Director of IT - Infrastructure

Position Overview Teliax, a leader in telecommunications innovation, is seeking a visionary Director of IT - Infrastructure to oversee the day-to-day operations of our IT infrastructure. This includes managing our telecommunications facilities, interfacing with Incumbent Local Exchange Carriers (ILECs), data centers, and colocation environments. The role requires a seasoned leader who combines technical expertise with strategic acumen to drive sustainable engineering practices across our telecommunications infrastructure. This is a hybrid position which includes team management and individual contribution. Key Responsibilities Infrastructure Leadership Oversee all aspects of physical and virtual IT infrastructure, ensuring optimal performance, security, and scalability. Manage the installation, configuration, and maintenance of hardware systems, including servers, switches, routers, and telecom equipment in data centers and colocation environments. Expertise in managing telecommunications facilities, including central offices, colocation environments, and carrier hotels. Ensure documentation of infrastructure assets, including network diagrams, rack layouts, and system configurations. Physical Infrastructure Deployment & Maintenance Lead the deployment of physical hardware, including racking, cabling, and environmental monitoring in data centers. Conduct routine maintenance and inspections to ensure reliability and longevity of infrastructure assets. Design and implement strategies to ensure redundancy, failover, and disaster recovery for physical systems. Supervise the assembly, cabling, and hardware installation in data centers and remote sites, ensuring optimal performance and compliance with safety standards. Conduct routine inspections and preventive maintenance of hardware systems to minimize downtime. Coordinate with field teams to execute infrastructure installations and resolve physical hardware issues promptly Skilled in provisioning and troubleshooting physical and logical circuits across diverse facilities. Telecommunications Liaison with carriers, equipment vendors, and internal teams to ensure proper connectivity and system performance. Proficient in preparing, submitting, and tracking Access Service Requests for new circuits, upgrades, or decommissioning. Skilled in using telecommunications test equipment to verify signal integrity and isolate faults in TDM circuits. Ability to work with central office technicians to resolve facility-related issues efficiently Knowledgeable in coordinating with ILECs and CLECs to expedite service delivery and address regulatory compliance issues. Ability to manage SS7 networks including knowledge of protocols such as TCAP, SCTP, SIGTRAN, M2UA/M3UA, etc. Networking Manage and optimize configurations, including network hardware and support for, LANs, WANs, and VLANs, to ensure security and performance. Coordinate with ILECs and service providers to integrate telecommunications services with internal systems. Extensive experience with the physical setup and maintenance of servers, switches, routers, and telecom systems. Familiarity with rack installations, cabling standards, and environmental monitoring in data centers. Vendor and Team Management Negotiate with hardware vendors, service providers, and data center operators for procurement and service-level agreements. Lead and mentor a team of IT professionals, fostering collaboration and continuous improvement. Strategic Planning & Alignment Align infrastructure initiatives with Teliax’s strategic objectives, driving innovation and operational excellence. Stay informed on emerging technologies to recommend upgrades and optimizations. Research and recommend physical technology upgrades or enhancements to improve operational efficiency. Design and implement failover strategies for physical systems, ensuring business continuity during outages or disasters. Oversee the backup, recovery, and physical security of hardware and data assets. Required Technical Skills Physical Infrastructure Extensive experience in physical system deployment, including racking, cabling, and configuring servers, switches, and routers. Proficiency in physical infrastructure troubleshooting and monitoring tools Familiarity with carrier-specific tools and processes for facilities, circuit ordering and escalation. (TIRKS, CLONES) Comprehensive knowledge of legacy TDM protocols, including DS0, DS1 (T1), DS3, and SONET/SDH. Linux Systems Knowledge Knowledge of Linux server management, including installation, configuration, and troubleshooting. Familiarity with scripting (e.g., Bash, Python) to automate tasks and improve efficiency. Experience with containerization tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, etc). Understand and be able to support the infrastructure consisting primarily of Linux-based systems. Collaborate with teams to streamline network and system integrations, including VPNs, firewalls, and authentication mechanisms (e.g., LDAP, PAMs) Oversee the deployment of metal for virtualization platforms and containerization tools (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes) to the specifications of the Systems and Development teams. Networking Understanding of network protocols and tools (e.g., DNS, DHCP, VPNs, tcpdump). Experience with VLANs, routing, firewalls, and high-availability networking solutions. Qualifications Education: Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Computer Engineering (Master’s preferred) or equivalent experience. Experience: 8 years in IT infrastructure roles, including leadership experience. Strong background in physical infrastructure and Linux systems Experience in telecommunications or related industries is highly desirable. Skills: Proven ability to lead teams and manage complex infrastructure projects. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with attention to detail. Why Join Teliax? Join a company at the forefront of telecommunications innovation. Based in Denver, Colorado, Teliax offers competitive compensation, a comprehensive benefits package, and the opportunity to drive infrastructure advancements in a dynamic and collaborative environment.