Cloud/AI/Telecommunications Merit Reviewer

Merit Reviewer - Cloud/AI/Telecommunications

Corner Alliance is a dynamic, growing consulting firm dedicated to providing an enriching employee experience while creating results for the government. We are seeking Merit Reviewers to join our team and embrace our commitment to deliver, grow, and thrive.

About the Role:

As a Merit Reviewer supporting our Federal government client, you will evaluate applications for a program designed to foster competition and innovation in the global telecommunications ecosystem, reduce costs for consumers and network operators, and strengthen the 5G supply chain. The program aims to create opportunities for innovative companies, especially small and medium enterprises, in a market often dominated by a few suppliers.

Federal Agency Requirements for Merit Review:

The Department of Commerce (DOC) Grants and Cooperative Agreement Manual requires Merit Reviewers to conduct a thorough, consistent, and independent examination of applications based on pre-established criteria. Reviewers must possess expertise in the relevant field, be impartial, objective, and unbiased, and have no conflicts of interest (real or apparent) with any application under review.

Qualifications for Merit Reviewers:

Reviewers must demonstrate expertise, knowledge, and experience in one or more of the following areas:

Cloud and Compute (Required):

• Expertise in evaluating cloud-native architectures (IaaS/PaaS/SaaS), data platforms, and distributed systems, including cost/performance tradeoffs.
• Understanding of compute sizing and placement for AI-native wireless (edge-to-cloud partitioning, accelerators, orchestration, data movement, latency/jitter/energy constraints).
• Experience evaluating modern software engineering practices: API/SDK quality, UI/UX for operators and developers, CI/CD and continuous testing, repository/artifact management, data lake/lakehouse management, and release governance.
• Familiarity with secure software supply chain practices (SBOMs, vulnerability management, secure build pipelines, third-party risk).
• Expertise in interoperability and conformance testing (interface validation, test harnesses, integration environments, plugfest-style readiness).
• Experience with systems engineering and SDLC rigor, including evaluation of architecture/design maturity through PDR/CDR, interface specifications, verification/validation strategy, and test plan quality.

Commercialization (Required):

• Ability to assess commercial viability (unit economics, pricing/packaging, go-to-market, channels/partners, adoption barriers) for platform and ecosystem plays.

AI/ML (Required):

• Expertise in AI/ML engineering (training vs inference, MLOps, model lifecycle) and translating technical approaches into measurable outcomes.
• Ability to evaluate AI assurance (robustness, drift, adversarial ML risks) and appropriate lifecycle controls for operational networks.

Security and Governance:

• Expertise in security-by-design for distributed networks (threat modeling, zero trust, IAM, key management, secure telemetry/logging, resilience against disruption and breaches).
• Working knowledge of data governance and privacy (data rights/provenance, retention, access controls, cross-tenant isolation) in distributed AI systems.

Telecom (Required):

• Working knowledge of 3GPP architectures/standards and the ability to judge credible standards contribution roadmaps and timelines.
• Working knowledge of O-RAN (Open RAN) architectures/interfaces and the ability to assess openness, interoperability, and multi-vendor integration feasibility.
• Experience with mobile/Open RAN deployments or integrations (RU/DU/CU, transport dependencies, operability) and carrier-grade requirements (availability, observability, fault management, SLAs).
• Ability to evaluate program execution realism for multi-party efforts (teaming structure, governance, milestone quality, risk/dependency management).

Preferred Differentiators (nice-to-have):

• Direct experience with AI for telecom (e.g., RIC applications, network optimization, anomaly detection, intrusion detection in RAN/core).
• Program or project management experience in telecommunications, providing background in management, financial performance, or other aspects of project success.

Conflict of Interest:

Merit Reviewers must reveal any conflicts of interest (real or apparent) before conducting a review. The Federal client will assign applications to reviewers without conflicts. Considerations include:

• Potential conflicts (e.g., reviewing applications within a grant program where prior work or contracting experience exists).
• Appearance of impaired objectivity due to relationships or activities with other persons or entities.
• Geographic location relative to the application's origin.
• Reviewer availability and schedules.

Location/Timeline:

This is a fully remote role requiring approximately 40 hours per week, ideally as a 1099 contractor. While the schedule is flexible, consistent availability for client meetings and recurring standups is expected. The engagement period is anticipated from early September through the end of October 2026.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree.
• 10+ years of professional experience.
• US citizenship and the ability to pass public trust clearance or suitability.

Corner Alliance values potential and encourages applications even if not all qualifications are met. We seek individuals who are coachable, resourceful, innovative, excellent writers, analytical thinkers, skilled prioritizers, and adept at building rapport.

About Us:

Corner Alliance offers a comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees, including 401k matching, PTO, health, dental, and vision insurance, disability insurance, FSA accounts, paid parental leave, paid holidays, fitness and cell phone reimbursements, and regular professional development opportunities. Our company culture fosters engagement and collaboration through various communication tools and team events.

Corner Alliance is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. Reasonable accommodations are available for individuals with disabilities upon request. Corner Alliance participates in E-Verify to confirm work authorization.

Visit www.corneralliance.com for more information.

Securing Your Data:

Be aware of fake employment opportunities. Corner Alliance will never ask for payment during the application process or advance money. Communication will only occur through our official ATS system (JazzHR) and emails from corneralliance.com. Report suspicious communications to [email protected]. If you believe you are a victim of a scam, contact local law enforcement and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.