Principal Product Development Engineer

Introduction 

At AT&T, we are shaping the future of broadband connectivity through innovative device platforms that power fiber, fixed wireless, and converged customer experiences. As a Principal Product Development Engineer, you will serve as a senior technical leader responsible for transforming strategic business objectives into market-leading broadband device solutions that deliver exceptional customer experiences across consumer and enterprise markets. 

Job Overview 

You will lead end-to-end technical program delivery for broadband device platforms spanning hardware, software, cloud integration, security, validation, manufacturing, and launch readiness. Working across product, engineering, operations, finance, care, compliance, and external partners, you will drive delivery of complex programs from concept through commercialization while balancing performance, quality, cost, and schedule objectives. You will provide technical leadership, influence executive decisions through data-driven recommendations, establish engineering standards, and mentor teams across multiple programs. 

What You’ll Do 

• Own integrated technical program plans including roadmap, milestones, critical path, and delivery execution for broadband device programs. 

• Lead cross-functional workstreams across hardware, software, validation, security, manufacturing, and launch readiness activities. 

• Establish and govern program stage gates including Architecture Review, Engineering Validation, Design Verification Testing, Production Validation Testing, and launch readiness reviews. 

• Manage vendor and partner execution, including statements of work, deliverables, schedules, change control, and integration activities. 

• Drive engineering execution through release planning, risk management, defect resolution, quality governance, and executive-level status reporting. 

• Lead launch readiness, field trial execution, post-launch support, and continuous product improvements through telemetry-driven insights. 

What You’ll Need 

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience. 

• 7+ years of experience developing broadband or wireless CPE products with end-to-end ownership. 

• Depth in Wi‑Fi, 3GPP/FWA, fiber‑adjacent architectures; embedded Linux/prplOS; security; telemetry; FOTA. 

• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives in highly matrixed organizations. 

• Demonstrated success managing external vendors, partners, and technical delivery programs. 

• Strong analytical, communication, presentation, and executive-ready documentation skills. 

What You’ll Bring 

• Experience with broadband device architecture including hardware, software, connectivity, cloud integration, and security technologies. 

• Knowledge of Wi‑Fi 6/6E/7, GPON/XGS-PON, and Fixed Wireless Access technologies. 

• Experience with Linux-based broadband device software platforms, telemetry, diagnostics, and firmware update systems. 

• Familiarity with cloud-connected device ecosystems, analytics platforms, and smart-home technologies. 

• Strategic and hands-on leadership style with a bias toward action, customer focus, and ability to influence without authority. 

• Master’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Telecommunications, or MBA preferred.