Director, Outside Plant and Engineering

Position Title: Director, Outside Plant & Engineering

Base Salary: $145,000 to $190,116 annually DOE

Bonus: Target annual bonus

Benefits: Medical, dental, vision, 401k, flexible spending account, paid sick leave and paid time off, parental leave, quarterly performance bonus, training, career growth and education reimbursement programs.

Ziply Fiber is a local internet service provider dedicated to elevating the connected lives of the communities we serve. We offer the fastest home internet in the nation, a refreshingly great customer experience, and affordable plans that put customers in charge. 

As our state-of-the-art fiber network expands, so does our need for team members who can help us grow and realize our goals.  

Our Company Values: 

• Genuinely Caring: We treat customers and colleagues like neighbors, with empathy and full attention. 
  

• Empowering You: We help customers choose what is best for them, and we support employees in implementing new ideas and solutions. 
  

• Innovation and Improvement: We constantly seek ways to improve how we serve customers and each other.  
  

• Earning Your Trust: We build trust through clear, honest, human communication. 
  

Job Summary

The Director of Outside Plant & Engineering leads teams responsible for designing and building scalable, cost-effective fiber networks, ensuring all designs meet technical and regulatory standards. This role oversees the entire engineering design process, manages internal teams and external partners, and drives innovation and operational excellence. The Director is accountable for delivering high-quality, construction-ready designs and maintaining accurate OSP records to support Ziply Fiber’s mission of expanding state-of-the-art fiber networks. Strategic leadership, vendor management, and expertise in fiber network engineering are essential for enabling large-scale deployment and long-term network sustainability

The position is to be in either Kirkland, Washington or Everett, Washington.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: 

The Essential Duties and Responsibilities listed below are a range of duties performed by the employee and not intended to reflect all duties performed.

Program Management & Strategic Planning

·       Provide the end-to-end program direction to organize, develop, and execute a program build across multiple functional teams.

·       Develop and execute the fiber engineering design strategy in alignment with business expansion and network deployment goals.

·       Provide input into long-term network strategy, capacity planning, and emerging technology adoption.

·       Support market analysis diligence required for expansion initiatives.

Engineering Design, Standards & Compliance

·       Oversee end-to-end design processes, including route planning, permitting, and compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

·       Ensure designs are optimized for scalability, cost efficiency, constructability, and long-term maintainability.

·       Establish and enforce engineering design standards, documentation practices, and quality control measures, and oversee adherence to industry best practices and evolving standards in fiber network engineering.

·       Ensure engineering work orders are designed in compliance with all company standards, NESC, Utility Pole Agreements, and municipal requirements, as well as public ROW or utility easements, and ensure compliance with permitting requirements, safety standards, and environmental regulations. Mitigate risks by proactively identifying engineering challenges and implementing solutions.

Team Leadership, Vendors & Cross-Functional Collaboration

·       Lead and mentor a team of engineering managers, designers, and support staff to deliver high-quality network designs on schedule.

·       Manage relationships with external engineering vendors, contractors, and consultants, ensuring alignment with company standards and project timelines.

·       Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the engineering organization.

·       Partner with construction, operations, product, and finance teams to align engineering design with deployment readiness and business objectives.

Innovation, Tools & Performance

·       Drive innovation in design methodologies, leveraging automation, GIS platforms, and advanced engineering tools, and implement best-in-class workflows to improve speed, accuracy, and efficiency of design deliverables. Establish and manage process indicators and performance metrics to optimize workflows.

·       Stay ahead of industry trends, technologies, and regulatory developments to maintain competitive advantage.

Administrative & Travel

·       Occasional travel for activities such as out-of-town meetings, training, or outreach activities up to 10% of the time.

Other Duties

·       Performs other duties as required to support the business and evolving organization.

Required Qualifications:

·       Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, or related field.

·       Minimum ten (10) years of progressive experience in fiber network engineering.

·       Minimum of five (5) years in a leadership/people management capacity, with demonstrated experience mentoring, developing, and managing engineering teams.

·       Proven expertise in large-scale fiber design, route and build planning, permitting, and construction-ready deliverables.

·       Strong understanding of GIS applications, CAD tools, asset management systems, and engineering workflows.

·       Experience managing internal teams and third-party engineering vendors.

·       Developed leadership skills, with the ability to mentor and lead others.

·       Knowledge of permitting processes, regulatory requirements, and compliance for fiber deployments.

·       Ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and communicate effectively with executive leadership.

·       Experience using fiber optic network documentation tools.

·       Understanding of network Engineering and inventory tools

·       Ability to travel occasionally (up to 10% of the time).

·       The schedule for this position is Monday through Friday with weekend availability as needed to complete the essential duties of this role.

·       Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license, auto insurance, and satisfactory driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

·       Master’s degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, or related field.

·       Professional Engineer (PE) license.

·       Experience managing capital budgets.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Ability to work independently and apply sound judgment and reasoning skills to a variety of situations.
  
• Ability to collaborate effectively with other personnel to meet deadlines.
  
• Strong verbal and written communication, attention to detail, and organizational skills.
  
• Operate from a customer centered mindset
  
• Ability to lead and guide change within an organization
  
• Ability to work within critical deadlines.
  
• Ability to adjust to rapidly changing priorities and schedules.
  
• Ability to provide excellent customer service.
  

Work Authorization

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the US for any employer. Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Essential and marginal functions may require maintaining physical condition necessary for bending, stooping, sitting, walking, or standing for prolonged periods of time; most of time is spent sitting in a comfortable position with frequent opportunity to move about. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to computer screens and requires extensive use of a computer, keyboard, mouse, and multi-line telephone system. The work is primarily a modern office setting.

At all times, Ziply Fiber must be your primary employer. Unless otherwise prohibited by law, employees may not hold outside employment nor be self-employed without obtaining approval in writing from Ziply Fiber. In holding outside employment or self-employment, employees should ensure that participation does not conflict with responsibilities to Ziply Fiber or its business interests.

Diverse Workforce / EEO:

Ziply Fiber is an equal opportunity employer. Ziply Fiber will consider all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, and the presence of a non-job-related handicap or disability or any other legally protected status.

Ziply Fiber requires a pre-employment background check as conditions of employment. Ziply Fiber may require a pre-employment drug screening.

Ziply Fiber is a drug free workplace.