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Principal Optical Engineer

Microsoft· Hardware Engineering
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Mountain View, CA, Redmond, WA, Austin, TX, Hillsboro, OR, Raleigh, NC$142.8k - $274.8kFull-timePosted 4d ago

About the role

Microsoft SCHIE is seeking a Principal Optical Engineer to lead the implementation, integration, qualification, and high-volume deployment of optical interconnect solutions for Microsoft cloud and AI infrastructure, translating approved architectures into module, fiber, connector, rack-integration, supplier, validation, and manufacturing requirements from product definition through fleet deployment.

Responsibilities

  • Partner with platform and optical architecture teams to translate approved optical architectures and technology selections into deployable product requirements, interfaces, acceptance criteria, and implementation plans.
  • Own product-level requirements and tradeoffs for optical modules and engines, fiber assemblies, connectors, fiber-management systems, and rack-level optical paths across performance, power, thermal constraints, reliability, serviceability, manufacturability, cost, schedule, and supply continuity.
  • Drive optical interconnect productization from product definition through design maturity, prototype integration, interoperability, qualification, production release, manufacturing ramp, and fleet deployment.
  • Lead cross-functional implementation and design reviews spanning optics, electrical interfaces, SI/PI, mechanical tolerances, thermal integration, firmware and telemetry, rack integration, validation, reliability, manufacturing, and serviceability.
  • Define and drive component-, module-, assembly-, rack-, and system-level validation, qualification, reliability, inspection, and production-test strategies with evidence-based coverage and exit criteria.
  • Lead resolution of complex module-, fiber-, connector-, rack-, manufacturing-, and field-level issues by organizing cross-team debug, correlating supplier and system data, and driving verified corrective and preventive actions.
  • Provide technical direction to optical-module, fiber, cable, connector, ODM, contract-manufacturing, and test-equipment partners; establish deliverables, design-review criteria, quality expectations, yield targets, escalation paths, and readiness gates.
  • Drive supplier selection and production readiness across design maturity, DFM/DFT/DFR, process capability, yield, quality, cost, capacity, continuity of supply, and change control.
  • Identify productization and deployment risks early, communicate options and consequences to senior stakeholders, and drive decisions that balance performance, reliability, serviceability, schedule, cost, and fleet-scale operability.
  • Mentor engineers and create reusable implementation specifications, qualification methods, manufacturing controls, supplier scorecards, design guides, and lessons learned across optical-interconnect programs.

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 interconnect productizationSystem-level validation and qualificationCross-functional leadership
Nice to have:Supplier and program management
Last updated Oct 23, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.

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