Principal AI Network Architect

Overview Do you want to be at the forefront of innovating the latest hardware designs to propel Microsoftu2019s cloud growth? Are you seeking a unique career opportunity that combines technical capabilities, cross-team collaboration, with business insight and strategy? Microsoftu2019s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees, we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to achieve our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond. In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day. Join the Systems Planning and Architecture(SPARC) team within Microsoftu2019s Azure Hardware Systems and Infrastructure (AHSI) organization, the team behind Microsoftu2019s expanding Cloud Infrastructure and for powering Microsoftu2019s u201cIntelligent Cloudu201d 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 Network Architect to join the AI systems architecture team. The role includes network architecture evaluation, design and optimization for next-gen AI systems. Your work will have a direct influence on Azure product roadmaps. Microsoftu2019s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Asemployeeswe come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond. Responsibilities + Leadership: Spearhead architecture definition and evaluation of AI accelerator platforms, with a focus on high bandwidth, low latency networks. Drive end to end optimization of the stack from hardware, the software kernels. + Cross functional collaboration: Partner with silicon and platform design teams to co-design infrastructure that meets performance, reliability and deployment goals. Frame decisions in terms of TCO, performance, flexibility, scalability. + Prototyping: You will be working with state of art networking lab to prototype new network architectures. + Industry influence: Participate in industry consortiums to shape standards, and influence vendor roadmaps. Qualifications Required Qualifications + Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science or related technical field AND 6+ years technical engineering experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, or Python OR equivalent experience? Other Requirements Abilityto meet Microsoft,customerand/or government security screening requirementsarerequiredfor this role. These requirements include but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings: Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will berequiredto pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter. Preferred Qualifications + Masteru2019s or Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or relatedfieldsand 10+ years of technical experience in the domain. + Deep expertise with ethernet networking, RDMA (RoCE, Infiniband), congestion control, and layer 2/3 switching. + Experience architecting scale-out/backend network for AI GPU clusters + Familiarity with scale-up networks such as NVLinks, UALink. + Experience with high radix ethernet switches + Familiarity with AI model execution pipelines, being able to analyze communication flows and its impact on model performance. + Prior contributions in standards committee and experience on hyperscale network deployments would be an added benefit + Skilled in partnering and influencing architects, hardware engineers, and software leads + Ability to manage through ambiguity,bringingclarity and results orientation to engage and energize collaborators and stakeholders + Collaboration skills,teamwork,and senseof presumed responsibility + Verbal and written communication skills, and ability to articulateandengage with both technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels. + Experience leading and driving complex projectswith respect and integrity, including thosewith multiple workstreams spanning different business and technical disciplines. + Intellectual curiosity and passion about learning and deployingnew technologies. + Problem-solvingskills, analytical capabilities, and attention to details Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $139,900 - $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: This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations. (

Created: 2026-02-02