Microsoft

Principal AI System Architect

Microsoft • $165K — $296K *
Redmond, WA 98052In-Person
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's or Bachelor's degree in related engineering field with 9+ years or 11+ years of experience respectively
  • Ability to pass Microsoft Cloud Background Check security requirements
  • Doctorate preferred with additional experience in related engineering fields
  • Experience in large-scale AI datacenter systems and network architecture
  • Proficient in hardware system architecture at scale and authoring specifications

Responsibilities

  • Define and optimize AI architecture across multiple domains including networking, power, and cooling.
  • Develop functional proof-of-concepts to evaluate and mitigate risks around new capabilities.
  • Write and manage high-level product requirements and specifications.
  • Facilitate alignment across engineering and leadership teams, ensuring accountability for outcomes.
  • Perform performance simulations and model analyses for architectural decision-making.
  • Engage with industry consortiums to influence technology standards and vendor directions.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Retirement plans including 401(k) with company match
  • Generous paid time off and vacation policies
  • Professional development opportunities and tuition reimbursement
  • Flexible work options to support work-life balance.
Full Job Description
Overview

Join the Systems Pathfinding and Architecture (SPARC) team within Microsoft's Azure Hardware Systems and Infrastructure (AHSI) organization, the team behind Microsoft's expanding Cloud Infrastructure and for powering Microsoft's "Intelligent Cloud" mission. Microsoft delivers more than 200 online services to more than one billion individuals worldwide, and AHSI is the team behind our expanding cloud infrastructure. We deliver the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft's cloud businesses including Microsoft Azure, Bing, MSN, Office 365, OneDrive, Skype, Teams and Xbox Live.

We are seeking a passionate Principal AI System Architect to join the team. In this role you will own and define the system architecture requirements; it is a broad role with the ability to make a direct impact on Microsoft AI accelerator systems.

Responsibilities
  • Define AI rack- and cluster-scale architecture across accelerator, host, network, memory, storage, power, cooling, and datacenter constraints. Make quantitative tradeoffs across performance and TCO.
  • Develop functional proof-of-concepts to evaluate and de-risk new capabilities
  • Write and own high-level product requirements and specifications
  • Drive alignment across cross-functional engineering and leadership teams. Own the outcomes.
  • Use performance simulations and hardware models for what-if studies to evaluate and choose between architecture options.
  • Industry influence: Participate in industry consortiums to shape standards, and influence vendor roadmaps.


Qualifications

Required Qualifications

  • Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 9+ years technical engineering experience OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 11+ years technical engineering experience OR equivalent experience


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
  • Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience OR Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 12+ years technical engineering experience OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 15+ years technical engineering experience OR equivalent experience
  • Experience in large scale AI datacenter systems and their network
  • Demonstrated expertise in one or more of these domains: networking (RoCE, Infiniband transports, congestion control, network topology design), reliability and serviceability, datacenter architecture for large scale AI systems
  • Experience owning hardware system architecture at scale - machine, rack row and cluster, authoring specifications and requirements
  • Ability to make decision trade-offs across domains
  • Deep expertise in AI systems or a key domain such as networking, reliability, power management
  • Skilled in partnering and influencing architects, hardware engineers, and software leads
  • Ability to manage through ambiguity, bringing clarity to establish direction and driving decisions
  • Collaboration skills, teamwork, and sense of presumed responsibility


Hardware Engineering IC6 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $165,600 - $296,400 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 $220,800 - $331,200 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

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

About Microsoft

Microsoft is an American multinational corporation that develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells a range of software products and services. Microsoft’s devices and consumer (D&C) licensing segment licenses the Windows operating system and related software, Microsoft Office for consumers, and the Windows Phone operating system. The company’s computing and gaming hardware segment provides Xbox gaming and entertainment consoles and accessories, second-party and third-party video games, and Xbox Live subscriptions; surface devices and accessories; and Microsoft PC accessories. Its phone hardware segment offers Lumia smartphones and other non-Lumia phones. Its D&C segment provides Windows Store, Xbox Live transactions, and Windows phone store; search advertising; display advertising; Office 365 Home and Office 365 Personal; first-party video games; and other consumer products and services as well as operating retail stores. Microsoft’s commercial licensing segments license server products, including Windows Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Visual Studio, System Center, and related Client Access Licenses (CALs); Windows Embedded; Windows operating system; Microsoft Office for business, including Office, Exchange, SharePoint, Lync, and related CALs; Microsoft Dynamics business solutions; and Skype. Its commercial segment offers enterprise services, including premier support services and Microsoft consulting services; commercial cloud comprising Office 365 Commercial, other Microsoft Office online offerings, Dynamics CRM Online, and Microsoft Azure; and other commercial products and online services. The company markets and distributes its products through original equipment manufacturers, distributors, and resellers, as well as online.

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Join Microsoft today and be part of a company that values innovation, leadership, and diversity in its workforce. As a global leader in technology and digital transformation, Microsoft offers unparalleled job opportunities that propel your career to new heights.

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Learn more about Microsoft
Size
181,000 employees
Market Cap
$1,762.4 billion
Industry
Enterprise Technology
Net Income
$51.3 billion
Founded
1975
5 Year Trend
+15.5%
Revenue
$153.2 billion
NASDAQ
MSFT
* Ladders Estimates

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