Principal Cloud Network Engineer

Quick Facts

• Role: Principal Cloud Network Engineer

• Focus: Next-generation Azure global networking across optical, packet, and control layers

• Key themes: hardware disaggregation, programmable optical layer, physical automation/robotics, safe simulation-driven change, AI-driven engineering

Description

You will own significant parts of the next generation architecture for Azure’s global network and help take designs into production. The role combines technical depth across optical and packet networking with leadership across engineering, hardware, supply chain, and partners—on a network that must remain reliable and never be taken offline.

Responsibilities

• Next Generation Network Design: Own significant parts of a multi-year global network architecture across optical, packet, and control layers.

• Hardware Disaggregation: Define requirements and evaluate platforms to move toward open, interchangeable building blocks (e.g., merchant silicon, SONiC, open optical line systems, pluggable/co-packaged optics).

• Programmable Optical Layer: Define interfaces, telemetry, and control models for software control of the physical optical layer.

• Physical Automation and Robotics: Run pilots for inspection, installation quality, fiber/connector handling, hardware qualification, and repetitive field/lab tasks; scale what works.

• Simulation and Safe Change: Use network simulation and digital twins to validate architectures and changes before production.

• AI-Driven Engineering: Apply AI/agents to engineering workflows across design, qualification, deployment, and operations.

• Concept to Production: Drive ideas through paper, lab, pilots, qualification, and deployment at global scale.

• Technical Leadership and Influence: Mentor engineers, raise the technical bar, and communicate trade-offs across internal and external partners.

Requirements

• Doctorate degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field with 3+ years of network design, development, and automation experience

• OR Master’s degree with 4+ years of network design, development, and automation experience

• OR Bachelor’s degree with 6+ years of network design, development, and automation experience

• OR equivalent experience

• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including the Microsoft Cloud Background Check

Benefits

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation (see company pay information page).