OverviewAs a
Principal Cloud Network Engineer, you will serve as a senior technical leader responsible for defining the architecture, network security strategy, and modernization roadmap for Microsoft's global enterprise network infrastructure. Spanning multiple network service lines and global network infrastructure across Microsoft sites and datacenters, you will establish technical direction, architectural standards, and engineering principles that drive secure, resilient, and scalable network services worldwide.
You will partner across engineering, security, infrastructure, product, and business organizations to design next-generation network capabilities using Zero Trust, automation, AI, observability, and cloud-native platforms. As a recognized technical authority, you will influence product strategy, lead complex architecture initiatives, and advance Microsoft's vision for Agentic Network Engineering through AI-driven operations and autonomous service management.
This role requires deep technical expertise, strategic thinking, security acumen, and cross-organizational influence to modernize and secure the critical network infrastructure supporting Microsoft employees, product groups, vendors, and dependent services globally.
ResponsibilitiesIn this role, you will:
- Lead the architecture and implementation of secure, resilient, and scalable network services across Microsoft sites and datacenters worldwide, establishing a clear technical vision and modernization roadmap.
- Define enterprise network security architectures grounded in Zero Trust, identity-based access, adaptive policy, segmentation, and least-privilege principles.
- Partner with engineering and security leaders to establish architecture standards, design patterns, and governance across diverse network services and critical business environments.
- Shape Microsoft's Agentic Network Engineering strategy by designing frameworks that apply large language models, intelligent agents, machine learning, and predictive analytics to engineering and operations.
- Collaborate with software and product engineering teams to build scalable AI-enabled capabilities that accelerate delivery, improve reliability, reduce operational effort, and strengthen the engineer experience.
- Advance automation and Infrastructure as Code practices that make network changes safer, repeatable, testable, and easier to operate at global scale.
- Establish observability and service-health strategies that provide actionable insights, improve incident prevention and diagnosis, and enable data-driven decisions.
- Evaluate emerging networking, security, cloud, automation, and AI technologies; lead proofs of concept and translate successful outcomes into practical adoption roadmaps.
- Lead architecture reviews for high-impact initiatives, ensuring designs meet security, resilience, scalability, performance, supportability, and lifecycle requirements.
- Influence technical direction across engineering, security, infrastructure, product, and business organizations through clear recommendations, architectural guidance, and executive communication.
- Balance innovation with operational excellence by ensuring new capabilities can be securely deployed, measured, operated, and supported worldwide.
- Mentor engineers and technical leaders, raise architecture and engineering practices, and foster a culture of curiosity, inclusion, accountability, and continuous learning.
QualificationsRequired Qualifications:
- 9+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation
- OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or related field AND 6+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation.
- OR Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field AND 4+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation
- OR Doctorate Degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology, or related field AND 3+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation.
Preferred Qualifications:- 5+ years of experience serving as a technical lead, principal engineer, network architect, or equivalent senior technical role with responsibility for architecture decisions across multiple engineering teams.
- Experience designing and supporting large-scale enterprise networks across multiple technology domains, such as routing, switching, wireless, network security, telecommunications, Network Access Control, or cloud networking.
- Experience leading cross-organizational technical initiatives and driving architecture decisions across engineering, security, operations, and senior leadership stakeholders.
- Experience leading enterprise-scale network modernization or transformation initiatives involving Zero Trust networking, automation, Infrastructure as Code, AI-enabled operations, Agentic Engineering, or large-scale technology migrations.
- Experience establishing enterprise architecture standards, design patterns, governance models, or technology adoption roadmaps across multiple network services.
- Proficiency with programming and automation technologies such as Python, Ansible, APIs, source control, CI/CD pipelines, and GitOps-based operational models.
- Experience with enterprise networking technologies including Cisco, Arista, Aruba, Palo Alto, F5, Opengear, AudioCodes, cellular technologies, and cloud networking platforms.
- Relevant industry certification in network architecture, cloud networking, cybersecurity, or enterprise architecture, such as CCNP, CCIE, CISSP, or an equivalent credential.
Cloud Network 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.
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.
