Network Engineer, Connectivity & Strategy

Lead, Network Connectivity & Strategy

Fluidstack is seeking a Lead, Network Connectivity & Strategy to own our external connectivity strategy end-to-end — from carrier relationship development and circuit procurement through site selection support, capacity forecasting, and backbone fiber optic topology collaboration. You'll ensure that every datacenter Fluidstack builds or occupies has diverse, resilient, and on-time connectivity — and that our backbone network scales ahead of demand.

This role sits at the intersection of network engineering, infrastructure planning, and commercial execution. You'll work upstream of deployment teams to secure the connectivity foundation they need, partner with ICT and outside plant teams on fiber path design, and engage directly with carriers and dark fiber providers to negotiate and deliver services on aggressive timelines.

Success means Fluidstack never waits on connectivity. When a new datacenter build reaches ready-for-service, diverse fiber paths are already lit. When leadership asks "can we build here?", you have the connectivity picture within days. When the backbone team needs a new POP, you've already mapped candidate locations and provider options.

• Carrier Strategy & Relationship Management:
  Own and develop strategic relationships with carriers, dark fiber providers, and connectivity partners. Negotiate master service agreements, IRUs, and circuit contracts. Maintain a carrier matrix that maps provider capabilities, pricing, and lead times across all Fluidstack markets. Be the first call when we need capacity and the person carriers want to work with.

• Circuit Procurement & Delivery:
  Manage the full lifecycle of circuit procurement — from requirements gathering and RFP/RFQ through contract execution, provisioning coordination, and acceptance testing. Procure diverse circuit types including dark fiber, lit wavelengths, DIA, and transport services. Track every circuit from order to turn-up with rigorous project management discipline. Ensure no datacenter launch is blocked by connectivity delays.

• Diverse Path Engineering & OSP Coordination:
  Work with ICT outside plant teams and carrier engineering groups to ensure physically diverse fiber paths are available at and to every Fluidstack facility. Review KMZ files, fiber route maps, and conduit documentation to validate true diversity — not just logical separation. Understand entrance facility constraints, meet-me rooms, and demarcation architecture. Identify single points of failure before they become incidents.

• Fiber Build Cycle Management:
  For sites requiring construction (new conduit, lateral builds, fiber extensions), own the planning and tracking of the build cycle end-to-end. Coordinate with carriers, construction crews, and permitting authorities. Understand typical construction timelines (permitting, trenching, splicing, testing) and build buffers into project plans. Ensure connectivity delivery aligns with datacenter construction milestones.

• Backbone & POP Strategy:
  Participate in Fluidstack's backbone network design by evaluating and recommending POP locations based on carrier density, interconnection options, latency targets, and cost. Assess colocation facilities for backbone node placement. Model capacity requirements and plan circuit augmentation ahead of demand. Provide the connectivity intelligence that shapes where and how Fluidstack builds its national network.

• Peering & Interconnection Strategy:
  Support peering conversations with ISPs, content networks, cloud providers, and IX operators. Evaluate peering economics and interconnection options at candidate facilities. Coordinate cross-connect procurement and LOA workflows. Ensure Fluidstack's interconnection strategy supports both current traffic patterns and future growth.

• Site Selection Support:
  Serve as the connectivity subject matter expert during datacenter site selection. Evaluate candidate sites for fiber availability, provider diversity, proximity to backbone infrastructure, and construction feasibility. Produce connectivity assessments that inform go/no-go decisions. Ensure connectivity considerations are weighted appropriately…