AI Connect Principal Engineer

When you join Verizon

You want more out of a career. A place to share your ideas freely — even if they’re daring or different. Where the true you can learn, grow, and thrive. At Verizon, we power and empower how people live, work and play by connecting them to what brings them joy. We do what we love — driving innovation, creativity, and impact in the world. Our V Team is a community of people who anticipate, lead, and believe that listening is where learning begins. In crisis and in celebration, we come together — lifting our communities and building trust in how we show up, everywhere & always. Want in? Join the #VTeamLife.

What you’ll be doing…

Verizon is aggressively expanding and modernizing its core fiber infrastructure to power next-generation artificial intelligence workloads, hyperscale compute clusters, and critical cloud interconnects. Under the AI Connect initiative, we are delivering high-capacity, low-latency, and highly survivable transport networks engineered for immense scale. As a Principal Engineer and senior individual contributor within Network Engineering, you will serve as the chief technical authority translating AI Connect capacity needs into resilient, constructible physical routes. You will apply deep engineering expertise to solve complex outside plant (OSP) challenges, optimize Ultra Long Haul (ULH) path augments, conduct detailed GIS route reviews, standardize high-density fiber material specifications, and partner shoulder-to-shoulder with Technical Project Managers to resolve tough civil field constraints.

• Serving as the senior technical authority for route re-design, feasibility studies, and optical link budget evaluations for ULH and high-capacity metro fiber augments supporting AI Connect builds.
• Performing end-to-end GIS spatial reviews (evaluating alignments, right-of-way boundaries, conduit congestion, and existing utility plant) to validate Engineering design packages before construction kickoff.
• Coordinating the technical review and reconciliation of redlines and As-Built engineering records, ensuring physical network data, splice schemes, and route documentation accurately transition from the field into Verizon’s core inventory databases.
• Acting as the lead technical problem solver for Technical Project Managers and construction teams, formulating engineered solutions to bypass complex field constraints (e.g., bridge/waterway crossings, railway ROW access, dense urban utility conflicts, and difficult directional boring profiles).
• Evaluating and specifying cutting-edge OSP materials including ultra-high-count ribbon cables, microduct architectures, low-loss optical fiber, and splice closures keeping Verizon at the forefront of industry innovation and build efficiency.
• Monitoring and driving vendor engagement on route build progress, ensuring construction milestones are consistently hit and tracking to completion timeframes.
• Partnering closely with Planning, Sourcing, Inside Plant Engineering (ISP), and vendor partners to resolve material or design discrepancies and maintain structural network integrity.

This role can be located in any US based Verizon hub location.

What we’re looking for…

You’ll need to have:

• Bachelor’s degree or four or more years of work experience.
• Six or more years of relevant experience required, demonstrated through one or a combination of work and/or military experience, or specialized training.
• Experience in Network Engineering, Outside Plant (OSP) Engineering, or Optical Transport Infrastructure design.
• Hands-on expertise conducting GIS spatial analysis and detailed engineering design reviews for terrestrial fiber builds.
• Knowledge of civil construction methodologies, utility conflict resolution, and OSP permitting constraints.
• Willingness to travel up to approximately 25% of the time to inspect field operations, ILA sites, or meet with regional build partners.

Even better if you have one or more of the following:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil, Electrical, Systems, or Telecommunications Engineering.
• Extensive experience engineering Ultra Long Haul (ULH) transport routes, dark fiber acquisitions, and high-density micro-cable deployments.
• Demonstrated experience resolving complex civil build hurdles alongside Technical Project Managers, field crews, and external engineering firms.
• Proficiency in geospatial and CAD design platforms (e.g., ArcGIS, QGIS, AutoCAD, SpatialNet).
• Working knowledge of Verizon inventory and engineering tools (such as vBuild, CP, BDMS, FIMS/ICGS/IDDS, PRS, TIRKS, CoFEE/Canvas, APP, LFACS).
• Strong understanding of next-generation optical performance parameters (attenuation profiles, PMD/CD constraints, coherent DWDM interfaces).
• Industry certifications such as Professional Engineer (PE), BICSI RCDD, or equivalent technical credentials.

If Verizon and this role sound like a fit for you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet every “even better” qualification listed above.

In this hybrid role, you'll have a defined work location that includes working from home and a minimum of three days per week in the office, which will be set by your manager. Employees are responsible for maintaining compliance with hybrid work policies.

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Equal Employment Opportunity 

Verizon is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to veteran status, disability or other legally protected characteristics.

Benefits and Compensation

Our benefits are designed to help you move forward in your career, and in areas of your life outside of Verizon. From health and wellness benefit options including: medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, AD&D insurance, identity theft protection, pet insurance and group home & auto insurance. We also offer a 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 and tuition assistance, plus other incentives, we’ve got you covered with our award-winning total rewards package. Depending on the role, employees have the opportunity to receive compensation in the form of premium pay such as overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, allowances, etc. Newly hired employees receive up to 15 days of vacation per year, which grows with additional service. For part-timers, your coverage will vary as you may be eligible for some of these benefits depending on your individual circumstances.

The salary will vary depending on your location and confirmed job-related skills and experience. This is an incentive based position with the potential to earn more. For part-time roles, your compensation will be adjusted to reflect your hours.The annual salary range for the location(s) listed on this job requisition based on a full-time schedule is: $107,000.00 - $205,000.00.The annual salary range for the Colorado location(s) listed on this job requisition based on a full-time schedule is: $118,000.00 - $205,000.00.The annual salary range for the Illinois location(s) listed on this job requisition based on a full-time schedule is: $118,000.00 - $205,000.00.