Director, Core Network Engineering

This is a senior leadership role within Network Engineering, driving the strategic vision and execution for core IP and Optical network infrastructure. Leading a high-performing team, the role encompasses full lifecycle management, from architecture design and technology selection to proactive maintenance and network transformation. The successful candidate will develop and implement long-term network roadmaps aligned with business objectives, leveraging emerging technologies to enhance network flexibility, reliability, and scalability. This leader will foster strong collaboration with field partners and technology suppliers, ensuring seamless platform launches and operational excellence. They will drive continuous improvement through data-driven analysis of network performance, capacity planning, and budget management, while also developing and mentoring a highly skilled engineering organization. As a key escalation point for critical network issues and a strategic advisor on future network trends, this role directly impacts service delivery, customer satisfaction, and overall business growth.
RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develops both long-term and short-term core backbone, metro, edge service objectives and ensures alignment with company strategies and business plans.
• Responsible for core network architecture; new network technology and platform enablement; full life cycle management; proactive & preventative maintenance; enablement; network transformation programs; telemetry and capacity roadmap.
• Leads team to create strategic roadmaps based upon demand, capacity, emerging network services, network and security trends, and technologies
• Collaborates closely with field regional partners to ensure seamless and effective platform launch and operations for the backbone, metro core and metro edge.
• Collaborates with technology suppliers in defining and development of technologies.
• Applies well-developed analytical thinking to analyze platform performance metrics that support decision-making, develop business-focused insights, and create alternative solutions to grow and enhance our service delivery, customer satisfaction and employee engagement.
• Coaches and develops a highly skilled, versatile, and committed engineering organization.
• Analyze future network requirements and develop associated long-term capital budgets.
• Continued process and reliability improvement for infrastructure through analyzing metrics and trends of the production network.

QUALIFICATIONS
Minimum

• Bachelor's degree in a related discipline and 10 years' experience in a related field OR a Master's degree and 8 years' experience OR a Ph.D. and 5 years' experience in a related field OR 14 years' experience in a related field.
• 5+ years' experience in a management or leadership role.
• Strong understanding of core IP networking protocols and Optical technologies
• Demonstrated experience in network architecture design, implementation, and maintenance.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, presentation, and collaborative skills to work effectively with teams throughout organization
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to mentor and develop engineering talent.

Preferred

• 15+ years of progressive experience in network engineering, with a significant portion focused on large-scale core IP and Optical networks.
• Experience implementing software driven networks: Network as Code, hardware and software disaggregation technologies, automation and orchestration, digital twin, and next generation telemetry
• Expert-level knowledge of advanced routing and switching protocols (e.g., MPLS-TE, segment routing).
• Strong understanding of network security principles and best practices, including experience with intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS).
• Experience with network telemetry, and big data analysis of network performance.
• Proficiency in network automation and orchestration tools (e.g., Ansible, Python).
• Proven experience in managing large capital budgets and optimizing network expenditures.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and anticipate future network trends.

USD 159,400.00 - 265,600.00
Compensation:
Compensation includes a base salary of $159,400.00 - $265,600.00. The base salary may vary within the anticipated base pay range based on factors such as the ultimate location of the position and the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, and abilities. Position may be eligible for additional compensation that may include an incentive program.
Benefits:
The Company offers eligible employees the flexibility to take as much vacation with pay as they deem consistent with their duties, the company's needs, and its obligations; seven paid holidays throughout the calendar year; and up to 160 hours of paid wellness annually for their own wellness or that of family members. Employees are also eligible for additional paid time off in the form of bereavement leave, time off to vote, jury duty leave, volunteer time off, military leave, and parental leave.
Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States for any employer without current or future sponsorship.
About Cox Communications
Cox Communications is the largest private telecom company in America, serving six million homes and businesses. That's a lot, but we also proudly serve our employees. Our benefits and our award-winning culture are just two of the things that make Cox a coveted place to work. If you're interested in bringing people closer through broadband, smart home tech and more, join Cox Communications today!
About Cox
Cox empowers employees to build a better future and has been doing so for over 120 years. With exciting investments and innovations across transportation, communications, cleantech and healthcare, our family of businesses - which includes Cox Automotive and Cox Communications - is forging a better future for us all. Ready to make your mark? Join us today!
Benefits of working at Cox may include health care insurance (medical, dental, vision), retirement planning (401(k)), and paid days off (sick leave, parental leave, flexible vacation/wellness days, and/or PTO). For more details on what benefits you may be offered, visit our benefits page .
Cox is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer - All qualified applicants/employees will receive consideration for employment without regard to that individual's age, race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, genetic information, ethnicity, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Statement to ALL Third-Party Agencies and Similar Organizations: Cox accepts resumes only from agencies with which we formally engage their services. Please do not forward resumes to our applicant tracking system, Cox employees, Cox hiring manager, or send to any Cox facility. Cox is not responsible for any fees or charges associated with unsolicited resumes.