Principal AI Network Architect

About the role

Join the Systems Planning and Architecture (SPARC) team within Microsoft's Azure Hardware Systems and Infrastructure (AHSI) organization, the team behind Microsoft's expanding Cloud Infrastructure and for powering Microsoft's "Intelligent Cloud" mission. 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.

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.

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.
• 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

• Master's or Doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, or related fields and 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, bringing clarity and results orientation to engage and energize collaborators and stakeholders.
• Collaboration skills, teamwork, and sense of presumed responsibility.
• Verbal and written communication skills, and ability to articulate and engage with both technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience leading and driving complex projects with respect and integrity, including those with multiple workstreams spanning different business and technical disciplines.
• Intellectual curiosity and passion about learning and deploying new technologies.
• Problem-solving skills, analytical capabilities, and attention to details.

Pay

Software 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.