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 at scale.

This 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 NR to 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 strategy, and systemic root-cause remediation.
• Experience leading performance outcomes through major RAN modernization and/or vendor technology transitions.
• Ability to build and operationalize automation and algorithms for optimization at scale (tooling, data, controls, and governance).
• Strong communication, cross-functional influence, and stakeholder management skills.
• Bachelor’s degree in