Principal Optical Network System Engineer

Technology, Data & Digital · Software & Web Development · Software Engineering · Embedded Systems

In short

Microsoft is looking for a Principal Optical Network System Engineer to lead the architecture, engineering, and deployment of optical interconnect solutions for next-generation AI and cloud infrastructure. This role involves defining technical requirements, driving design tradeoffs, and ensuring optical links meet performance, power, reliability, and cost goals. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in fiber optics and optical interconnects.

Responsibilities

Define and drive networking architectures for AI training and inference platforms.
Lead the integration, bring-up, and deployment of network hardware technologies.
Define and execute validation strategies for AI networking infrastructure.
Analyze and optimize AI fabric performance across distributed training and inference workloads.
Drive qualification and deployment of next-generation networking technologies.
Lead root-cause analysis of networking and AI fabric issues.
Drive end-to-end architecture, integration, validation, and deployment of networking infrastructure for AI systems.
Partner with silicon, firmware, software, hardware, and Azure infrastructure teams to define networking requirements.
Lead bring-up, qualification, and optimization of network subsystems.
Develop validation and performance methodologies for AI networking infrastructure.
Evaluate and influence next-generation networking technologies and architectures.

Requirements

Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 7+ years technical engineering experience, OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience, OR equivalent experience.
8+ years of experience with fiber optics, including related tools, devices, processes, design, deployment, operations, or manufacturing.
8+ years of experience designing, testing, validating, or troubleshooting optical interconnects, optical components, or end-to-end fiber links.
Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements.
Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Desired Qualifications

Experience with data center networking and AI infrastructure, including GPU fabrics, InfiniBand, Ethernet, or UALink ecosystems.
Understanding of scale-up and scale-out network architectures and the optical connectivity requirements of large-scale distributed AI systems.
Experience in high-speed copper or optical interconnects, high-speed optical transmission systems, Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), Near-Packaged Optics (NPO), silicon photonics, pluggable optics, advanced packaging, or rack-scale fiber management.
Experience with optical engineering concepts, testing procedures, laboratory tools, analysis methods, or relevant industry standards.
Experience testing or validating active or passive fiber-optic components and end-to-end fiber links.
Familiarity with relevant standards or specifications, such as IEEE Ethernet, OIF, or CMIS.
Experience developing high-density fiber infrastructure, including fiber shuffle solutions, patch panels, connectors, cable assemblies, and rack-scale optical systems.
Experience with hyperscale datacenter deployment, optical manufacturing processes, and ODM, contract manufacturer, and supplier ecosystems.
Experience managing optical or networking products through EVT, DVT, PVT, qualification, and production ramp.
Experience with Linux environments and automation frameworks.
Experience developing telemetry, diagnostics, validation, and qualification tooling.
Familiarity with scripting and data analysis environments.

Benefits

The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $274,800 per year.
For specific work locations within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, the base pay range is USD $188,000 - $304,200 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.

Skills

Fiber OpticsOptical InterconnectsEthernetInfiniBandLinux

#AI Networking#Cloud Infrastructure#Silicon#Hardware Engineering#Optical Networking#Data Center

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Company

Microsoft

Job Posted

7 hours ago

Employment Type

Full Time

Work mode

Hybrid

Salary

US$142,800–274,800 · Negotiable

Experience Level

Senior

Locations

United States

Qualification

Master, Bachelor

Applicants

Be an early applicant

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