Digital Realty

Director, Network Planning & Architecture

Digital Realty$170K — $190K *
Telecommunications & Hardware
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10-15 years in telecommunications or data center network planning
  • Experience in customer-facing roles, such as Customer Success or Technical Support
  • Strong knowledge of telecom and data center interconnection products
  • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite applications
  • Excellent organizational, planning, and time-management skills
  • Ability to read and translate Carrier LOA/CFA
  • Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities

Responsibilities

  • Lead strategy and capacity planning for Digital Realty's global network infrastructure
  • Oversee deployment planning for network capacity to meet customer demand
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to evaluate demand and prioritize infrastructure
  • Establish governance for network architecture standards and design principles
  • Implement planning automation and data-driven workflows
  • Drive use of AI tools to enhance planning and design processes
  • Ensure alignment of network strategy with operational and business goals

Benefits

  • Opportunities for professional growth and development
  • Collaborative and innovative work environment
  • Engagement with cutting-edge technology and infrastructure
  • Impactful role with global reach and customer influence
  • Alignment with a forward-thinking company focused on future growth
Full Job Description
Job Description

Position Title: Director of Network Planning

Your role

As Director of Network Planning, you will lead the strategy, planning, and evolution of Digital Realty's global network infrastructure. You will partner with Technical Program Managers, Network Engineers, Design and Infrastructure Engineers, Field Engineers within DLR, and construction and telecommunications vendors and contractors to define scalable network strategies, strengthen architecture standards, and drive successful business outcomes across the organization.

You will help shape long-term network strategy and deliver faster, more effective outcomes for the business and our customers by combining sound network architecture, capacity planning, automation, and repeatable delivery models. Your goal will be to ensure Digital Realty's network is reliable, scalable,

cost-effective, and positioned to support future growth worldwide.

Digital Realty's network supports customers and partners across a global platform of data centers and

interconnection points. Our metro environments sit at the edge of the network, where customers connect directly to critical infrastructure, cloud platforms, and ecosystems. The Network Team is responsible for planning and operating this network reliably and at scale through strong architecture, standardized design patterns, and increasing levels of automation. The team manages the full lifecycle of space, power, and network assets across Digital Realty's global data centers and metro points of presence. This work begins with long-range planning, capacity strategy, and infrastructure readiness, and continues through architecture, design, deployment, activation, commissioning, and continuous improvement through tooling and automation.

What you'll do
  • Lead Digital Realty's global network planning strategy, including long-range capacity planning,

infrastructure prioritization, and investment alignment to support business growth, customer demand, and service objectives.
  • Lead network capacity deployment planning to ensure infrastructure is delivered in the right

markets, at the right time, and at the right scale to support customer demand, product

requirements, and business growth.
  • Drive new market planning and infrastructure readiness by partnering across product, sales,

finance, and deployment teams to evaluate demand signals, define requirements, and prioritize

expansion opportunities.
  • Partner closely with product teams to align network planning, architecture, and deployment

priorities with product roadmaps, service requirements, and customer experience goals.
  • Establish and govern network architecture standards, design principles, and planning frameworks that enable scalable, resilient, and cost-effective infrastructure across global metro and data center environments.
  • Drive repeatable planning and deployment models by translating architecture strategy into

scalable designs, implementation patterns, and technical requirements for global network expansion.
  • Own the roadmap for planning automation, data-driven workflows, and process standardization to reduce manual effort, improve quality, and increase speed and consistency across the

organization.
  • Drive the strategic use of AI tools to automate planning, analysis, and design workflows, improve

decision quality, identify optimization opportunities, and scale engineering productivity through

more intelligent and repeatable operating models.
  • Partner across engineering, operations, infrastructure, and business teams to align network

strategy with service requirements, financial targets, operational readiness, and customer

commitments.
  • Build and evolve governance, business processes, and performance measures for network

planning and design, including topology standards, hardware lifecycle strategy, capacity targets,

and risk management practices.

What you'll need
  • Experience leading network planning, architecture, or infrastructure strategy for large-scale Layer 1, Layer 2, or Layer 3 environments.
  • Experience defining architecture standards, design principles, and implementation models across optical, transport, routing, and data center networking environments.
  • Experience leading long-range capacity planning, investment prioritization, and infrastructure roadmap development in telecommunications, hyperscale, data center, or colocation environments.
  • Experience leading network capacity deployment strategies, market expansion planning, and infrastructure readiness for new metros, products, or service launches.
  • Experience defining and advancing an AI-enabled automation strategy using Python, APIs, data driven workflows, automation frameworks, and AI tools to streamline planning, accelerate design decisions, improve forecasting, and reduce manual effort across network engineering processes.
  • Knowledge of fiber types, transport systems, routing infrastructure, and scalable network architecture principles.
  • Experience establishing governance, business processes, and operating models that improve consistency, quality, and execution at scale.
  • Experience leading cross-functional programs and aligning engineering, operations, and business stakeholders around strategic network priorities.
  • Excellent communication, executive presentation, and decision-making skills.


