This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Technical Program Manager - IP Backbone based in Netherlands.
As a Technical Program Manager, you will coordinate the planning and delivery of a global IP backbone and Internet edge infrastructure supporting a rapidly expanding AI cloud platform. You will oversee complex infrastructure initiatives, connecting data center launches, network architecture, engineering, procurement, and external connectivity providers. Your mission will be to ensure that new sites and existing infrastructure have the routing, connectivity, hardware, and network resources required for reliable service delivery and future growth. Working across international technical and operational teams, you will manage dependencies, schedules, risks, and project milestones from initial planning through operational handover. You will also contribute to network capacity planning, provider onboarding, and infrastructure resilience. This is an opportunity to take ownership of high-impact global infrastructure projects in a fast-growing, engineering-driven technology environment.
Accountabilities
You will coordinate end-to-end delivery across IP backbone and Internet edge initiatives, ensuring that technical teams, infrastructure stakeholders, suppliers, and external providers remain aligned throughout planning, implementation, and launch.
Coordinate data center and PoP readiness: Manage IP connectivity due diligence for new data center and Point of Presence (PoP) locations, confirming site requirements, network roles, connectivity paths, and dependencies.
Manage infrastructure readiness: Coordinate requirements involving rack space, power, security, cabling, cross-connects, hardware delivery, carrier access, and installation readiness.
Align IP and Layer 1 delivery: Work with network and transport teams to establish clear responsibilities, service demarcation points, handoffs, and integrated delivery milestones.
Plan IP connectivity: Coordinate the delivery of IP transit, peering, private interconnects, and backbone connectivity in alignment with global network architecture and business requirements.
Support provider qualification: Coordinate technical due diligence with Network Architecture, Engineering, and Procurement, gathering ISP information, tracking qualification assessments, and documenting provider selection decisions.
Manage connectivity dependencies: Maintain visibility into circuits, ports, routers, optics, cross-connects, provider capacity, commercial requirements, and delivery schedules to ensure end-to-end service activation.
Coordinate routing resources and security: Oversee the lifecycle and accurate documentation of IPv4 and IPv6 allocations, ASN usage, AS-SETs, route objects, and Route Origin Authorizations (ROAs).
Track routing security readiness: Coordinate RPKI and Internet Routing Registry (IRR) requirements during provider onboarding, routing changes, and new-site launches, working with technical owners to resolve issues.
Coordinate backbone hardware and supply: Maintain forward-looking hardware demand forecasts and manage delivery coordination for routers, line cards, optics, spare components, software entitlements, and related infrastructure.
Support hardware procurement: Work with IP Engineering, Network Supply, and Procurement to validate bills of materials, track purchase requests, monitor supplier commitments, and manage lead times and regional logistics.
Manage project delivery: Build and maintain integrated project plans covering milestones, dependencies, owners, acceptance criteria, risks, and operational handover requirements.
Drive cross-functional execution: Coordinate activities across IP Architecture, IP Engineering, Layer 1 Planning, Data Center Operations, Construction, Security, Procurement, and external service providers.
Oversee launch coordination: Track testing, service activation, routing turn-up, documentation, and operational handover to ensure infrastructure is ready for production.
Monitor network capacity: Track IP backbone and Internet edge capacity against forecast demand, data center expansion, customer requirements, and platform launches.
Maintain infrastructure records: Ensure accurate documentation of PoPs, providers, circuits, ports, ASNs, address allocations, routing resources, and deployment status in agreed systems.
Manage risks and escalations: Identify blockers, coordinate mitigation plans, and escalate issues that could affect launch schedules, customer commitments, network availability, or resilience.
Coordinate security initiatives: Support IP security and DDoS-related projects by managing scope, stakeholders, dependencies, milestones, risks, and delivery handovers while Security Architects retain technical ownership.
Improve operational processes: Support incident follow-ups, provider escalations, project reviews, and continuous improvements in planning, connectivity resilience, provider diversity, and operational readiness.
Requirements:
The ideal candidate is an experienced technical program or project management professional with a strong understanding of IP networking and large-scale infrastructure delivery. You should be comfortable coordinating complex technical initiatives across multiple teams, managing external dependencies, and ensuring that infrastructure projects progress from planning to successful operational handover.
Demonstrated experience in technical program management, project management, or infrastructure delivery within networking, telecommunications, cloud infrastructure, or data center environments.
Strong understanding of IP backbone infrastructure, Internet connectivity, and network architecture, including IP transit, peering, private interconnects, and routing.
Experience coordinating data center or Point of Presence (PoP) deployments, including connectivity readiness, hardware delivery, site dependencies, and service activation.
Familiarity with Layer 1 and Layer 2 infrastructure concepts, including fiber connectivity, DWDM transport, cross-connects, optical handoffs, and network demarcation points.
Understanding of Internet routing resources and security mechanisms, including IPv4, IPv6, ASN management, BGP-related resources, RPKI, IRR, AS-SETs, route objects, and ROAs.
Experience coordinating network hardware procurement and supply processes, including routers, line cards, optics, bills of materials, supplier lead times, and logistics.
Ability to build and maintain integrated project plans, define milestones, track dependencies, manage risks, and coordinate multiple technical workstreams.
Experience working with network engineering, architecture, procurement, data center operations, security, and external infrastructure providers.
Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to facilitate technical discussions and drive decisions across distributed teams.
Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, particularly when managing complex dependencies, documentation, and delivery schedules.
Proactive problem-solving abilities, with the confidence to identify risks, resolve blockers, and escalate critical issues when necessary.
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-growing environment where project scope, priorities, and responsibilities may evolve with business needs.
Professional proficiency in English and the ability to collaborate within an international technical organisation.
Benefits:
Competitive compensation: Annual base salary ranging from $180,000 to $230,000 USD, depending on experience, qualifications, skills, hiring level, and geographic location.
Career development: Opportunities for professional growth, continuous learning, and career advancement.
Flexibility and ownership: Work with autonomy and take meaningful responsibility for high-impact infrastructure initiatives.
Innovative environment: Contribute to the development of advanced AI cloud infrastructure and large-scale networking solutions.
International collaboration: Work alongside talented engineers and technical professionals across global teams and locations.
Meaningful impact: Help shape the infrastructure supporting next-generation AI and machine learning workloads.
Collaborative culture: Join an engineering-driven environment that encourages bold thinking, trust, innovation, and continuous improvement.
Growth opportunities: Be part of a rapidly expanding organisation where you can influence technical projects, processes, and infrastructure strategy.