Senior Cloud Network Engineer

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 an 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.

As a Senior Cloud Network Engineer in Azure Optical Fiber & AI team, 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.

Responsibilities:

• 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

Qualifications:

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• Doctorate Degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field
  • OR Master's 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 Bachelor'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 equivalent experience.
• 1+ years experience in large scale Data Center Optics testing and qualifications, and 1+ year(s) of experience delivering fiber optical transceivers into data center production environments
• 1+ years experience in IM-DD optical technologies, including PAM4 and NRZ signaling used in high-speed data center interconnects.
• Familiar with IEEE 802.3 Ethernet optics standards (e.g., 400G/800G DR4, FR4, LR4, SR4) and relevant compliance test specifications.
• 1+ years experience with optical transceiver characterization using instruments such as BERTs, high-speed oscilloscopes, and optical spectrum analyzers.

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.

Additional or Preferred 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 6+ 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 8+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation
  • OR equivalent experience.
• 1+ year(s) experience delivering network designs into production and experience with live site accountability for a network.
• Expertise in Optical Performance Metrics: Deep knowledge of TDECQ, OMA, SRS, ER, and RIN, with ability to analyze and optimize optical signal integrity.
• Proficiency in Optical Systems and Standards: Skilled in link budget analysis, dispersion/crosstalk management, and familiar with OIF, ITU-T, and IEC standards for optical interfaces and testing.
• Hands-on Experience in Reliability & Network Design: Experienced with Telcordia GR-468/GR-63 qualification testing, fiber network design, capacity planning, and automation for large-scale deployments.
• Advanced Troubleshooting & Technology Expertise: Ability to interpret OTDR, eye-diagram, and constellation traces; proficient background in DWDM, CWDM, ROADM, OTN technologies, and cross-functional problem-solving.

Cloud Network Engineering IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 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 $158,400 - $258,000 per year.

Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here: ;br>
Microsoft will accept applications for the role until November 10, 2025.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran status, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or the recruiting process, please send a request via the Accommodation request form .

Benefits/perks listed below may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Microsoft and the country where you work.

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