Director – Network Optimization & Automation

Position: Director – Network Performance Optimization & Automation
** Director – Network Performance Optimization & Automation
**** Role Overview
** The Director – Network Performance Optimization & Automation is a senior wireless engineering leader responsible for improving network performance and customer experience through data-driven optimization, rigorous field trials, and scalable automation. This role leads a large, nationally distributed engineering organization that overlays local markets—driving consistent performance standards while enabling region-specific tuning based on RF conditions, device mix, and traffic behaviors.

Working in close partnership with RAN engineering, RF performance, architecture, operations, and vendor partners, this leader develops and executes a multi-year roadmap focused on: (1) optimizing existing network configurations, (2) ensuring performance excellence through major RAN modernization/vendor transitions, and (3) building automation and algorithms that continuously fine-tune the network s role is based in Dallas TX or Atlanta GA requiring in-office presence 5 days/week.

Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.
** Key Responsibilities
** RAN Performance Strategy & Leadership
* Build and lead a high-performing RAN performance engineering organization with strong technical rigor and an engineering-first mindset.
* Define and execute a national performance roadmap aligned to customer experience outcomes and measurable KPI improvement.
* Establish operating mechanisms (cadences, governance, escalation paths, standards) that drive repeatable execution across all markets.

Network Optimization, Field Trials & Technical Studies
* Lead end-to-end optimization initiatives across LTE/5G  improve key outcomes (e.g., accessibility, retainability, mobility robustness, throughput, latency).
* Design and execute field trials and technical studies to validate new features, parameter strategies, and optimization approaches; translate findings into scalable playbooks.
* Identify chronic/systemic performance issues, determine root causes, and drive durable corrective actions across markets.

Modernization / Vendor Transition Performance Oversight
* Own the performance strategy and KPI assurance plan for large-scale RAN modernization efforts, ensuring stability and continuous improvement before, during, and after cutovers.
* Partner with engineering and vendor teams to evaluate feature behavior, configuration baselines, and rollout sequencing to mitigate risk and maximize outcomes.
* Develop performance acceptance criteria, scorecards, and go/no-go readiness checkpoints.

Automation, Algorithms & Continuous Tuning
* Lead development of automation and algorithmic optimization (e.g., closed-loop tuning concepts, policy-based optimization, model-driven parameter strategies).
* Ensure algorithms are configurable and adaptable to regional conditions and market-level differences.
* Drive instrumentation and measurement strategies that connect network changes to KPI movement and customer experience impact.

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration
* Partner across national engineering teams, local market organizations, operations, and vendor partners to align priorities and accelerate execution.
* Communicate performance progress, risks, tradeoffs, and recommendations to leadership in clear, decision-ready narratives.
* Support annual planning and investment prioritization by quantifying expected KPI impact, effort, and operational considerations.

Talent Management & Culture
* Lead, mentor, and develop a large, multi-layer engineering organization (including managers and senior engineers).
* Foster a culture of curiosity, innovation, accountability, and disciplined engineering execution.
** Required Qualifications
*** 10+ years of progressive experience in wireless RAN engineering, with significant depth in LTE/5G performance and optimization.
* Demonstrated success leading large, distributed engineering organizations, including managers-of-managers.
* Strong experience with field trials/studies, feature validation, and translating results into production network standards.
* Proven ability to drive measurable KPI improvement through parameter tuning, feature…