Distinguished SW Systems Engineer (10343)

Over 50,000 customers globally trust our end-to-end, cloud-driven networking solutions. They rely on our top-rated services and support to accelerate their digital transformation efforts and deliver unprecedented progress.

Become part of something big with Extreme! As a global networking leader, learn why there is no better time to join the Extreme team.

Position details

Title of position: Innovation Lead - Office of the CTO | WiFi

Position type: Full time

Location:  Salem, NH | Morrisville, Raleigh, NC | San Jose, CA | Toronto, Canada

Position reports to: Head of the Office of the CTO

Application deadline: Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis and this posting will remain open until filled.

Work authorization: We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa, including H-1B visas, at this time 

Scope:

Extreme Networks, Inc. (EXTR) is a global leader in AI-powered cloud networking, committed to simplifying and securing IT operations through its unified platform. We empower businesses to connect devices, applications, and users while addressing complex challenges with cutting-edge technology. By leveraging artificial intelligence, analytics, and automation, we drive value creation, innovation, and performance enhancement. Trusted by thousands of customers worldwide, our industry-leading solutions and exceptional support make us a partner of choice for organizations across industries.

At the Office of the CTO, we

• Have proven over years how to turn ideas into successful products and business models
• Operate at the intersection of business, customer, and technology
• Ask questions that are slightly too ambitious for the time
• Know that the next great invention is already being asked as a question
• Want the right people in the room when it is

The Role:

• Innovation Lead – Office of the CTO (Full-time, Hybrid)

  The Innovation Lead will discover, prototype, and develop transformative ML/AI and edge computing solutions that position Extreme Networks at the forefront of intelligent networking. You will be a hands-on contributor who turns ambitious ideas into real products and validated business cases. Working as an individual contributor within a matrix of cross-functional teams—data scientists, product managers, engineers, architects, and customers—you

• Explore emerging technologies and build proofs of concept
• Drive adoption and help define product roadmaps
• Help commercialize innovations—ensuring that innovation without market realization remains just research

Success is measured by validated ideas that advance to product, launched innovations that expand our market position, customer and partner engagement on breakthrough solutions, and thought leadership that establishes Extreme as the industry voice on networked AI and edge intelligence.

Key Responsibilities:

• Discovery & Development

• Identify and evaluate emerging opportunities in ML/AI, edge computing, and adjacent technologies
• Conceptualize, prototype, and validate innovative solutions—moving fast from question to proof of concept
• Maintain awareness of industry trends, standards bodies, and competitive innovation

Hands-On Prototyping & Implementation

• Build and architect real solution prototypes, not just advise on them—coding, validating, and documenting as needed
• Partner with data scientists, engineers, and product teams to turn validated ideas into production-ready features
• Contribute directly to solution delivery through prototyping, testing, and technical demonstrations
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying and fixing technical and architectural bottlenecks

Customer & Partner Co-Innovation

• Engage customers, partners, and prospects to co-develop solutions and understand unmet needs
• Translate complex technical ideas into compelling narratives for CTOs, VPs of Engineering, and business executives
• Build reference and lighthouse accounts by delivering early access to breakthrough capabilities
• Help commercialize innovations—market realization is essential for innovation success

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Influence

• Work effectively in a matrix with product management, engineering, marketing, and field teams
• Participate in standards bodies and open-source communities to shape industry direction
• Influence product roadmaps and feature prioritization based on customer insights
• Champion a culture of critical thinking, experimentation, and calculated risk-taking

Thought Leadership & Evangelism

• Author and present on emerging technologies, innovation frameworks, and breakthrough solutions
• Evangelize our leadership in AI-powered networking and edge intelligence to customers and prospects
• Build visibility for Extreme's innovation strategy and technical differentiation in the marketplace

Basic Requirements:

Experience & Background

• Demonstrated leadership in the WiFi market by chairing a working group within organizations such as the IEEE, Linux Foundation, TIP, Wi-Fi Alliance, or WBA.
• Experience working with regulatory bodies on WiFi standardization, frequency allocation, and spectrum management.
• Proven track record of regular public speaking engagements at WPLC, Wi-Fi Alliance events, or similar industry conferences.
• Proven record of successfully driving WiFi-related solutions and products from ideation through productization.
• Proven experience working with engineering teams to successfully introduce products into the WiFi market.

Technical Skills

• Deep understanding of all WiFi standards and adjacent wireless technologies
• CWNE-level knowledge or equivalent
• RF design and troubleshooting experience in large scale deployments
• Deep understanding of location technologies (BLE, UWB, 802.11az)
• Understanding of edge computing, distributed systems, and cloud networking architectures
• Knowledge of efficient data structures, query optimization, and analytics technologies for WiFi

Collaboration & Communication

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills—able to work effectively across diverse audiences
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear narratives for CTOs, VPs, and executives
• Proven track record of driving issues to resolution with strong customer satisfaction
• Thrive working both independently and within high-performing cross-functional teams
• Comfortable with ambiguity and defining problems before solutions exist

Professional Qualities

• Ambitious and driven, thriving in a demanding and fast-paced environment
• Willing to roll up your sleeves, take ownership, and be a proactive team player
• Excellent critical thinking and business acumen to identify solutions with widespread adoption potential
• Ability to balance exploration with execution, knowing when to pivot and when to commit
• Comfortable with occasional travel and significant remote engagement with customers and partners

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Mathematics, related field, or equivalent professional experience

Nice to Have:

• Background in product management or go-to-market strategy
• Experience with AI operations (MLOps), data platforms, or analytics systems

What Success Looks Like

In your first year, you will

Identify and validate 2–3 high-impact innovation opportunities

Deliver working prototypes that demonstrate customer value

Build relationships with key customers and partners co-innovating with us

Contribute to product roadmap decisions that accelerate our leadership

Establish thought leadership through speaking, writing, or industry participation

Help evangelize our innovation strategy to the market

Why Join the OCTO

At Extreme Networks' Office of the CTO, you will work on problems that matter—networking the edge, securing cloud infrastructure, and bringing intelligence to billions of connected devices. You

Be part of a team where critical thinking and human creativity set us apart in the age of AI

Have the freedom to define the questions we need to ask

Have support to pursue ambitious ideas

See your innovations become products that change an industry

If you like being at the intersection of business, customer, and technology; if you have built real things and understand that innovation without commercialization is just research; and if you thrive in ambiguity and are energized by working on the next big question—we want you in the room.

Equal Employment Opportunity

1. Extreme Networks, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran. We are committed to taking affirmative action to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans, including disabled veterans, recently separated veterans, active-duty wartime or campaign badge veterans, and Armed Forces service medal veterans.
2. Extreme Networks also strives to prevent other, subtler forms of inappropriate behavior (for example, stereotyping) from ever gaining a foothold in our organization. Whether blatant or hidden, barriers to success have no place at Extreme Networks. We encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply.

Fair chance and background checks

• Extreme Networks will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, Philadelphia Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance, Illinois Human Rights Act, Cook County Human Rights Ordinance, Seattle Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. An applicant's conviction history will not be considered until after a conditional offer of employment has been made. Following any individualized assessment, applicants will be provided with the opportunity to respond before any adverse action is taken.
• Extreme Networks does not seek salary history information from applicants and will not rely on salary history in determining whether to offer employment or in setting compensation.