Executive Engineering (National) at Frogfoot Networks (Pty) Ltd

Purpose of the Role

• This role is perfect for someone who enjoys shaping large-scale network strategy while remaining closely involved in operational excellence.
• The Executive of Engineering provides strategic and operational leadership across all engineering functions, with accountability for three critical domains: Core, Access, and Network Architecture.
• You will lead the evolution of the network through modernisation, automation, and capacity growth, ensuring reliable, secure, and cost-effective services that align with business objectives and customer needs.
• This is a senior leadership role that blends deep technical credibility with strong commercial, stakeholder, and people leadership.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

Engineering Strategy & Leadership

• Define and execute long-term engineering strategy and multi-year roadmaps for Core and Access networks.
• Translate business strategy into executable engineering programmes with clear milestones, budgets, and KPIs.
• Foster a culture of safety, reliability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Lead and develop high-performing engineering teams across multiple disciplines.

Core Network Leadership

• Provide oversight of IP/MPLS backbone and service provider edge technologies.
• Guide optical transport strategy (DWDM/OTN, ROADM, high-capacity interfaces) and IP/optical integration.
• Own capacity planning, traffic engineering, resilience, and incident response for the core.
• Ensure robust security, policy enforcement, and standards compliance.

Access Network Leadership

• Lead fibre access engineering across GPON/XGS-PON and Carrier Ethernet.
• Own PON architecture design, provisioning models, performance optimisation, and troubleshooting.
• Drive efficient, scalable, and cost-effective access network delivery.

Network Architecture & Governance

• Define and maintain end-to-end reference architectures, standards, and design patterns.
• Lead architecture governance, design reviews, and change control.
• Champion automation, intent-based networking, virtualisation, and orchestration.
• Maintain authoritative architecture documentation, diagrams, and runbooks.

Delivery, Operations & Automation

• Lead major network buildouts, upgrades, migrations, and modernisation programmes.
• Oversee provisioning, activation, and service onboarding for home and business customers.
• Drive proactive incident management, root-cause analysis, and preventive improvements.
• Partner with OSS/BSS teams to automate provisioning and service assurance workflows.

Vendor, Stakeholder & Financial Management

• Manage strategic vendor relationships, contracts, and technology roadmaps.
• Collaborate closely with Product, Sales, Operations, and enterprise customers.
• Own engineering budgets, CAPEX/OPEX optimisation, and financial governance.
• Identify and mitigate technical, operational, and delivery risks.

What You’ll Need to Have

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Science, or related field.
• 12+ years’ experience in telecommunications engineering.
• 5+ years in senior leadership or executive engineering roles.
• Proven experience leading large-scale service provider networks.
• Strong background in Core, Access, and Network Architecture domains.
• Certifications such as CCNP/CCIE SP, JNCIP/JNCIE, TOGAF, or PMP are advantageous.

Skills That Will Help You Succeed

• IP/MPLS, BGP, OSPF/IS-IS, EVPN, MPLS-TE, QoS, and VPN technologies
• Optical transport (DWDM/OTN, ROADM, 40/100/400G).
• GPON/XGS-PON, Carrier Ethernet, VLAN/QinQ architectures.
• Network automation and modernisation (Python, Ansible, Terraform, NETCONF/RESTCONF).
• OSS/NMS platforms, ITSM tools, and monitoring systems.
• Architecture governance, standards definition, and design review leadership.
• Strong vendor negotiation and lifecycle management capability.

Qualities We Value at Frogfoot

• Strategic mindset with strong execution discipline.
• Calm, decisive leadership under pressure.
• Excellent communicator who can engage technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Collaborative and customer-focused approach.
• Commercial awareness and cost-conscious decision-making.
• Passion for mentoring, developing talent, and building resilient teams.
• Curiosity and drive to continuously improve how networks are built and operated.

How Success Is Measured

• Network availability, reliability, and SLA performance.
• Reduced MTTR and incident severity.
• Faster provisioning and time-to-activate.
• On-time, on-budget delivery of strategic programmes.
• CAPEX/OPEX efficiency and capacity forecast accuracy.
• Stakeholder and customer satisfaction with network outcomes.

Closing Date 06 February 2026