Senior Director of Design and Engineering

HELP CONNECT ARIZONA. BUILD THE FUTURE OF BROADBAND. At Wecom Fiber, we're helping bridge the digital divide across Arizona by building and maintaining the communications infrastructure that powers homes, businesses, schools, and communities. As our next Senior Manager of Construction, you'll play a senior leadership role in driving enterprise-wide OSP construction strategy, scaling FTTH deployment operations, and shaping the future of a rapidly growing fiber telecommunications organization. WHY WECOM? We're building a workplace where employees can grow their careers, make an impact, and help shape the future of telecommunications across Arizona. Our employees are helping connect communities, expand broadband access, and bring meaningful technology infrastructure to underserved areas throughout the state. Sr. Director of Design and Engineering Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Reports to: Chief Operations Officer Location: Phoenix, AZ Position Summary: The Sr. Director of Design & Engineering Fiber to the Home (FTTH) at Wecom Fiber is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the full lifecycle of outside plant (OSP) network design, engineering, and deployment readiness across our expanding FTTH footprint. This strategic position involves leading and managing a team of CAD drafters, GIS specialists, OSP engineers, and design professionals to ensure the successful delivery of high-quality fiber network designs in the telecommunications industry. The Director will translate Wecom's fiber expansion strategy into actionable engineering plans, own design standards and quality assurance, and serve as the senior technical voice across construction, operations, permitting, and executive leadership. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership & Program Execution - Translate Wecom's FTTH expansion strategy into actionable, scalable engineering plans aligned with long-range forecasts and business objectives. - Own the technical vision for all Outside Plant (OSP) design, GPON/XGS-PON architecture, and last-mile delivery infrastructure. - Develop and continuously refine companywide engineering standards, design guidelines, and quality benchmarks for FTTH network builds. - Track and report major milestones across design, permitting, construction, and activation stages of the fiber build lifecycle. - Oversee BEAD-funded projects, ensuring compliance milestones, required documentation, and federal, state, and subgrant reporting requirements are completed accurately and on schedule. - Identify and champion opportunities for process automation, GIS/CAD toolset adoption, and workflow optimization to reduce cycle times and improve deliverable quality. Network Design & Engineering Quality - Lead and validate fiber OSP project designs for aerial and underground plant, ensuring compliance with company policy, NESC standards, and applicable municipal regulations. - Direct the design of FTTH network architecture including feeder, distribution, and drop plant; review bills of quantities (BOQs), optical link budgets, and splitter configurations. - Oversee quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) programs for internal and vendor-produced designs, ensuring accurate cable records and GIS asset data. - Review and approve engineering designs, cost estimates, and bills of materials (BOMs) for all FTTH build projects. - Evaluate and specify network equipment including ONTs, optical splitters, distribution frames, and related access infrastructure. Permitting, ROW & Regulatory Coordination - Oversee all permitting and right-of-way (ROW)/easement acquisition processes, coordinating with municipalities, utilities, state DOTs, and property owners. - Manage joint-trench coordination with electric, gas, and water utilities to optimize construction cost and schedule. - Ensure compliance with local franchise agreements, dig regulations, and environmental requirements across all build markets. Team Leadership & Vendor Management - Lead, mentor, and manage a team of CAD drafters, GIS specialists, OSP engineers, and design professionals, providing guidance, direction, and support for project execution. - Recruit, develop, and manage engineering resources including internal staff, offshore design teams, and engineering subcontractors. - Manage vendor relationships and strategic partnerships for OSP design, GIS services, and network equipment supply. - Lead performance management for all direct and indirect reports, including goal setting, evaluations, feedback, and professional development. - Foster a culture of collaboration, technical excellence, and continuous improvement within the design and engineering department. Financial & Budget Accountability - Lead capital budget development and administration for FTTH expansion and OSP engineering operations. - Prepare financial estimates, cost evaluation summaries, and project ROI analyses for fiber build projects. - Monitor project budgets and schedules; proactively identify and escalate cost and schedule variances. Cross-Functional Collaboration - Collaborate with cross-functional teams including project management, construction, operations, and field personnel to align design and engineering efforts with business objectives. - Oversee the tracking of specific construction projects, ensuring accurate and timely updates on project progress, milestones, and deliverables. - Manage the creation of renderings, maps, GIS outputs, and design documentation to support project planning, implementation, and stakeholder communication. - Present engineering plans, program status, and capital forecasts to executive leadership as needed. - Collaborate with vendors, partners, and external stakeholders to source technologies, tools, and resources that support design and engineering initiatives. - Implement and optimize design and engineering systems, software, and tools to streamline processes and enhance project outcomes. Qualifications: - Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering, Design, GIS, Telecommunications, or related field. - Proven experience (10 years+ preferred) in a leadership role overseeing design and engineering teams, with a focus on FTTH/OSP network design, CAD drafting, and GIS mapping. - Expert knowledge of Fiber to the Home (FTTH) architecture, GPON/XGS-PON systems, and outside plant (aerial and underground) engineering standards. - Strong technical expertise in design and engineering principles, including CAD software (AutoCAD or equivalent), GIS applications (Esri/ArcGIS, QGIS), and make-ready/permitting workflows. - Demonstrated financial acumen in capital budget planning, cost estimating, and BOM development for large-scale fiber builds. - Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage with stakeholders, technical teams, municipalities, and senior management effectively. - Strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a results-driven approach to design and engineering projects. - Experience managing geographically distributed teams, offshore design resources, and engineering subcontractors preferred. - Proficiency in design and engineering software, tools, and technologies relevant to the telecommunications industry. - Experience in driving technical excellence, innovation, and quality control in design and engineering processes. THE BENEFITS OF JOINING OUR TEAM Career Growth & Leadership Opportunity Influence operational strategy Build scalable systems and processes Lead transformational initiatives Partner with executive leadership Support expansion into new markets Shape the future of construction management at Wecom Comprehensive Benefits & Total Rewards Health & Well-Being Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage Supplemental Benefit Options Life & Disability Insurance Employee Assistance Resources Gym Reimbursement up to $600 annually Time Away from Work Paid Weekly PTO Accrual Begins Immediately with No Waiting Period 13 Company-Paid Holidays Annually Financial Wellness 401(k) with Company Match up to 5% Additional Perks Cell Phone Reimbursement up to $50 per month Annual Boot Reimbursement up to $150 (field services roles) Ongoing Leadership Training NOTE: Wecom (and its subsidiaries) complies with all Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO). Wecom does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, religion, color, national origin, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, veteran status, pregnancy status or other status protected by law. Company benefits subject to change. www.wecomfiber.com