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At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, with Azure serving as the physical platform that underpins this mission. Azure Fiber is a critical component of Azure, dedicated to the design, buildout, and operations of the Global Optical Network. This network is the lifeline of connectivity, enabling seamless interaction with Azure and services like Teams, Xbox, Office, Bing, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT across the globe. With a focus on Hollow Core Fiber (HCF) and cable, Azure Fiber is preparing for exponential growth driven by continued Cloud success and new Artificial Intelligence (AI) demands, ensuring that every Microsoft customer can rely on our infrastructure for high-quality, secure, and reliable connectivity to all Microsoft services.

As a **Principal Cloud Network Engineer in Azure Fiber** , 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 a global change management framework, integrating reactive breakfix and continual improvement of dark fiber quality, to manage our global approach to optical quality. To support, you will also lead the integration of state-of-the-art AI-based network management software into this framework to ensure we have the highest quality dark fiber assets. This position sits at the forefront of the AI network revolution combining infrastructure design and expansion to support AI, as well as implementation of AI based software tools to support 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

+ Dark Fiber Quality: Closely monitor and maintain the reliability and efficiency of both solid core and hollow core fiber networks, ensuring high standards of operational excellence. Lead the implementation of a new change management framework and oversee all network changes related to our dark fiber.

+ 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.

+ Support and Execution: Help integrate hollow core and solid core fiber technologies into our fiber operations and change management frameworks.

+ 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.

+ Collaboration: Work closely with senior engineers and other team members, contributing to projects that enhance customer satisfaction and service quality.

+ Learning and Development: Actively engage in learning opportunities to deepen your understanding of fiber network technologies and operations.

+ Process and Automation: Create and document process and automation improvements aimed at enhancing network quality and operational efficiency.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

+ 9+ years technical experience in optical network design, development, planning, operations and automation with background in fiber networks

+ OR Bachelor's Degree in Optical Engineering, Information Technology, or related field AND 6+ years technical experience in optical network design, development, planning, operations and automation with background in fiber networks

+ OR Master's Degree in Optical Engineering, Information Technology, or related field AND 4+ years technical experience in optical network design, development, planning, operations and automation with background in fiber networks

+ OR Doctorate Degree in Optical Engineering, Information Technology, or related field AND 3+ years technical experience in optical network design, development, planning, operations and automation with background in fiber networks

+ 8+ years of technical experience on optical system or subsystem design, validation, and testing utilizing coherent, direct-detection, and WDM technologies

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:

+ 15+ years technical experience in optical network design, development, planning, operations and automation with background in fiber networks

+ OR Bachelor's Degree in Optical Engineering, Information Technology, or related field AND 12+ years technical experience in optical network design, development, planning, operations and automation with background in fiber networks

+ OR Master's Degree in Optical Engineering, Information Technology, or related field AND 8+ years technical experience in optical network design, development, planning, operations and automation with background in fiber networks

+ OR Doctorate Degree in Optical Engineering, Information Technology, or related field AND 5+ years technical experience in optical network design, development, planning, operations and automation with background in fiber networks.

+ 3+ years of experience delivering optical network designs into production and experience with live site accountability for a network

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 May 26, 2025.

\#azurecorejobs

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html) .