Distinguished Application Operations Engineer

You want more out of a career. A place to share your ideas freely - even if they're daring or different. Where the true you can learn, grow, and thrive. At Verizon, we power and empower how people live, work and play by connecting them to what brings them joy. We do what we love - driving innovation, creativity, and impact in the world. Our V Team is a community of people who anticipate, lead, and believe that listening is where learning begins. In crisis and in celebration, we come together - lifting our communities and building trust in how we show up, everywhere & always. Want in? Join the #VTeamLife.

The Virtualized Engineering and Network Management Group in the Global Network & Technology organization at Verizon is looking for a highly accomplished, self-motivated, curious, and technically advanced distinguished engineer to join the growing and fast-paced operations team responsible for building, operating, and improving mission critical 5G / 4G Core systems serving roughly 150M wireless customers nationwide.

As a subject matter expert of this highly visible, dedicated, and skilled operations team, you will provide technical leadership, expertise, and oversight to create / execute on effective and precise strategies for the seamless and successful operational maintenance of existing virtualized and non-virtualized systems and their associated interactions within the Verizon ecosystem. You are expected to drive the strategy and ensure the success of complex, large-scale projects or programs that span multiple teams or departments, ensuring alignment with overarching business strategies. In addition, you will need to demonstrate a positive, proactive leadership role including taking the initiative to identify matters of importance; resolving problems; building a sense of teamwork and working well in an unstructured environment.

Also, this role will require you to identify and drive improvements to existing distributed application infrastructure and operational practices with various internal groups and vendor partners across the Verizon ecosystem to ensure operational success and optimize efficiencies. This includes giving direction for MOP (Method of Procedure) improvements, detailed design optimizations, capacity/demand analysis, timing of required growth projects, and development of requirements for the successful deployment and integration of new systems. You will be expected to work independently with very minimal supervision, while keeping Sr. Leadership and project teams fully aware of implementation schedule progress in a timely manner.

• Leading yourself and the business by embodying the following Leadership Principles: Act on Customers' Behalf, Create and Drive Change, Deliver Results, Drive Teamwork, Align on Our Direction, Nurture Development, Foster Inclusion, Lead by Example, and Take Responsibility.

• Anticipating the future and prepare accordingly. Anticipate workload impact on resources of both self and team, and organize methods to account \ solves for these challenges

• Successfully navigating complex and undefined problems by evaluating intangible factors and developing clear strategic direction, even when lacking initial guidance.

• Leading the day-to-day operational management of production systems which control access, mobility, signaling \ routing, and discovery functions within the 5G and 4G ecosystem (Leading the day-to-day operational management of production systems which control access, mobility, signaling \ routing, and discovery functions within the 5G and 4G ecosystem. These 5G / 4G systems include PCF, SCP, BSF, NRF, SLF, NSSF, SEPP, PCRF, and DRA.

• Following established policies and procedures for hands-on operational maintenance activities such as software updates, patching, deployment efforts in order to maintain and enhance these critical systems.

• Monitoring these mission-critical systems and respond to issues with a sense of urgency to quickly diagnose \ resolve problems.

• Leading engagement with vendors, and owners of various internal and external support teams to quickly resolve new and on-going issues.

• Partnering with other teams with troubleshooting and resolving issues with their own systems when necessary.

• Leading development of new procedures as needed and explore process improvements.

• Working efficiently and effectively, both as an individual and as a team member.

• Quickly learning new technical skills as needed in order to successfully complete hands-on and theoretical operational and performance objectives.

• Supporting a flexible work schedule, including overnight and weekend work as business needs dictate.

You'll need to have:

• Bachelor's degree or four or more years of work experience.

• Eight or more years of relevant experience required, demonstrated through one or a combination of work and/or military experience, or specialized training.

• Experience track record of leading diverse teams in designing, refining, and formulating strategies for development, implementation, and continued production support of enterprise solutions.

• Hands-on experience deploying, configuring, and supporting highly available applications within a distributed Kubernetes cloud environment.

• Linux System Administration skills.

• Proficient knowledge and hands-on experience developing scripts using Python, Ansible, Perl, Shell, or similar programming languages to increase efficiency, quality, and productivity.

• Proficient knowledge of TCP/IP Networking fundamentals and associated troubleshooting capabilities.

• Proficient in collecting and analyzing packet captures.

• Leadership experience as a subject matter expert.

Even better if you have one or more of the following:

• Virtualization and Linux Certifications.

• Experience deploying, configuring, and supporting RedHat Openshift.

• Working knowledge of RedHat Openstack.

• Familiarity with Common Carrier and Enterprise grade Hardware (Oracle, x86, HP, DELL).

• Proficient knowledge of database systems such as MySQL.

• Working knowledge of 5G and 4G Network functions and Call Flow (SBI, Diameter, SIP).

• Advanced hands-on experience deploying, configuring, and supporting highly available applications within a distributed Kubernetes cloud environment.

• Advanced Linux System Administration skills.

• Effective written, interpersonal, and verbal communication skills.

If Verizon and this role sound like a fit for you, we encourage you to apply even if you don't meet every "even better" qualification listed above.

Verizon is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to veteran status, disability or other legally protected characteristics.

Our benefits are designed to help you move forward in your career, and in areas of your life outside of Verizon. From health and wellness benefit options including: medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, AD&D insurance, identity theft protection, pet insurance and group home & auto insurance. We also offer a matched 401(k) savings plan, stock incentive programs, up to 8 company paid holidays per year and up to 6 personal days per year, parental leave, adoption assistance and tuition assistance, plus other incentives, we've got you covered with our award-winning total rewards package. Depending on the role, employees have the opportunity to receive compensation in the form of premium pay such as overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, allowances, etc. Newly hired employees receive up to 15 days of vacation per year, which grows with additional service. For part-timers, your coverage will vary as you may be eligible for some of these benefits depending on your individual circumstances.