Principal Network Architect

Microsoft’s Cloud Operations & Innovation (CO+I) is the engine that powers our cloud services. As a Principal Network Technical Project Manager in the CTO Office of CO+I, you will be responsible for managing change with network architectures and product solutions that enable new capabilities and improve the performance, efficiency, and reliability of Microsoft's data centers. You will work with a cross-functional team of engineers, researchers, and business partners to identify customer needs, generate innovative ideas, and deliver high-quality solutions. You will also collaborate with external vendors and suppliers to ensure alignment with Microsoft's standards and specifications.

Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 100 Datacenters and 1 million servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide. With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our Datacenter design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider.

In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

• This role is located either in one or all hub locations - Atlanta, GA, Washington, D.C., Redmond, WA, San Antonio, TX or Phoenix, AZ. 
• Relocation support will be provided, and successful candidates must ​relocate or reside within 50 miles of the hub office location. 
• This role is eligible for hybrid or remote work, up to 100%. 

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond. 

Required Qualifications: 

• 9+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation
• OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture, or related field AND 6+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation.
• OR Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture, or related field AND 4+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation
• OR Doctorate Degree in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Architecture, or related field AND 3+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation.
• 6+ years experience with mission-critical systems 
• 6+ years experience with designing systems and/or developing products for industrial or mission-critical environments. 

Other Requirements:

• Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: 
• Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in mechanical, electrical engineering, computer science, architecture
• Experience with cross-disciplined systems design (electrical, IT/Telecom, supervisory control and data acquisition).  
• Experience with Datacenter network systems design, analysis, and optimization.  Familiar with network technologies, architectures, and physical layer connectivity.

Cloud Network Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $137,600 - $267,000 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $180,400 - $294,000 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay

Microsoft will accept applications for the role until February 19, 2025. 

• Drive projects within the team and cross-team collaboration to deliver on time and on scope improvements to the business.  Create communications on status, next steps, and blockers to stakeholders and leadership.  Candidate will need to track multiple workstreams and varying priorities with short term and long term milestones. 
• Defines and influences requirements for design, network, and security across the business by applying expertise in large-scale network implementation, available technologies, aggregate insights from telemetry and production data, and root cause analysis, as well as best practices in identifying and implementing solutions.
• Analyzing the impact of technology change through cost, schedule, and quality metrics.  Supports go/no-go decision making through multi-faceted impact assessment.  Tracks the progress of approved technologies through implementation and provides input on the delta between planned and actual status.
• Accelerates the adoption of practices across the business to improve capabilities to identify risks, as well as standards that emphasize customer value and service quality without allowing for compromising exceptions; holds engineers across the business accountable for all facets of functionality, performance, scale, operations, cost, and customer impact.
• Refines how customer, business, and technical requirements influence large-scale network architectures by working with engineering and Program Management teams. Drives architecture reviews across organizations to open dialogue and ensure networks meet compliance standards and can deliver on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs); directs action in response to feedback to enable timely and cost-effective implementations.
• Leads the development of reliable, scalable, cost effective, and high-performance large-scale network architectures and designs across the business; identifies gaps in existing industry standards and drives requirements internally and into industry; develops solutions for common monitoring and operations systems, and advises on the development of design documents and implementation plans across organizations.
• Embody our culture and values.