Senior IP Telephony Architect & Strategy Consultant

Engagement Type: Contract

Location: Remote (EST)

Seniority: Principal / Expert Level

Engagement Overview

We are hiring a seasoned expert to lead a 12-week strategic infrastructure modernization initiative for a major client operating a mission-critical voice environment.

Note to Applicants: This is not an operational support role. It is a high-level Strategic Consulting position. We are looking for a candidate with deep expertise in Critical Voice Architectures (High Availability/Low Latency) who can drive this project remotely from anywhere in the world.

Role Summary

You will own the end-to-end delivery of an IP Telephony Modernization Strategy, assessing the client's core enterprise data centers and their specialized Always-On voice environment.

Your mandate is to lead the Discovery, Analysis, and Roadmap phases. You must be able to navigate complex technical environments without physical access, relying on your ability to analyze configuration data, direct local resources, and interview stakeholders to build a defensible path toward a Hybrid or Cloud-native future.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Remote Execution

• Lead the engagement as the primary Subject Matter Expert (SME), driving the project from Discovery to Strategy definition.
• Conduct remote workshops with US-based stakeholders to gather requirements and validate findings.
• Author the Modernization Strategy & Roadmap, providing clear transition paths, TCO/ROI financial modeling (1/3/5 years), and migration wave planning.

2. Infrastructure Discovery (Core Tech Stack)

• Execute a deep-dive technical assessment of the existing Cisco Unified Communications core (UCS, CUCM, Expressway) residing in the client's primary data centers.
• Analyze Carrier Services, specifically SIP Trunking (Verizon) and Toll-Free routing (AT&T), to identify consolidation and cost-saving opportunities.

3. Specialized Voice & Turret Analysis

• Assess the high-latency sensitivity of the specialized turret/dealer board environment (IPC Unigy), private cloud links, and Hoot functionality.
• Map the logical paths of a high-volume Direct Wire/Private Line ecosystem to ensure future architectures can support critical workflows.

4. Security & Compliance Audit

• Review the efficacy of SecureLogix policies (TDoS defense) and Zone-Based Firewalls to identify risk gaps.
• Evaluate 911/ERL compliance and Voice Security posture against modern threats.

5. Documentation & C-Level Presentation

• Translate complex technical debt into clear business risks. You will be responsible for creating high-fidelity Visio topologies and PowerPoint executive decks.

Required Qualifications

• Experience: 12+ years of experience in Enterprise Voice Architecture.
• Industry Background: Experience in Mission-Critical / High-Availability Voice Environments is required.
  • Preferred: Financial Services / Trading Floors.
  • Also Accepted: Sectors with similar "Zero-Downtime" and "Dispatch/Turret" requirements, such as Emergency Services (911/PSAP), Air Traffic Control, Utility Command Centers, or Defense/Military Comms.
• Technical Mastery:
  • Cisco UC Core: Expert-level knowledge of CUCM, CUBE, Expressway, and UCS.
  • Specialized Voice: Deep experience with IPC Unigy OR equivalent specialized dispatch/turret systems (e.g., Avaya Dispatch, Zetron, Motorola Solutions) with a strong understanding of private line/hoot architectures.
  • Security: Hands-on experience with SecureLogix (or equivalent TDoS appliances).
• Communication (Critical for Remote/Offshore):
  • Native or near-native fluency in English (written and verbal).
  • Ability to command a room virtually and lead technical workshops with US-based clients.
  • Experience producing "Consulting-Grade" documentation (polished, error-free, executive-ready).

Deliverables Ownership

• Current-State Telephony Assessment: Logical topology maps for Core UC & Specialized Voice Systems.
• Risk Register: Detailed gap analysis of security, compliance, and end-of-life hardware.
• Modernization Strategy & Roadmap: A strategic vision document outlining the transition to future-state architectures.
• Investment & TCO Analysis: Financial modeling for the proposed roadmap.