Principal Engineer Data Network Planning

About Lightpath

Lightpath is building the fiber infrastructure the digital economy depends on - owning, operating, and expanding dense, high-performance networks for enterprises, public institutions, carriers, and cloud innovators. Our all-fiber network supports mission-critical environments, from financial markets and healthcare systems to AI platforms and next-generation cloud architectures. As we expand across the Northeast and into high-growth markets nationwide, we invest ahead of demand - building infrastructure with precision, resilience, and accountability.

To support that growth, we're building a team of people who take ownership, think long-term, and take pride in tackling complex work with care and integrity. At Lightpath, every role contributes to infrastructure that powers critical systems and real-world outcomes. We look for individuals who value precision, accountability, and collaboration and who want to help build networks, processes, and partnerships that are engineered to last.

Job Summary

ThePrincipal Engineer Data Network Planningat Lightpath plays a critical role in shaping and executing network strategies to optimize the company's next-generation fiber-optic network. This role requires a blend of technical expertise, strategic vision, and leadership skills to oversee the design, architecture, and implementation of scalable and secure network solutions.

Key responsibilities include developing and enforcing network policies, leading network platform decisions, and ensuring the network meets performance and reliability standards. The role also involves collaborating closely with various business units, including Sales Engineering, Product, and Operations, to design and deliver custom network solutions that exceed customer expectations.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in telecommunications, with extensive knowledge of network protocols (such as MP-BGP, OSPF,LDP,ISIS, SR and MPLS), experience with network devices and services, and a proven track record in managing large-scale network projects. They will also possess strong project management skillsandthe capability to stay ahead of industry trends and technological advancements.

ThePrincipal Engineerwill be instrumental in ensuring that Lightpath's network infrastructure is robust, scalable, and aligned with the company's strategic objectives, all while maintaining a focus on cost-effective solutions and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute network strategies that align with Lightpath's business goals, focusing on expanding and optimizing our next-generation fiber-optic network.

• Analyze and drive key decisions regarding network platforms, ensuring alignment with Lightpath's strategic goals.

• Oversee the design and architecture of network solutions, ensuring they are scalable, secure, and capable of meeting the demands of diverse customer needs.

• Experienceconfiguring, deploying, and integrating network devices and services.

• Establish and enforce network policies, technical standards, and configuration protocols to maintain network integrity and security.

• Collaborate with the sales and customer service teams to design and deliver custom network solutions thatexceed customer expectations.

• Stay abreast of the latest industry trends and emergingtechnologies andintegrate innovative solutions into Lightpath's network infrastructure.

• Develop and manage Capital Expenditure (CapEx) budgets, ensuring cost-effective deployment of network infrastructure.

• Assess the functionality of hardware, software, and tools, ensuring they meet the network's performance and reliability standards.

• Oversee the certification process for hardware and softwaresystems andlead the selection of new tools and technologies to support network operations.

• Evaluate new products, manage RFI/RFP processes, and oversee new feature testing to ensure compatibility with existing network infrastructure.

• Lead proof of concept initiatives and remediation testing to validate new technologies and resolve any issues before full-scale deployment.

• Develop and maintain relationships with equipmentsuppliers andindustry research departments to keep up knowledge on technological roadmaps.

• Responsible for the support of legacy technologies andalternativereplacement when needed.

• Develop and project manage programmed circuit migrations to improve the state of the core network.

• Prepare Engineering Cost and Planning estimates & Projections for Large Scale Projects and Customer Solutions.

Qualifications

• BS Degree - Engineering, Telecommunication or Computer Science or equivalent experience. Masters preferred.

• 7-10+ Years oftelecommunicationsexperience

Technology and Hardware Knowledge

• Extensive and demonstrable knowledge of MP-BGP, OSPF,LDP,ISIS, SR, MPLS,TCP/IPin a service provider/carriernetworkrequired.

• Proficient troubleshooting L2/L3skillsrequired.

• Adeptunderstanding of internet routing securitytechniquesand toolsincluding IRR and RPKIrequired.

• Knowledgeof QoS/CoSincluding traffic classification, marking, policing and shaping, queuingandhardware/softwarebuffers required.

• Working knowledge and experience with Cisco ASRandNCS platforms, IOS-XE andIOS-XRarepreferred. Knowledge ofJuniperJunosand Arisa EOSisa plus.

• Extensive and demonstrable knowledge ofMEFCarrierEthernet products and standards,OAM toolsincludingY.1731 statistics collection,Interconnection, andWholesale Mobile Backhaulrequired.

• Understandingofvariousservice testing methodologies(RFC2544, Y.1564,RFC6349), and theirkeyusecasesand differencesrequired

• Experience with field-based work in POPs, carrier hotels, data centers, cable head ends,andtelco centraloffice environmentspreferred.

• Understanding of active and passivexWDMtransportsystems,colored and tunable transceivers,DOM/DDM diagnostics, powerandthermalmanagement, and troubleshootingpreferred

• Network lab test equipment (Keysight, Ixia, Spirent) experience desired.

• Opticalcircuitswitch/cross-connect (OCC/OXC) experience desired.

• On-premises DDOS mitigationtechnology(Radware,Corero, etc.)knowledge andexperience desired

• SD-WAN(Meraki, Versa, etc.) knowledge and experience desired

• AzureExpressRoute,AWS Direct Connect, Google GCP, Oracle OCIas a service provider/carrierknowledge andexperience desired.

• Python, Bash,Golang,Perl,APIscripting language experience desired

Systems and Software Knowledge

• Experience withNetcrackeror similar Planning and Provisioning tool

• Knowledge and working experience withnetwork orchestration tools.

• Knowledge ofperformance management tools

• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Maps, Streets & Trips, Visio & various operational Support Systems for internal and external presentations and complex network schematics.
• This position will also accept qualified applicants who live throughout the United States.

Lightpath is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to recruiting, hiring and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds regardless of gender, race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.

Lightpath collects personal information about its applicants for employment that may include personal identifiers, professional or employment related information, photos, education information and/or protected classifications under federal and state law. This information is collected for employment purposes, including identification, work authorization, FCRA-compliant background screening, human resource administration and compliance with federal, state and local law.

This position is identified as being performed in/or reporting to company operations in New York State. The pay range at the time of posting in the specified locations is $145,000 - $185,000/year. Pay ranges are supplied in compliance with New York State law. Pay is competitive and based on a number of job-related factors, including skills and experience. Some of our featured benefits include medical, dental, vision insurance, yearly bonus program and company matched 401k.