Verizon Communications

Associate Director - AI Platform Engineering

Verizon Communications$126K — $242K *
Enterprise Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
  • Eight or more years of relevant work experience in technology or military.
  • Proven technical leadership with experience managing engineers.
  • Experience running Kubernetes in a production environment.
  • Proficient in multi-cloud operations (GCP and AWS).
  • Knowledge of AI/ML infrastructure and model serving techniques.
  • Track record of developing developer platforms including SDKs and developer onboarding.

Responsibilities

  • Lead engineering delivery for AI infrastructure and services.
  • Design and implement model routing and multi-cloud failover features.
  • Establish and uphold platform SLAs for reliability and performance.
  • Consolidate multiple business unit AI integrations onto a single platform.
  • Onboard cross-functional teams to the AI platform within set timelines.
  • Recruit and mentor a team of engineers to enhance platform capabilities.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health and wellness benefits including medical and dental.
  • Matched 401(k) savings plan with company contributions.
  • Paid parental leave and adoption assistance.
  • Tuition assistance for further education.
  • Generous vacation policy starting with 15 days per year.
  • Multiple paid holidays and personal leave options.
Full Job Description
What you’ll be doing…

You’ll lead engineering delivery for two foundational pillars of Verizon’s enterprise AI Platform — the Adaptive Intelligence Gateway that routes every AI request across all business units and the Agent Development Lifecycle (ADLC) that governs how AI agents are built, registered, and deployed. You’ll manage a team of 3–5 engineers, own the engineering roadmap, and translate platform architecture into production-grade services that thousands of Verizon developers depend on. 

  • Owning AI Gateway engineering. Design and deliver intelligent model routing, multi-provider failover (Google Vertex, AWS Bedrock, OpenAI), per-BU FinOps and chargeback, semantic caching, and self-service tenant onboarding on a Kubernetes/Istio foundation with JWT-driven multi-tenant namespace isolation.

  • Delivering the Agent Development Lifecycle. Ship the Agent Registry with zero-trust identity (SPIFFE/SPIRE), the Verizon Agent SDK with pre-integrated LLMOps/FinOps/guardrails, the MCP Tool Gateway, and an ArgoCD-managed DevSecOps pipeline with canary deployments and auto-rollback.

  • Hitting the SLAs that keep the platform trusted. 99.9% Gateway uptime, 60;2,000ms P95 latency, Mean Time to Agent Deploy reduced from 21 days to 60;7 days, 95%+ Agent 6amp; Registry Compliance.

  • Driving enterprise consolidation and cost control. Consolidate 8+ independent BU AI integrations onto one managed gateway, enable real-time cost attribution, and unlock $500K+ quarterly optimization savings through intelligent routing.

  • Onboarding the business. Land 5+ BU teams on the platform within 6 months, ship Agent Registry GA and SDK v1.0, and establish the engineering operating cadence with Architecture, Operations, and BU consumers.

  • Leading the team. Recruit, coach, and grow a team of 3615 platform engineers; set the engineering bar, review designs, and remove blockers so the team ships.

What we’re looking for…

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.

  • Technical leadership experience managing software or platform engineers.

  • Experience running Kubernetes at production scale.

  • Experience operating in multi-cloud environments (GCP and AWS).

  • Experience with AI/ML infrastructure: model serving (vLLM, LLM Gateways,60; or equivalent), inference optimization, and LLMOps.

  • Experience building developer platforms 615 SDKs, CLIs, developer portals, or self-service onboarding.

  • Experience with FinOps or cost allocation models (chargeback, budget enforcement, usage attribution).

Even better if you have one or more of the following:
  • A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or an MBA.

  • Experience with API gateway patterns: JWT authentication, rate limiting, traffic splitting, circuit breakers, and mTLS

  • Software or platform engineering experience.

  • Experience with agentic AI frameworks (LangGraph, Google ADK, CrewAI, or similar).

  • Familiarity with MCP (Model Context Protocol) and A2A (Agent-to-Agent) standards.

  • Experience implementing zero-trust security (SPIFFE/SPIRE, OPA/Rego).

