IP Sales Engineering Architect

As an IP Sales Engineering Architect, this role is responsible for shaping and driving software solutions and network architectures that accelerate Ribbon’s growth in the IP and Optical market. The Architect evaluates and influences the Network Operating System (NOS) and broader software stack, providing architectural leadership for high‑scale features, operational enhancements, and overall software quality.

This role partners closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Sales teams to translate real‑world customer requirements into scalable, deployable solutions. The Architect plays a critical role in positioning Ribbon’s IP/MPLS routing and software portfolio for Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 Service Providers, MSOs, Enterprise, and Data Center customers.

Acting as a senior technical bridge between NOS architecture and customer‑facing network solutions, this position establishes architectural standards, identifies capability gaps, defines viable workarounds, and ensures Ribbon’s IP/MPLS routing and software platforms can be credibly positioned, demonstrated, and deployed in customer environments.

• Design and influence system software, protocols, and Network Operating Systems used by Hyperscalers, Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 Service Providers, and Enterprise networks.
• Provide architectural guidance across the full software lifecycle—from development and coding through deployment and customer consumption—while understanding how customers measure value and ROI.
• Drive modular OS architecture best practices, including service decomposition, isolation, failure domains, and dependency management.
• Demonstrate deep knowledge of Network OS internals across control plane, data plane, and management plane, including IPC mechanisms, APIs, service contracts, and shared‑state management.
• Design and evaluate distributed systems with strict availability, scalability, and performance requirements.
• Architect and assess VM‑based and containerized solutions supporting control‑plane, management‑plane, and platform services.
• Guide observability and telemetry strategies, including metrics, logging, tracing, and system introspection in large‑scale software systems.
• Define and influence software upgrade, downgrade, rollback, and fallback mechanisms, including hitless or near‑hitless approaches.
• Analyze upgrade impact across IPC mechanisms, APIs, persistent state, and databases.
• Analyze complex system behavior under failure, scale, and upgrade scenarios.
• Identify architectural limitations in routing, switching, and security systems and define technically sound workarounds.

• Provide deep technical leadership across routing and MPLS technologies, including:
  • IPv4 / IPv6
  • OSPF, IS‑IS, BGP
  • RSVP, LDP (FRR), QoS, Multicast
  • BGP‑LS, PCEP, Segment Routing
  • Service architectures including L2VPN, L3VPN, and EVPN

• Partner closely with Product Management and Development to define new products and contribute to Ribbon’s long‑term architectural vision.
• Develop value propositions and solution architectures leveraging Ribbon and third‑party technologies to meet customer requirements.
• Identify and develop business opportunities for IP and Optical solutions within the Service Provider market.
• Support business success through high‑quality RFI, RFP, and RFQ responses.
• Deliver technical training and knowledge transfer to customers, internal sales teams, and Ribbon Architects and Systems Engineers.
• Contribute to go‑to‑market strategies for assigned product lines.
• Coordinate and lead customer lab trials and proofs of concept in collaboration with cross‑functional teams.
• Conduct ongoing technical presentations within targeted accounts to uncover future opportunities and strengthen customer relationships.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field (Master’s preferred).
• Proven experience in software architecture within the telecommunications or networking industry, including successful engagement with Tier 1 and Tier 2 Service Providers.
• Pre‑sales or customer‑facing L1–L3 network engineering experience, with a strong telecommunications focus.
• Strong technical background in:
  • IP/MPLS, MPLS‑TP, Carrier Ethernet
  • IP routing and signaling protocols
  • Mobile networks (4G, 5G)
• Demonstrated experience in customer‑facing technical engagements.
• Juniper and/or Cisco experience and certifications preferred.
• In‑depth knowledge of communications and networking standards, architectures, and industry best practices.
• Proven ability to build strong relationships with customers at all organizational levels.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills.
• Strong multitasking capabilities with demonstrated analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Demonstrated passion for quality, rigor, and attention to detail.