About This Role:Crusoe is looking for a Principal Network Architect to define and own the network architecture strategy across our entire infrastructure stack, spanning bare-metal data center switching fabrics and RDMA interconnects to SDN control planes, Kubernetes networking, and cloud-layer overlays. As the industry's first vertically integrated AI infrastructure provider, Crusoe operates at a scale that few companies can match, including a 1.2 GW hyperscale campus in Abilene, TX powering the Stargate project. This is a high-impact, principal-level individual contributor role reporting directly to the Director of Networking, with broad technical authority and cross-organizational influence.
In this role, you'll do more than solve today's problems; you'll build the architecture that runs the AI infrastructure of tomorrow. You'll introduce and institutionalize modern networking paradigms like intent-based networking, declarative configuration management, and network source of truth, transforming how Crusoe designs, provisions, and operates its network at hyperscale.
What You'll Be Working On:- Hyperscale Data Center Architecture: Own end-to-end network architecture for Crusoe's AI data centers, including spine-leaf fabrics, out-of-band management, RDMA (RoCEv2/InfiniBand), and inter-campus WAN design.
- SDN Control Plane Design: Design and evolve SDN control plane architectures for programmable underlay and overlay networking across multi-vendor hardware environments.
- Kubernetes Networking: Define CNI selection, network policies, multi-cluster service mesh, and BGP peering architecture across Crusoe's Managed Kubernetes platform.
- Intent-Based Networking: Architect IBN frameworks that translate high-level business and operational goals into validated, auto-generated device configurations.
- Declarative Networking and GitOps: Establish infrastructure-as-code practices, GitOps-driven network provisioning, and continuous validation pipelines for network state.
- Network Source of Truth: Build and own Crusoe's SoT strategy, defining authoritative data models (IPAM, DCIM, CMDB) and ensuring all devices, links, and policies are version-controlled and consistently sourced.
- Automation Workflows: Design day-0/1/2 automation using tools like Ansible, Nornir, or Terraform, driven by the network source of truth.
- Observability and Telemetry: Define streaming telemetry architecture (gNMI/gRPC), intent verification, and closed-loop remediation pipelines.
- Standards and Cross-Functional Leadership: Establish engineering standards and reference architectures, lead architecture reviews, author design documents, and present proposals to senior leadership.
- Team Mentorship: Mentor senior and staff network engineers, growing the technical depth and breadth of the broader network engineering team.
What You'll Bring to the Team:- 12+ years of progressive network engineering and architecture experience, with at least 5 years in leadership role.
- Large-scale data center expertise with a proven track record designing networks at 500+ switches across multi-campus environments.
- Expert-level routing knowledge including deep proficiency in BGP, EVPN/VXLAN, OSPF, ECMP, BFD, and modern data center routing design.
- SDN and programmability experience with production-level work using an SDN controller (OpenDaylight, ONOS, Apstra, Contrail, or equivalent) and network programmability via NETCONF/YANG, RESTCONF, or gNMI.
- Kubernetes networking proficiency with hands-on experience in CNI selection (Calico, Cilium, Flannel, Multus), network policies, and BGP integration.
- RDMA and HPC networking understanding including familiarity with RoCEv2, InfiniBand, PFC, ECN, and lossless fabric design for AI/ML workloads.
- Software engineering fundamentals including strong command of Git, CI/CD, code review, and infrastructure-as-code tooling (Terraform, Ansible, Nornir).
- Communication and influence with exceptional written and verbal skills and the ability to write crisp design documents and drive alignment across engineering and product leadership.
Bonus Points:- Experience at a hyperscaler, AI cloud provider, HPC center, or large-scale co-location operator.
- Hands-on experience with SONiC OS, P4 programmable data planes, SRv6, or silicon-level knowledge of Broadcom Tomahawk/Trident.
- Open source contributions to networking projects such as SONiC, NetBox, FRR, or Cilium.
- Familiarity with formal network verification tools like Batfish or Minesweeper, or eBPF-based networking and observability.
- Relevant certifications including CCIE (DC/SP), JNCIE, or vendor-specific SDN/cloud certifications.
Benefits:- Competitive compensation and equity packages
- Restricted Stock Units
- Paid time off, paid holidays & leave of absence programs
- Comprehensive health, dental & vision insurance
- Employer contributions to HSA account
- Paid parental leave
- Paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
- Professional development & tuition reimbursement
- Mental health & wellness support
- Commuter benefits (parking & transit)
- Cell phone stipend
- 401(k) Retirement plan with company match up to 4% of salary
- Volunteer time off
- Global travel insurance & emergency assistance
- Daily meals allowance
- Additional perks & programs specific to location
Compensation RangeCompensation will be paid in the range of up to $265,000 -$310,000 + Bonus. Restricted Stock Units are included in all offers. Compensation to be determined by the applicant's knowledge, education, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.