  • Experience with CDC pipelines and event-driven data platforms (BigQuery, Kafka).

  • Experience delivering platforms in a telecom or large regulated enterprise (CPNI, PCI-DSS, SOX).

  • Experience designing Responsible AI guardrails, evaluation pipelines, or model governance.

  • Experience with observability stacks (Jaeger, Prometheus/Grafana, ELK, or BigQuery-based).

  • Certifications: AWS Solutions Architect, GCP Professional Cloud Architect, CKA/CKAD.

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.

Where you’ll be working
In this hybrid role, you'll have a defined work location that includes working from home and a minimum of three days per week in the office, which will be set by your manager. Employees are responsible for maintaining compliance with hybrid work policies.

Scheduled Weekly Hours
40

Benefits and Compensation

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, AD6amp;D insurance, identity theft protection, pet insurance and group home 6amp; auto insurance. We also offer a matched 401(k) savings plan, up to 8 company paid holidays per year and up to 6 personal days per year, paid 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.

The salary will vary depending on your location and confirmed job-related skills and experience. This is an incentive based position with the potential to earn more. For part-time roles, your compensation will be adjusted to reflect your hours.

The salary range for the location(s) listed on this job requisition based on a full-time schedule is: $126,000.00 - $242,000.00.

About Verizon Communications

MCIS delivers wireless links, turn-key systems, broadband leases, and system maintenance.

Verizon Communications Careers

Join the vibrant team at Verizon Communications, a global leader in technology and communications, where innovation meets purpose. Our diverse and inclusive culture champions forward-thinking and offers a plethora of job opportunities that cater to enhancing your professional growth and career trajectory. Work You’ll Do At Verizon Communications, you will be part of a dynamic team that is at the forefront of driving digital transformation in the telecommunications industry. Our commitment to diversity and innovation is not just about staying competitive but fostering an environment where all employees can thrive. Lead with Innovation Embrace the opportunity to work on groundbreaking projects that redefine how people connect. Verizon is not just a company; it's a community of leaders and innovators. With over tens of thousands of employees worldwide, our leadership is committed to providing a platform where skills and ideas converge to create impactful solutions. Join Our Inclusive Team Verizon’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is integral to our company’s ethos. We believe in empowering our team members by providing them with the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed. This includes comprehensive benefits, diversity training, and opportunities for professional development. Explore Career Opportunities Whether you’re looking for a full-time position, an internship, or a leadership role, Verizon offers a range of employment options to match your career ambitions. Our team is hiring creative and solution-driven professionals who are eager to learn and grow. Networking and Professional Growth Advance your career with Verizon’s unmatched opportunities for professional growth. Engage in networking events, leadership programs, and training sessions designed to hone your skills and expand your industry knowledge. Internship Programs Kickstart your career with a Verizon internship. Gain hands-on experience, work with seasoned professionals, and understand the inner workings of one of the world’s leading tech companies. Our internships offer a unique insight into our company culture and operations, setting a solid foundation for your career. Benefits and Culture At Verizon, we prioritize the well-being of our team members. Enjoy a comprehensive package of benefits that supports both your professional and personal life. Our culture promotes work-life balance, employee wellness, and continuous learning. Stay Connected Join Our Team Explore the various job opportunities at Verizon Communications and find the position that best suits your skills and interests. We are looking for passionate, curious, and innovative team players. Keep Up to Date Stay informed with the latest career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights—all from the people who work here. Job Alert Emails Customize your subscription to receive job alerts, the latest news, and insider tips tailored to your preferences. Discover the exciting and rewarding opportunities that await at Verizon Communications. Join Verizon Communications today and be part of a team that values leadership, innovation, and diversity. Shape your future in an environment where your work makes a real impact.
Learn more about Verizon Communications
Size
118,400 employees
Market Cap
$164.4 billion
Industry
Net Income
$17.8 billion
Founded
1983
5 Year Trend
+1.2%
Revenue
$128.2 billion
NASDAQ

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Verizon Communications

More Enterprise Technology Jobs

Find similar Associate Director - AI Platform Engineering jobs: