Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO&I) is the team behind the cloud. Within CO&I, the Datacenter Engineering (DCE) team is responsible for delivering core datacenter infrastructure for Microsoft’s cloud business. The MS portfolio consists of complex, multi-disciplinary, large scale, multi-year datacenter construction and lease projects. We are looking for a passionate, high-energy individual to help build the cloud datacenters that power the world’s largest online services.
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.
Responsibilities
The Principal Telecom Engineer is responsible for providing technical leadership for telecommunications infrastructure supporting Microsoft's AMER regional datacenter portfolio. This role serves as a recognized subject matter expert for telecommunications design, outside plant (OSP) infrastructure, structured cabling systems, and campus-scale telecommunications planning supporting both current and future datacenter growth.
The successful candidate will lead complex telecommunications initiatives across multiple datacenter and campus projects while influencing design standards, infrastructure strategies, and engineering practices. This role will work closely with engineering, construction, operations, network, and supplier partners to ensure telecommunications infrastructure solutions support reliability, scalability, constructability, and long-term operational objectives.
- Lead telecommunications design and technical delivery activities for multiple datacenter and campus infrastructure projects.
- Serve as a subject matter expert for telecommunications infrastructure including ISP, structured cabling systems, OSP networks, pathway planning, and fiber optic infrastructure.
- Lead campus-scale telecommunications infrastructure planning efforts supporting current and future datacenter growth.
- Provide technical leadership for outside plant (OSP) infrastructure, pathway strategy, campus fiber distribution systems, and telecommunications space planning.
- Partner with civil, construction, operations, and network stakeholders to coordinate telecommunications infrastructure requirements throughout the project lifecycle.
- Lead design reviews and provide technical direction to A/E firms throughout design development, construction administration, and project delivery.
- Evaluate telecommunications infrastructure design options and provide recommendations that balance operational requirements, constructability, scalability, resiliency, cost, and deployment considerations.
- Review telecommunications design packages, specifications, drawings, calculations, schedules, and bill of materials for technical quality and alignment with Microsoft requirements.
- Identify technical risks, infrastructure constraints, and execution challenges while driving timely resolution across stakeholder groups.
- Support development, implementation, and continuous improvement of telecommunications standards, engineering guidance, and design best practices.
- Mentor and provide technical guidance to telecommunications engineers supporting datacenter and campus development initiatives.
- Provide field support, construction consultation, and technical troubleshooting for complex telecommunications deployment challenges.
- Drive initiatives that improve quality, consistency, scalability, and execution across the telecommunications portfolio.
Qualifications
Required 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.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Doctorate in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years of technical engineering experience
- OR Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience
- OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 12+ years technical engineering experience
- OR equivalent experience.
- Demonstrated experience leading telecommunications infrastructure design and technical delivery for large-scale datacenter, mission-critical, utility, transportation, healthcare, higher education, industrial, government, enterprise, retail, or comparable infrastructure projects.
- Experience with telecommunications infrastructure including copper, structured cabling systems, fiber optic infrastructure, ISP, OSP, underground telecommunications infrastructure, pathway systems, and campus fiber distribution networks.
- Experience with outside plant (OSP) telecommunications infrastructure including coordination, pathway planning, telecommunications space planning, and infrastructure scalability considerations.
- Experience supporting greenfield and brownfield development projects.
- Experience managing A/E firms through design development, design review, construction administration, and project delivery activities.
- Knowledge of industry standards, building codes, and safety standards including BICSI Standards, TDMM, RUS Standards, ANSI/IEEE/IEC, NFPA, NEC, and applicable building codes.
- Technical understanding of mission-critical environments and associated telecommunications infrastructure considerations.
- Experience coordinating telecommunications requirements with civil, construction, operations, and multidisciplinary engineering teams.
- Experience leading multiple concurrent engineering projects with competing priorities, schedules, and stakeholder requirements.
- Strong understanding of structured cabling systems and associated telecommunications infrastructure components.
- Demonstrated ability to provide technical leadership across complex engineering programs and influence decision-making across multiple stakeholder groups.
- Strong communication, stakeholder management, collaboration, and technical leadership skills.
- Experience mentoring engineers and supporting development of engineering standards, technical guidance, and best practices.
- Familiarity with construction administration, field support activities, and design issue resolution during project execution.
- Experience with Bluebeam, AutoCAD, Revit, BIM tools, or comparable engineering and construction coordination platforms.
- Professional Engineer (PE), RCDD, DCDC, or equivalent industry certification preferred.
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.
#COICareers | #EPCCareers | #DCDCareers
Hardware 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. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
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.
Skills Required
- Master's in Electrical/Computer/Mechanical Engineering AND 7+ years technical engineering experience OR Bachelor's AND 8+ years technical engineering experience OR equivalent experience.
- Ability to meet Microsoft Cloud background check and specialized security screening requirements.
- Demonstrated experience leading telecommunications infrastructure design and delivery for large-scale datacenter or comparable mission-critical projects.
- Experience with structured cabling systems, copper and fiber optic infrastructure, ISP and OSP networks, pathway systems, and campus fiber distribution.
- Experience with outside plant (OSP) infrastructure coordination, pathway planning, and telecommunications space planning.
- Experience managing A/E firms through design development, construction administration, and project delivery.
- Knowledge of industry standards and codes (BICSI, TDMM, RUS, ANSI/IEEE/IEC, NFPA, NEC, applicable building codes).
- Experience supporting greenfield and brownfield development projects and mission-critical environments.
- Experience with Bluebeam, AutoCAD, Revit, BIM tools, or comparable engineering and construction coordination platforms.
- Professional certifications such as PE, RCDD, or DCDC (preferred).
Microsoft Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Microsoft and has not been reviewed or approved by Microsoft.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is presented as broadly competitive overall, with clear role/level/location variation and an emphasis on using posted ranges and band information for apples-to-apples comparisons.
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Retirement Support — Retirement benefits are described as a standout, highlighted by a strong 401(k) match structure and immediate vesting, plus additional plan features for tax-advantaged saving.
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Parental & Family Support — Family-oriented benefits are portrayed as a meaningful strength, with substantial paid parental leave and added supports like back-up care and adoption/surrogacy assistance.
Microsoft Insights
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