below marketmost similar roles pay hereabove market
This role pays more than
85%
of similar roles. Most pay
$151,025–$184,675
— the blue band above.
At the midpoint, this role pays about
$209k
versus about
$168k
for comparable roles.
Based on 240 similar postings.
Employer
About Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is a global technology leader producing software, hardware, and cloud services including Windows, Office 365, Azure cloud platform, Xbox gaming, and Surface devices. Industry: Software & Cloud Computing
Microsoft currently has
711 open roles
on FindRole.
Listed pay typically runs
$119,800–$234,700
across 668 roles with salary data.
The Principal Cloud Network Engineer joins the Azure Global Networking team to design and produce the next generation of the global network infrastructure. This role involves owning multi-year architecture across optical, packet, and control layers while driving hardware disaggregation using merchant silicon, SONiC, and open optical line systems. The engineer will develop programmable optical layers, implement physical automation and robotics for infrastructure maintenance, and utilize network simulations and digital twins to validate designs. Key responsibilities include managing the transition from vendor-integrated systems to open building blocks and applying AI-driven engineering to operations. Candidates must possess expertise in DWDM, coherent transmission, routing, or infrastructure software. Proficiency in Python, Go, C++, or Rust is required to solve complex connectivity problems for large-scale AI and cloud services.
Own significant parts of the multi-year architecture for Azure's global network across optical, packet, and control layers.
Drive the transition from vendor-integrated systems to open hardware building blocks like merchant silicon and SONiC.
Define interfaces and control models to make the optical layer programmable and visible to software.
Implement automation and robotics to improve the speed, safety, and consistency of physical network construction and repair.
Validate architectures and capacity plans using network simulations and digital twins before production deployment.
Apply AI and agentic systems to automate engineering processes across design, qualification, and operations.
Manage the full lifecycle of network projects from initial concept and prototyping to global production deployment.
Provide technical leadership and mentorship across hardware, supply chain, and datacenter operations teams.
What we're looking for
Must have a Doctorate with 3+ years, Master's with 4+ years, or Bachelor's with 6+ years of technical experience in network design, development, and automation.
Equivalent experience to the degree and years of experience requirements is accepted.
Must be able to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements.
Must pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire and every two years thereafter.
Preferred: Doctorate with 5+ years, Master's with 8+ years, or Bachelor's with 12+ years of technical experience in network design, development, and automation.
Preferred: 3+ years of experience delivering network designs into production with live site accountability.
Preferred: 1+ year of experience developing quality management programs.
Preferred: 1+ year of deep expertise in optical networking, large-scale network architecture, or infrastructure software and systems.