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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Principal AI Network Technical Lead - **Company:** Microsoft - **Location:** Raleigh, NC, United States - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $142,800.0 - $274,800.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Systems Engineering, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Online Services, Cloud Computing, Computer Engineering, Ethernet, Firmware, Hardware Design, Microsoft Software, Network Control, Remote Direct Memory Access, Software Requirements Analysis, Systems Architecture, Systems Integration, Xbox Linux, AI Infrastructure, Network Switches, Computer Network Operations, Computer Network Technologies, Search Engines, Hardware Infrastructure, Physical Design, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure - **Published:** October 27, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.careerbuilder.com/job-details/principal-ai-network-technical-lead-raleigh-nc--a0e14efa-44a8-4d8c-86f9-7f946f79978d ## About the Role Artificial Intelligence (AI), Technical Leadership, Xbox, Microsoft Windows Azure, Microsoft Bing Search Engine, Microsoft Product Family, Customer Experience, Cloud Computing, Network Operations Center, Computer Engineering, * Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 7+ years technical engineering experience * OR Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience * OR equivalent experience. Other Requirements: * Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements is required for 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 required to 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. Preferred Qualifications: * 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, and sustaining of Microsofts AI scale-up switch platforms. * Drive network switch 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 on SONiC, control plane, telemetry, diagnostics, fleet management, and operational readiness. * Lead switch bring-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 Microsofts next-generation AI scale-up switch solutions and networking platforms.