> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/1995159-principal-network-architect](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/1995159-principal-network-architect). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md).

---

# Principal Network Architect

- **Company:** Crusoe's Inc
- **Location:** San Francisco, CA, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Border Gateway Protocol, Big Data, Configuration Management Databases, Code Review, Computer Networks, Continuous Integration, Data Center Infrastructure Management (CIM), InfiniBand, Netconf, Routing, Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), Remote Direct Memory Access, Ansible, Software Engineering, Data Streaming, AI Infrastructure, Git, Data Center Networking, Kubernetes, Bare Metal, Terraform
- **Published:** August 8, 2026
- **Apply:** https://us.experteer.com/career/view-jobs/principal-network-architect-san-francisco-ca-usa-58850795

## About the Role

approaches: CNI selection, policies, multi-cluster service mesh, and BGP integration * Architect and implement intent-based networking frameworks translating goals into validated configurations * Establish declarative networking, IaC practices, GitOps provisioning, and continuous validation of network state * Develop and maintain Network Source of Truth with authoritative data models (IPAM, DCIM, CMDB) * Create automation workflows (day-0/1/2) using Ansible, Nornir, Terraform driven by SoT * Lead observability and telemetry designs with streaming data (gNMI/gRPC) and remediation pipelines * Set engineering standards, author design docs, conduct architecture reviews, and present to senior leadership * Mentor senior and staff network engineers to grow technical depth and breadth Tasks * 12+ years in network engineering/architecture with at least 5 years in a leadership role * Extensive large-scale data center experience across 500+ switches and multi-campus environments * Expert-level aaaa
with BGP, EVPN/VXLAN, OSPF, ECMP, BFD * SDN and programmability with production use of an SDN controller (e.g., OpenDaylight, ONOS, Apstra, Contrail) and NETCONF/YANG or gNMI * Kubernetes networking experience: CNI (Calico, Cilium, Flannel, Multus), policies, and BGP integration * RDMA/HPC networking familiarity (RoCEv2, InfiniBand, PFC, ECN) for AI/ML workloads * Software engineering basics: Git, CI/CD, code review, IaC tooling (Terraform, Ansible, Nornir) * Strong written and verbal communication; ability to write crisp designs and align across teams Key requirements * Competitive compensation and equity * Comprehensive health, dental & vision * HSA contributions * Paid time off, holidays, parental leave * 401(k) with company match * Professional development and tuition reimbursement

## Description

Experteer Overview As a Principal Network Architect, you will own the end-to-end network strategy for Crusoe's AI infrastructure at hyperscale. You'll shape architectures spanning bare-metal fabrics, RDMA, SDN, Kubernetes networking, and cloud overlays to enable scalable AI workloads. You will translate business goals into declarative, intent-based configurations and build a reliable network source of truth with modern IaC and GitOps. You'll lead cross-functional reviews, document designs, and mentor engineers to raise the team's technical depth. This role offers high impact in advancing Crusoe's mission to accelerate AI compute at scale, while collaborating with experts across energy, manufacturing, and cloud Compensation / Benefits * Own end-to-end hyperscale data center network architecture, including spine-leaf, RDMA, and inter-campus WAN designs * Design and evolve SDN control planes for programmable underlay/overlay across multi-vendor environments * Define Kubernetes networking approaches: CNI selection, policies, multi-cluster service mesh, and BGP integration * Architect and implement intent-based networking frameworks translating goals into validated configurations * Establish declarative networking, IaC practices, GitOps provisioning, and continuous validation of network state * Develop and maintain Network Source of Truth with authoritative data models (IPAM, DCIM, CMDB) * Create automation workflows (day-0/1/2) using Ansible, Nornir, Terraform driven by SoT * Lead observability and telemetry designs with streaming data (gNMI/gRPC) and remediation pipelines * Set engineering standards, author design docs, conduct architecture reviews, and present to senior leadership * Mentor senior and staff network engineers to grow technical depth and breadth Tasks * 12+ years in network engineering/architecture with at least 5 years in a leadership role * Extensive large-scale data center experience across 500+ switches and multi-campus environments * Expert-level routing: BGP, EVPN/VXLAN, OSPF, ECMP, BFD * SDN and programmability with production use of an SDN controller (e.g., OpenDaylight, ONOS, Apstra, Contrail) and NETCONF/YANG or gNMI * Kubernetes networking experience: CNI (Calico, Cilium, Flannel, Multus), policies, and BGP integration * RDMA/HPC networking familiarity (RoCEv2, InfiniBand, PFC, ECN) for AI/ML workloads * Software engineering basics: Git, CI/CD, code review, IaC tooling (Terraform, Ansible, Nornir) * Strong written and verbal communication; ability to write crisp designs and align across teams Key requirements * Competitive compensation and equity * Comprehensive health, dental & vision * HSA contributions * Paid time off, holidays, parental leave * 401(k) with company match * Professional development and tuition reimbursement


## Related Videos

- [How Cisco embraced a DevOps culture within its network engineering team](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/99-how-cisco-embraced-a-devops-culture-within-its-network-engineering-team)
- [How a Small Team Shrank a Microsoft Monorepo by 94%](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1236-how-a-small-team-shrank-a-microsoft-monorepo-by-94)
- [Creating a routing app with Google Maps API from scratch](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/831-creating-a-routing-app-with-google-maps-api-from-scratch)
- [Demystifying application networking in the cloud](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/675-demystifying-application-networking-in-the-cloud)
- [Small, Secure, Interconnected: The next Internet Protocol](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100062-small-secure-interconnected-the-next-internet-protocol)
- [Git for Code Reviews](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/429-git-for-code-reviews)

## Related Articles

- [Best US AI Conferences for CTOs in 2026: Build vs. Buy, Vendor Evaluation, and Peer Intelligence](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/736-best-us-ai-conferences-for-ctos-in-2026-build-vs-buy-vendor-evaluation-and-peer-intelligence)
- [Dev Digest 120 - Apple and peers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/455-dev-digest-120-apple-and-peers)
- [Everything a Developer Needs to Know About MCP with Neo4j](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/604-everything-a-developer-needs-to-know-about-mcp-with-neo4j)
- [Graph and AI Trends 2026: Why Is AI Running but Not Yet Delivering?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/680-graph-and-ai-trends-2026-why-is-ai-running-but-not-yet-delivering)
- [Dev Digest 137 - AI'm not sure about this](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/485-dev-digest-137-ai-m-not-sure-about-this)
- [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline)