Noel Montales

About Noel Montales

Network engineering and data center infrastructure leader with experience designing, building, and operating carrier-grade telecom and hosting environments. Background spans fiber networks, DWDM transport systems, IP infrastructure, and high-density data center operations.Currently at Clear Rate Communications, where I work across engineering and network operations teams to improve how we build and operate infrastructure. I serve as an internal advocate for practical AI adoption—helping engineers and technicians use automation and data analysis to make better operational decisions.Recent work includes the design and deployment of DWDM enhancements to expand backbone capacity, along with initiatives that use AI tools to streamline KPI collection, improve visibility into network performance, and move teams toward a more data-driven management model. The goal is straightforward: reduce guesswork, surface operational insights faster, and continuously optimize the network.Earlier in my career I founded Waveform Technology LLC, a high-density data center colocation provider in Southeast Michigan. I led the company from initial concept through construction, operations, and eventual acquisition by ManagedWay in 2015.Across my work I focus on- Fiber and transport network architecture (DWDM, IP backbone)- Data center design and colocation infrastructure- Automation and AI-assisted operations- KPI measurement and data-driven engineering management- Mentoring engineers and technicians- Building teams that can operate complex infrastructure reliablyI’m most interested in solving practical infrastructure problems—whether that means designing networks, improving operational visibility, or helping teams use new tools effectively.

Experience

1. Director of Engineering & Network Operations

   Clear Rate

   Dec 2020 — Present · Troy, MI, US

   Lead engineering strategy, network architecture, and operational reliability for a telecommunications provider delivering VoIP, SIP trunking, fiber connectivity, and managed network services. Responsible for the design, scalability, and performance of the company’s IP backbone, voice infrastructure, and carrier interconnections, while leading Network Operations and infrastructure engineering teams.Architect and operate a carrier-grade IP backbone supporting voice and data services, including BGP routing, carrier peering, and Internet exchange connectivity. Manage SIP interconnects and large-scale VoIP infrastructure, including softswitch platforms and session border controllers (SBCs).Oversee backbone transport and capacity planning, including DWDM transport and multi-gigabit network links, ensuring high availability and performance for voice and data services.Lead the Network Operations Center (NOC) responsible for monitoring, incident response, and escalation across production networks. Implement operational KPIs and monitoring strategies to improve service reliability, MTTR, and network performance.Provide engineering oversight for fiber network expansion and municipal fiber deployments, coordinating with construction teams, vendors, and field operations to deliver high-capacity transport infrastructure.Partner with executive leadership on network strategy, vendor selection, and infrastructure investment decisions, while driving automation and process improvements across network engineering and operations.Core Technologies: VoIP • SIP • Metaswitch • SBC • BGP • DWDM • Carrier Peering • IP Backbone Architecture • Fiber Networks • NOC Operations • Network Monitoring (Icinga / Zabbix) • Rev.io OSS/BSS

Education

• Lawrence Technological University

  Coursework Towards a Bachelor of Science - BS, Computer Science

• Lawrence Technological University

  Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Technology