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Principal Optical Engineer

Microsoft· Hardware Engineering
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Redmond, WA, Mountain View, CA, Austin, TX, Hillsboro, OR, Raleigh, NC$142.8k - $274.8kPosted 1mo ago

About the role

Microsoft SCHIE seeks a Principal Optical Engineer to drive architectural design, production roadmap, and engineering efforts for next-generation optical interconnects in hyperscale AI infrastructure, influencing platform-level decisions across multiple generations of AI infrastructure.

Responsibilities

  • Define and drive Microsoft's optical interconnect strategy for next-generation AI platforms.
  • Evaluate emerging technologies and determine the optimal migration path across multiple platform generations.
  • Lead architecture and product definition for rack-scale fiber management supporting AI clusters
  • Define bandwidth density, latency, reliability, power efficiency, serviceability, manufacturability, and cost targets.
  • Lead development of rack-scale fiber management solutions including Fiber shuffles, Fiber connectors, and fiber cabling
  • Develop standards and best practices for large-scale deployment of optical infrastructure across AI datacenters.
  • Drive supplier roadmaps to align with Microsoft's future platform requirements.
  • Influence industry standards and ecosystem direction through joint development initiatives and technical forums.
  • Drive architecture reviews and technical decision making across multiple organizations.
  • Guide optical technologies through proof-of-concept, qualification, productization, manufacturing readiness, and fleet deployment.
  • Support root-cause analysis and operational issue resolution for deployed systems.

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.

Skills

Required:Optical systems architectureRack-scale fiber management
Last updated Sep 17, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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