.The i2CAT Foundation is looking for a Director to lead the Software Networks (SN) research area.The SN area of i2CAT investigates intelligent service and resource orchestration & management solutions combined with intent based networking to cater the requirements of verticals and its applications for next generation networks. The SN Area focuses on:Exploring and defining new ways to manage the networks of the future.Developing new architecture paradigms that go beyond current technologies.Enabling new features and new infrastructure business models through the integration of novel technologies.Deploying experimental infrastructures for research and innovation of advanced network technologies.The SN research team has a long track of participation in EU R&D projects, mainly related to the 5G/6G area of heterogeneous network management in multi-tenant environments dealing with Service Based Architectures, Network APIs, Multi-cloud service provisioning, Multi-Access Edge Computing, Network Function Virtualization, Software Defined Networking, and Artificial Intelligence.The current main research topics of the SN Research Area includes:Beyond-5G Network Management,6G oriented Network Architectures,Cognitive Cloud Continuum, andNetwork programmability and intent-based orchestration.The area develops and continuously updates a research roadmap to steer the activity of the group and also identify new fields to explore.The successful candidate is expected to:Contribute to the achievement of the overall strategic objectives of i2CAT, which aim at scientific and technological excellence, as well as the generation of impact on technology, economy and society.Lead, coordinate and manage a team of engineers and PhDs to achieve the goals of the SN area.Develop the professional career of the SN area team members.Define/Update/maintain a research & innovation roadmap of the area in coordination with the Director of Research and Development of i2CAT.Foster the cross-collaboration with other research and innovation areas of i2CAT to tackle multi-technological problems and challenges.Manage the resource planning for R&D in the different research lines of the area.Foster research & innovation ideas within the team and identify relevant public funding programmes (e.G. Horizon Europe) for proposal development/submission.Build and maintain a network of key people and organisations with whom establishing long-lasting and impact-oriented collaborations.Coordinate the definition of technological assets with the Communication Technologies Director aiming at impact on standardisation bodies as well as in the market, through the licensing of IPR or the generation of spin-offs.Identify and plan the strategy for the participation of SN team members in relevant scientific WGs to ensure continuous scientific/technological watch to stay up-to-date on cutting edge research problems/topics
