At Microsoft, our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more, with Azure serving as the physical platform that underpins this mission. Azure Fiber is a critical component of Azure, dedicated to the design, buildout, and operations of the Global Optical Network. This network is the lifeline of connectivity, enabling seamless interaction with Azure and services like Teams, Xbox, Office, Bing, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT across the globe. With a focus on Hollow Core Fiber (HCF) and cable, Azure Fiber is preparing for exponential growth driven by continued Cloud success and new Artificial Intelligence (AI) demands, ensuring that every Microsoft customer can rely on our infrastructure for high-quality, secure, and reliable connectivity to all Microsoft services.

As the Principal Cloud Network Engineering Manager for Azure Fiber, you will lead the strategic expansion of our solid core and hollow core fiber networks. Your role involves more than just oversight; you’ll create, develop, and lead a team of elite cloud network engineers. This team will be at the forefront of integrating cutting-edge hollow core fiber technologies into our network infrastructure, a task that blends innovation with technical prowess. At Microsoft, our ethos revolves around a customer-first approach, underscored by a robust DevOps culture. Your responsibilities will therefore extend to leading mission-critical fiber operations. This includes ensuring that our dark fiber assets, which are vital for delivering high-speed, reliable internet services, are maintained with the highest standards of reliability and efficiency. Your role is not just about managing technology; it's about leading a team in a dynamic environment to keep Microsoft at the forefront of the cloud networking and AI.

Microsoft’s 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 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

• Strategic Leadership: Guide the strategic expansion of Microsoft's solid core and hollow core fiber networks, ensuring alignment with the company's long-term goals and technological advancements.

• Team Management: Recruit, mentor, and lead a team of elite cloud network engineers, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence.

• Technology Integration: Oversee the integration of cutting-edge hollow core fiber technologies into the network infrastructure, ensuring technical challenges are addressed with innovative solutions.

• Operational Excellence: Lead mission-critical operations for both solid core and hollow core fiber networks, ensuring they meet the highest standards of reliability and efficiency. Turn operational hurdles into product improvements.

• Customer-First Approach: Embody and promote a customer-first mentality within the team, ensuring all projects and operations enhance customer satisfaction and service quality.

• Collaboration and Communication: Work closely with business partners and other teams across Azure to ensure 24x7 coverage of the operations of our dark fiber assets.

• Process and Automation: Relentlessly drive process and automation improvements to improve network quality and efficiency.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Telecommunications, or a related field.

• Experience in network planning, network operations, or network design and engineering.

• Strong commitment to customer service and experience implementing customer-first strategies in network engineering projects.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively liaise between technical teams and business stakeholders.

Other Requirements:

• 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:

• Experience with hollow core or multi core fiber and cables.

• Experience in a leadership role overseeing cloud network operations or fiber network deployments.

• Deep understanding of fiber network technologies, including both solid core and hollow core fiber, and familiarity with network design, deployment, and operations.

• Proven track record of building, leading, and mentoring high-performing engineering teams.

• Experience with DevOps practices and principles, and the ability to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

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Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with applicable law, 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 and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations (https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/accessibility.html) .