Responsibilities

The Interconnection Service Coordinator is responsible for handling all incoming customer requests and assigning work to support service orders, ensuring that customer demands are addressed promptly and accurately. This role involves troubleshooting connectivity issues in collaboration with internal teams and external carriers, as well as managing the data and administrative requirements associated with each service order. The coordinator ensures that all service orders are processed in line with company standards and that clean handoffs are facilitated for seamless service activation. Maintaining a customer-focused approach, the coordinator communicates proactively with customers and stakeholders to provide updates and resolve issues. The role also requires meticulous attention to detail to maintain data accuracy and order integrity. Effective prioritization and organizational skills are essential to manage multiple tasks and handle ambiguity. The coordinator is expected to contribute to a team-based environment and support cross-functional collaboration to achieve operational excellence.

Qualifications

- Associate Degree in Business or three years relevant telecom experience- 10-15 Years experience in Telecommunications, Datacenters, Cross Connects/Interconnection products- Experience in customer-facing roles such as Customer Success or Technical Support- Ability to read, understand, and translate Carrier LOA/CFA- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite applications- Strong organizational, planning, and time-management skills- Excellent written and verbal communication skills- Customer-focused attitude and advocacy- Technical knowledge of telecom and data center interconnection products- Effective in team-based and cross-functional environments- Strong problem-solving and troubleshooting abilities- High integrity, trust, and commitment to self-development

About Digital Realty

Digital Realty Careers

Joining Digital Realty means becoming part of a dedicated team of professionals who are at the forefront of innovation in the data center industry. Digital Realty, a leading global provider of data center, colocation, and interconnection solutions, offers a variety of job opportunities that cater to a range of skills and experiences.

Explore Job Opportunities

Digital Realty is actively hiring and offers a plethora of positions that cater to both seasoned professionals and those at the beginning of their career journey. The company is committed to fostering a culture of growth and leadership, making it an ideal environment for ambitious individuals looking to advance their careers.

Internship Programs

For those just starting out, Digital Realty’s internship programs provide a robust platform for gaining industry experience and networking with experts. Internships are designed to transform academic knowledge into professional practice, while interns work on projects that drive real business results.

Professional Growth and Development

Digital Realty believes in the continuous professional development of its team members. The company supports career advancement through comprehensive leadership and diversity training programs that are designed to enhance skills and foster an inclusive workplace.

Benefits and Culture

The benefits at Digital Realty go beyond standard employment perks. Team members enjoy competitive benefits packages that support both their professional and personal lives. Moreover, Digital Realty is committed to maintaining a diverse and inclusive culture where every team member feels valued and motivated.

Innovation and Leadership

At the intersection of technology and real estate, Digital Realty stands as a leader in its field. The company encourages innovation and thought leadership, which permeates every project and initiative. Team members are encouraged to think creatively and push boundaries, which is integral to the company’s success and industry leadership.

Applying for a Position

To apply for a position at Digital Realty, candidates should prepare their resume to highlight relevant experience and skills. The interview process is designed to assess not only professional qualifications but also a candidate's fit within Digital Realty’s unique culture. Interested candidates can explore available positions and submit their applications through the Digital Realty Jobs portal.

Stay Connected

Keep up to date with the latest from Digital Realty by following their careers blog. Here, one can find career tips, insider perspectives, and industry-leading insights that can be immediately applied. Digital Realty also offers personalized job alert emails, ensuring that potential candidates do not miss out on exciting and rewarding opportunities.

Join the Digital Realty Team

Search open positions that match your skills and interests. Digital Realty looks for passionate, curious, creative, and solution-driven team players. Explore how far your ambition can take you within a company that prides itself on being a global leader in data center solutions.

SEARCH DIGITAL REALTY JOBS

Digital Realty is not just a company; it's a place where careers are made, innovation thrives, and opportunities abound.
Learn more about Digital Realty
Size
11 employees
Industry

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Digital Realty

More Telecommunications & Hardware Jobs

Find similar Director, Network Planning & Architecture jobs: