Microsoft

Principal Optical Engineer

Microsoft • $142K — $274K *
Raleigh, NC 27610In-Person
Telecommunications & Hardware
5 - 7 years of experience
Reposted Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Master's Degree in Electrical, Computer, or Mechanical Engineering plus 7+ years of experience, or equivalent experience with a Bachelor's and additional years
  • Proven experience in high-density fiber-optic components and data center infrastructures
  • Experience with hyperscalers or rack-level system integrators is desired
  • In-depth knowledge of active and passive optical interconnect technologies
  • Experience in systematic Failure Analysis and root cause analysis methodology
  • Demonstrated cross-functional leadership and communication skills
  • Analytical problem-solving skills with a focus on performance optimization.

Responsibilities

  • Develop standards for rack-scale fiber-optic management solutions
  • Engage with emerging AI systems involving optical content
  • Own lifecycle documentation across development stages
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams and suppliers for integration
  • Drive supplier development of new fiber-optic infrastructure
  • Assist operations team in troubleshooting and remediation
  • Establish technology roadmaps and product readiness criteria.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package available
  • Opportunities for professional development and growth
  • Work in a dynamic and innovative environment
  • Engage with cutting-edge technology in a collaborative setting.
Full Job Description
Responsibilities

Generally, this Principal Optical Engineer role will act as a subject matter expert and lead architect in rack-scale fiber-optic infrastructure and cabling driving planning, architecture, innovation, partnerships, and development.

  • Develop comprehensive rack-scale fiber-optic management solutions and standards, including but not limited to fiber connectors, patch panels, fiber shuffle, and cable assemblies.


  • Actively involve in all emerging state-of-the-art AI systems/platforms with optical contents inside racks.


  • Own most of internal dev lifecycle documentation across proof of concept, product requirements, statement of works, EV/DV/PV, L10/L11 installation & build manual, and operational guidelines


  • Partner with internal cross-functional teams, fiber optics suppliers and system integrators to ensure efficient, and reliable integration of fiber-optic infrastructure into compute and switch racks


  • Manage and drive the suppliers to develop new fiber-optic building blocks to enable sustainable scaling of fiber-optic infrastructure for AI platforms


  • Assist data center operation team on troubleshooting and remediation recommendations issues after production


  • Drive the technology roadmap, technology/product readiness criteria, and intercept plans in the context of rack-scale fiber-optic infrastructure


  • Fill the domain knowledge gaps in fiber optics across cross-functional teams


Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

  • Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 7+ years technical engineering experience
    • OR Bachelor's 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 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 Degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 6+ years of technical engineering experience OR Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years of technical engineering experience OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 12+ years of technical engineering experience OR equivalent experience.


  • Proven experience in architecture, design, and/or implementation of high-density fiber-optic components and/or the passive fiber infrastructure for hyper-scale data centers, such as structural fiber cabling, advanced fiber connectors, cable assemblies, fiber shuffles, SMF/MMF


  • Experience working directly with hyperscalers or rack-level system integrators is highly valued


  • Proven understanding and insight of both active and passive optical interconnect technologies and associated supplier landscapes for hyper-scale cloud/AI infrastructure.


  • Hands-on testing and validation experience in active and passive fiber optic components and end-to-end fiber links.


  • The ability to conduct a systematic Failure Analysis to evaluate the cause of failures and define approaches for corrective actions, including knowledge of root cause analysis methodology.


  • Knowledge of optical interconnects and L0-L2 data center networking, in particular for leading AI infrastructure


  • Demonstrated cross-functional leadership and communication skills-able to drive architecture decisions and tradeoffs with senior technical leaders.


  • Proven analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on performance optimization.


  • Proven intellectual curiosity and a passion for challenging the status quo and driving disruptive innovation
  • Knowledge and experience of Fiber Optics including related tools, devices, processes, design, operations, or manufacturing, etc.
  • Knowledge of Optical Engineering and Optical Engineering concepts, testing procedures, standards, tools and appropriate analysis methods.


Hardware Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800.00 - $274,800.00 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 $188,000.00 - $304,200.00 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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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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