performance of the entire staff is maximized by establishing individual and group objectives, providing routine feedback and counseling (when necessary), and conducting yearly performance appraisals
• Identifying opportunities for operational and management automation while performing as a subject matter expert for the technology

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or four or more years of work experience
• Eight or more years of relevant experience required, demonstrated through one or a combination of work and/or military experience, or specialized training
• Experience in Cloud Infrastructure, OpenShift (CaaS), and vRAN architecture, with experience in RHEL, Linux kernel fine-tuning, and CaaS resource management
• Experience in managing external technology relationships, articulating firm technical requirements, and leading high-stakes escalations to meet aggressive delivery timelines
• A degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or related fields is even better.
• Ability to analyze issues and solve complex problems with innovative solutions
• Technical leadership and experience in one or more of the following areas: Telecommunications, Networking, IT systems & Virtualization/Cloud technologies
• Proven ability to make clear-headed, decisive actions under high-pressure scenarios, particularly regarding infrastructure cutovers and production troubleshooting
• Demonstrable history of effective partnership and empathy across diverse organizations (MTCE, Operations, Engineering) to solve complex problems and manage executive escalations
• Ability to effectively articulate technical requirements to vendors and provide clear, strategic updates to executive leadership
• Automation Mindset: Experience in driving the transition from manual processes to AI-driven, automated network workflows
• Experience with deploying and managing applications running in a virtualized or containerized environment
• Completion of an undergraduate degree and an MBA to complement technical expertise with strong business acumen
• Rotational experience or familiarity with lateral domains such as RAN or Transport to widen technical scope
• Experience in developing or deploying AI-driven agents or custom scripts for log analysis, configuration management, and predictive network resilience
• Experience transitioning initiatives from successful FOA/Pilot phases to full-scale enterprise rollout (100–500+ sites)

Core Competencies

Demonstrates expertise in Cloud Infrastructure, vRAN architecture, and AI-driven automation, with a strong focus on managing complex multi-vendor ecosystems and driving operational efficiencies. Proven ability to lead technical teams, mentor staff, and effectively communicate with key partners and executive leadership.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Cloud Infrastructure Management
• VRAN Architecture
• AI-Driven Automation
• Technical Leadership
• Complex Problem Solving

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• OpenShift
• RHEL
• Linux Kernel Fine-Tuning
• CaaS Resource Management
• AI-Driven Tools Development
• Production Troubleshooting
• Network Workflows Automation
• Log Analysis
• Configuration Management
• Predictive Network Resilience

Soft Skills

• Effective Communication
• Empathy
• Mentoring
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Decisive Action Under Pressure

Industry Keywords

• Telecommunications
• Networking
• IT Systems
• Virtualization
• Cloud Technologies

Tools & Technologies

• Skinny OS
• AI Copilots
• Virtualized Environment
• Containerized Environment
• Ticket Management Systems

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