Software Architect

Description:
Zhone Technologies Inc. is an innovation-driven startup offering an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic software architecture team. As a Software Architect, you will serve as the technical bridge connecting our embedded software development, network protocol implementation, hardware integration, and customer interface teams. You will be responsible for designing unified software architectures that support next-generation fiber access networks, GPON/XGS-PON technologies, and broadband service delivery platforms while ensuring seamless integration across all development teams.

This position focuses on creating unified software architectures, integrating cross-platform systems, and ensuring seamless collaboration between embedded, network, and hardware teams. You will work closely with senior engineers across all disciplines and report to the Director of Software Development.

As a cross-teams architect, you will help direct the overall software infrastructure, integration with cloud platforms, and both large-scale and incremental projects. You'll focus on the larger picture: how to connect all the software blocks of the line cards, how to connect the line cards to the management cards, how to connect the management cards to the outside world, and how to improve our core software concepts for long-term sustainability and coexistence rather than competition. You'll build better infrastructure for developers to increase efficiency across all teams.

**What You'll Do**
- Contribute to high-level system architecture discussions across all development teams
- Design scalable software architectures that integrate embedded systems, network protocols, and hardware interfaces
- Architect solutions for connecting software blocks across line cards and management cards
- Design systems for OLT configuration, management, and performance optimization across multiple platforms
- Create unified interfaces for NETCONF/YANG, OMCI, TR-069, SNMP, and other management protocols
- Architect SDN-based control planes that integrate with embedded access network equipment
- Lead technical design reviews and architecture decision-making processes across embedded, network, and system teams
- Mentor development teams on software architecture principles, telecom domain knowledge, and cross-platform integration
- Build better infrastructure for developers to increase efficiency across all teams
- Ensure software architectures meet telecom industry standards and carrier-grade requirements

**Requirements**:

- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or related field
- Master's degree preferred
- 10+ years of software development experience
- 6+ years in software architecture roles
- 4+ years in telecommunications or network management software
- Experience leading cross-functional technical teams
- Proven ability to work on both large-scale architectural projects and incremental improvements

**Core Technical Skills**
- Architecture Patterns: Microservices, Event-driven, Service-oriented, Layered architectures
- Embedded Systems: RTOS (VxWorks, FreeRTOS), embedded Linux, bare-metal programming, board bring-up
- Cloud & DevOps: Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD pipelines, cloud-native architectures
- Build Systems: CMake, Make, Yocto, Buildroot for embedded development

**Domain Knowledge**
- OLT Technologies: GPON, XGS-PON, NG-PON2, fiber access networks, DSLAMs
- Network Protocols: L2, L3, BGP, OSPF, VRRP, MPLS, VLAN, STP
- Telecom Standards: BBF, ITU-T G.984, G.987, G.989, MEF, ETSI
- Hardware Integration: I2C, SPI, PCIe, Ethernet PHYs, SFPs, Broadcom platforms (BAL, Switch SDK, OLT SDK)

**Assets You May Possess**
- Industry Experience: Previous work with major telecom equipment vendors, broadband service provider environments
- Integration Expertise: Experience bridging embedded software with network protocols, hardware-software integration
- Cross-Platform Skills: Understanding of how embedded software interfaces with network protocols, experience with SONiC, ONL, ZebOS
- Strategic Thinking: Long-term architectural planning, system evolution, legacy system modernization

**Work Environment**
- Hybrid work model with office and remote flexibility
- Collaborative team environment with cross-functional stakeholders from embedded, network, hardware, and customer teams
- Fast-paced telecom industry with evolving technology standards
- Focus on both immediate technical challenges and long-term architectural vision
- Competitive compensation package with benefits

This position offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of fiber access networks and contribute to the evolution of broadband telecommunications infrastructure. As the technical bridge connecting our embedded, network, and customer teams, you will play a crucial role in ensuring seamless integration and unified architecture across all our development streams. You'll focus on the larger picture of connecting software