Principal Optical Network Engineer - Azure Fiber & AI

Microsoft Azure Cloud infrastructure & AI infrastructure are positioned at the forefront of the next industrial revolution. The Azure Fiber & AI team is a key part of Azure, dedicated to designing, building, and operating the Global Optical Network, the backbone of connectivity for seamless interaction with Azure and the services running on it such as ChatGPT. With a strong emphasis on multiple revolutionary optical technologies, such as Silicon Photonics (SiPho), Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), Open Line Systems (OLS), Hollow Core Fiber (HCF) technologies, Azure Fiber & AI is preparing for exponential growth fueled by ongoing Cloud & AI success and emerging unprecedented demands.

We are looking for a Principal Optical Network Engineer - Azure Fiber & AI. In this role, you will play a crucial role in the strategic expansion and operational excellence of our solid core and hollow core fiber networks. You will lead the development and implementation of components and systems from design through deployment, operations, and automation, as well as contributing to the innovation of transformative technologies such as, SiPho, CPO, and HCF optics for AI. Additionally, you will spearhead the development and integration of advanced AI-empowered network management, quality monitoring and improvement software, guaranteeing the highest quality of fiber & optical assets. This position is highly visible, situated in an area of significant and growing investment for Microsoft, and offers substantial opportunities for technical and career advancement. This position places you at the cutting edge of the AI network revolution, merging infrastructure design and expansion to support AI initiatives with the deployment of AI-based software tools for network buildout and operations.

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/Minimum Qualifications:

• Doctorate Degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field AND 3+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation
  • OR Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field AND 4+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field AND 6+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 1+ years experience managing large scale optical transport systems and provisioning, troubleshooting, and maintaining long-haul and metro optical networks.
  
• 1+ years experience with optical performance management tools, and optical transmission technologies including DWDM, CWDM, ROADM, and OTN.
  
• Ability to interpret OTDR/eye-diagram/constellation traces and apply advanced troubleshooting for signal integrity and optical impairments.
  
• 1+ years experience in fiber optical network design, development, capacity planning, operations and automation with background in fiber optical networks

Other Qualifications:

• 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.

Additional or Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctorate Degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field AND 5+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation
  • OR Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field AND 8+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation
  • OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field AND 12+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 3+ years experience delivering network designs into production and experience with live site accountability for a network.
• 1+ year(s) experience developing quality management programs

• Optical Technologies & Standards: Over 1 year of experience in IM-DD optical technologies including PAM4 and NRZ signaling, with familiarity in IEEE 802.3 Ethernet optics standards (400G/800G DR4, FR4, LR4, SR4) and compliance specifications.

• Performance Metrics & Testing: Proficient in key optical metrics such as TDECQ, OMA, SRS, ER, and RIN; hands-on experience with BERTs, high-speed oscilloscopes, and optical spectrum analyzers for transceiver characterization.

• System-Level Understanding: Solid grasp of optical link budgets, dispersion, crosstalk, and reliability testing protocols (Telcordia GR-468/GR-63, damp heat, thermal cycling) for short- and long-reach deployments.

• Collaboration & Standards Knowledge: Familiar with OIF, ITU-T, and IEC standards; strong problem-solving skills and cross-functional collaboration with hardware, signal integrity, and system architecture teams.

Cloud Network Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $139,900 - $274,800 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 $188,000 - $304,200 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 October 3, 2025.

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• Optical Network Design for AI Systems: Collaborate with key stakeholders to ascertain customer requirements specific to optical networking for AI systems. Lead the design and development of specialized optical network components, focusing on optical direct-detection and coherent technologies, to meet both customer and technical requirements. Create comprehensive design documents that detail the architectural blueprint for optical solutions optimized for AI applications.
• Performs testing and validation of network devices, firmware, and configurations; defines and implements test cases with automation tools and exposes test coverage gaps.
• Optical Systems Testing and Validation: Conduct rigorous testing and validation of optical grey and WDM transceivers, transponders and line systems. Utilize automation tools to establish test cases, and identify gaps in test coverage, ensuring the transceivers' high-performance compatibility with AI applications.
• Acts as a Designated Responsible Individual (DRI) and guides other engineers by developing and following the playbook, working on call to monitor system/product/service for degradation, downtime, or interruptions, alerting stakeholders about status and initiates actions to restore system/product/service for simple and complex problems when appropriate.
• Operational Efficiency: Integrate state-of-the-art AI based software tooling into our operations and change management frameworks to ensure we always have the highest quality dark fiber assets possible.
• Proactively seeks new knowledge and adapts to new trends, technical solutions, and patterns that will improve the availability, reliability, efficiency, observability, and performance of products while also driving consistency in monitoring and operations at scale.
• Project and Feature Leadership: Utilize your in-depth expertise in coherent and direct-detection optical technologies to steer project and release plans in coordination with project managers and stakeholders. Make sure these plans align with the overarching objectives of optical networking optimized for AI systems.