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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal AI Network Technical Lead - **Company:** Microsoft - **Location:** Mountain View, CA, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $142,800.0 - $274,800.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Systems Engineering, Microsoft Online Services, Computer Engineering, Ethernet, Firmware, Hardware Design, Network Control, Remote Direct Memory Access, Software Requirements Analysis, Systems Architecture, Systems Integration, AI Infrastructure, Network Switches, Computer Network Technologies, Hardware Infrastructure, Physical Design, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure - **Published:** September 12, 2026 - **Apply:** https://diversityjobs.com/main/sendform/8/8/28176/1/18267065?backUrl=%2Fcareer%2F18267065%2FPrincipal-Ai-Network-Technical-Lead-California-Mountain-View ## About the Role * Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 7+ years technical engineering experience + OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience + OR equivalent experience. Other Requirements: * Abilityto meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements isrequiredfor this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to, the following specialized security screening: * + Microsoft Cloud Background Check. This position is required to pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire or transfer and every two years thereafter. * This role will require access to information that is controlled for export under export control regulations, potentially under the U.S. International Traffic in Arms Regulations or Export Administration Regulations, the EU Dual Use Regulation, and/or other export control regulations.As a condition of employment, the successful candidate will be requiredto provide either proof of their country of citizenship or proof of their U.S. permanent residency or other protected status(e.g., under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)) for assessment of eligibility to access the export-controlled information.To meet this legal requirement, and as a condition of employment, the successful candidate's citizenship will be verified with a valid passport. Lawful permanent residents, refugees, and asylees may verify status using other documents, where applicable., * 10+ years of experience in networking, AI infrastructure, or large-scale system architecture. * 10+ years of relevant experience in system (compute, storage, networking, and/or accelerator) level design and/or implementation across the hardware development lifecycle. * 10+ years of hands-on experience in server hardware architecture, design, and development with solid understanding of hardware, firmware, and Operating System (OS). * Proven experience delivering AI and GPU-based systems to production. * Experience developing high-performance network switches, AI fabrics, or hyperscale networking solutions. * Deep understanding of scale-up and scale-out networks, Ethernet switching, RDMA/RoCE, and SONiC. * Knowledge of switch ASICs, 112G/224G SerDes, PAM4, retimers, PHYs, and high-speed interconnects. * Experience with optical networking technologies such as OCI, XPO, CPO, OBO, and DR optics. * Experience leading hardware development from architecture through validation and production. * Familiarity with rack-scale systems, power, thermal, reliability, and serviceability design. * Experience working with ODM/JDM partners and external suppliers. * Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams across hardware, firmware, software, and systems engineering. * BS / MS in Electrical/Computer Engineering or equivalent industry experience. Hardware Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 - $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. ## Description * Own end-to-end development, validation, deployment, andsustaining ofMicrosoft's AI scale-up switch platforms. * Drivenetworkswitch requirements, specifications, and technical decisions based on AI workload and system requirements. * Lead switch vendor selection, RFIs/RFQs/RFPs, technical evaluations, and supplier engagement strategy. * Own switch hardware development including ASICs, SerDes,retimers, connectors, SI/PI, mechanical, thermal, and power design. * Drive development of next-generation optical scale-up solutions including OCI, XPO, CPO, fiber management, and optical interconnect technologies. * Partner with software teams onSONiC, control plane, telemetry, diagnostics, fleet management, and operational readiness. * Leadswitchbring-up, validation, DVT/PVT, system integration, qualification, and production readiness activities. * Own integration of scale-up switches into compute racks, switch racks, pods, and AI clusters. * Drive ODM/JDM development models and manage technical engagement with switch vendors, ODMs, and ecosystem partners. * Lead cross-functional teams spanning networking, systems, silicon, optics, firmware, software, operations, and manufacturing. * Drive system-level optimization across performance, reliability, serviceability, manufacturability, power, cost, and time-to-market. * Serve as the technical lead for Microsoft's next-generation AI scale-up switch solutions and networking platforms. ## Related Videos - [Building the Nervous System of AI - Michael Kagan (NVIDIA)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2133-building-the-nervous-system-of-ai-michael-kagan-nvidia) - [The Gashlycrumb Tinies of AI Networking You Must Know (or Languish!)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/2067-the-gashlycrumb-tinies-of-ai-networking-you-must-know-or-languish) - [Quantum Computing - The tiny and the big challenges](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/934-quantum-computing-the-tiny-and-the-big-challenges) - [Playing Pong on a shoulder press machine](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100140-playing-pong-on-a-shoulder-press-machine) - [Building a hypercar from scratch](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/607-building-a-hypercar-from-scratch) - [Shipping Faster with Less: Render on Cloud Hosting, AI Workloads, and the Future of DevOps](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1894-shipping-faster-with-less-render-on-cloud-hosting-ai-workloads-and-the-future-of-devops) ## Related Articles - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [How to Become an AI Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/331-how-to-become-an-ai-engineer) - [Best Paying Jobs in Technology](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/256-best-paying-jobs-in-technology) - [Top-Paying Tech Jobs (with Salaries)](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/372-top-paying-tech-jobs-with-salaries) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies in Europe](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/162-highest-paying-tech-companies-in-europe) - [How Much Does a Software Engineer Make? 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