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# Director, Data Center Networking

- **Company:** CRUX, INC.
- **Location:** Palo Alto, CA, United States (Remote available)
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Contract:** Permanent contract
- **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Data Centers, Software Debugging, Network Layer, Network Diagnostics, Reliability of Systems, Agentic-AI, Data Center Networking, Open Network Automation Platform
- **Published:** November 7, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.juju.com/job/28_25197_ff997b33dc3e820c030a8a2ea4ea6353

## About the Role

* 15+ years in large-scale data center, ISP, or hyperscale network engineering, with 7+ years leading network engineering teams.
 * Deep Knowledge of High-Performance Fabrics: Hands-on mastery of high-throughput AI/ML or HPC networks at hyperscaler or neocloud scale.
 * Data Center Provisioning: Track record standing up network provisioning and turn-up processes using Infrastructure-as-Code techniques across multiple data center builds, partnering directly with construction, MEP, and capacity delivery teams., * Senior Talent Magnet: Track record of attracting, evaluating, and leading senior network engineers who excel in fast-paced, high-stakes infrastructure environments.

Mindset

 * Builder Mindset & Ambiguity: A true "builder, not supervisory" orientation; comfortable owning 2am fabric escalations early on, navigating ambiguity, and establishing structure amidst rapid growth.
 * AI-Agentic First: Active utilization of AI agents and automated workflows to streamline network diagnostics, telemetry parsing, and provisioning or an enthusiastic commitment to adopting them rapidly., * Hyperscaler / Neocloud Leadership: Network engineering leadership at a hyperscaler or leading neocloud during rapid growth.
 * TPU / GPU Cluster Operations: Direct experience with TPU/GPU interconnect fabrics, collective communication debugging, and scale-out burn-in testing.
 * Hyperscale Supplier Partnership: Experience managing technical co-engineering relationships with major technology/silicon partners comparable to Google.
 * Expert-Level Technical Depth: CCIE/JNCIE-level technical rigor (formal credential not required).
 * 0-to-1 Org Building: Experience building a network engineering function from scratch.

## Description

Crux AI is standing up multi-gigawatt TPU cluster fabrics and edge networking from zero. As Director, Data Center Networking, you will own the network layer end-to-end, from powered shell to the production fabric moving traffic at line rate.

Reporting directly to the CTO, you will build and scale our global network engineering function from scratch. This is a true hands-on, builder seat, not a supervisory position.

You will lead an elite group of unusually senior network and automation engineers, acting as the chief technical authority interfacing with Google's TPU networking teams. You must thrive on high autonomy and revel in ambiguity, translating complex physical and logical constraints into concrete engineering priorities in a fast-paced, high-growth environment., * Build & Lead the Network Engineering Org: Recruit, structure, and develop an elite global team of senior network engineers across North America and Europe to scale ahead of rapid fleet builds.

 * Set Fabric & Edge Architecture: Establish the global plan-of-record design standards for high-density TPU supercomputing clusters.
 * Own Network Provisioning: Define and execute network provisioning, turn-up, and burn-in procedures from powered shell through Level 5 / IST commissioning, optimizing the velocity of capacity delivery.
 * Own Network Reliability & Observability: Drive fabric reliability, incident response, and telemetry/observability in tight coordination with SRE, establishing self-healing automation to remediate faults before they impact customers.
 * Drive Network Automation & IaC: Own network automation from day one, establishing Infrastructure-as-Code as the mandatory basis for all configuration.
 * Direct Google TPU Engineering Partnership: Serve as the primary technical authority partnering with Google's TPU networking teams on fabric integration, link qualification, and co-engineering roadmaps.
 * Cross-Functional Infrastructure Alignment: Partner with Capacity Delivery, Facility Operations, and the Energy Manager on site handoffs and constraints; align with SRE on reliability and observability.
 * Optimize Network Economics & Margins: Feed network cost, lead times, and hardware procurement inputs into the capacity plan of record and cost/margin models.