The Network Systems Engineer is a key role that supports shaping the company’s strategy, solution roadmap, and external influence for large-scale AI infrastructure — the “AI factories” built on GPU clusters. The role pairs deep expertise in Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), high-speed networking, and semiconductor technologies with the ability to assess and track the trajectories of the industry leaders across GPU, silicon photonics (SiPh), and switching and networking ecosystems. This individual serves as a technical ambassador for the brand — representing it at co-innovation forums, standards bodies, and technology conferences — while guiding the internal R&D organization on which solutions to prioritize and on who to collaborate with and how.
- Define, own, and maintain the technical roadmap for hyperscale AI cluster solutions, spanning Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), optical interconnect, networking, and compute architectures.
- Assess and continuously track the technology trends and product roadmaps of industry leaders in GPU, and silicon photonics (SiPh), translating them into actionable guidance for internal R&D.
- Maintain a deep, current understanding of AI cluster and data-center architectures, including scale-up/scale-out fabrics and rack- to data-center-scale system design.
- Represent the brand at co-innovation forums, working groups, and partner engagements to co-develop cutting-edge AI infrastructure solutions.
- Deliver technical presentations and keynotes at industry conferences and customer briefings, acting as a credible public spokesperson for the brand.
- Engage with and influence industry standards bodies and consortia to help shape emerging optics, interconnect, and networking standards.
- Develop and maintain the partner/ecosystem collaboration strategy — identifying who to collaborate with and defining how those collaborations should be structured.
- Advise executive and R&D leadership on build-vs-partner decisions, competitive positioning, and the long-term technology bets that define the AI-factory roadmap.
- Support occasional matters as directed
- Deep, hands-on understanding of Co-Packaged Optics (CPO), silicon photonics, and high-speed optical and electrical interconnect technologies.
- Strong command of AI cluster and data-center architectures, including GPU compute, scale-up/scale-out networking fabrics, and rack- to data-center-scale system design.
- Broad awareness of the networking and semiconductor technologies enabling AI factories (e.g., high-radix switching, SerDes, advanced packaging, optical transceivers).
- Proven ability to research, assess, and forecast technology trends and competitive roadmaps across the GPU, SiPh, and switching ecosystems and their partner landscapes.
- Excellent public-speaking and executive-level presentation skills, with a track record of representing an organization at technical conferences and forums.
- Demonstrated ability to influence industry standards bodies and build consensus across external stakeholders.
- Strong cross-functional leadership and communication skills to guide internal R&D priorities while managing external partnerships.
- Strategic thinking with the ability to translate market and technology signals into a coherent, defensible solution roadmap.
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or a related field required.
- 3 to 5 years of experience in systems engineering, data-center/networking hardware, semiconductors, or optical interconnect, including senior or technical-leadership roles.
- Direct, demonstrable experience with Co-Packaged Optics, silicon photonics, and/or high-speed interconnect development.
- Demonstrated experience assessing the GPU, switching, and photonics ecosystems and their competitive and partner landscapes.
- Experience representing a company externally at industry conferences, co-innovation forums, and/or standards organizations.
- Established network of relationships across hyperscaler, semiconductor, and optics ecosystems strongly preferred.
Reports to: Director, Emerging Technology Group [ETG]
Directly Supervises: None
VII. Physical Requirements:
- Work is performed in an office environment and requires the physical and motor skills typical of an office environment, including, but not limited to: prolonged sitting, working on a computer, using telephones, handheld technology and other office equipment, standing, walking and stooping.
- May be occasionally required to lift objects such as files, boxes of paper, office supplies, and computer / office equipment weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to routinely concentrate, focus and read for general understanding and analytical purposes and ability to communicate effectively.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job description. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
IX. Travel Required: Yes ☒ 50% No ☐
Sumitomo Electric U.S.A., Inc. (SEUSA) serves North American customers in various industries, including electric power, data communications, automotive, electronics manufacturing, medical devices, and more. An overview of our diverse portfolio of products is provided on this site for reference.
SEUSA was established in 1971 as the first North American subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric Industries. Our early activities contributed to the development of other subsidiaries, and today we are a part of a regional network of more than 40 companies affiliated with the Sumitomo Electric Group. SEUSA’s main offices are located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area and Silicon Valley. Please visit for more info: https://global-sei.com/usa/seusa/.
SEUSA is an Equal Opportunity employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, genetics, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
About Sumitomo Electric Group
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. is a recognized global technology leader with over 280,000 employees working at around 400 group companies in 40 countries. Building on more than 120 years of innovation, today Sumitomo Electric is engaged in diversified business activities that support people’s daily lives and industries in five business segments: automotive, infocommunications, electronics, environment & energy, and industrial materials. To learn more about Sumitomo Electric, please visit https://sumitomoelectric.com. You can watch videos from our past interns and corporate profile from our YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/SumitomoElectric/). Follow us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/sumitomo-electric).
Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, Photonics, or a related field
- 3 to 5 years of experience in systems engineering, data-center/networking hardware, semiconductors, or optical interconnect, including senior or technical-leadership roles
- Direct, demonstrable experience with Co-Packaged Optics, silicon photonics, and/or high-speed interconnect development
- Experience assessing GPU, switching, and photonics ecosystems and their competitive and partner landscapes
- Experience representing a company externally at industry conferences, co-innovation forums, and/or standards organizations
- Established network of relationships across hyperscaler, semiconductor, and optics ecosystems
What We Do
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. is a global technology and manufacturing company founded in Osaka in 1897. Its diversified business spans energy and environment, infocommunications, automotive, electronics, and industrial materials. The company supports people’s daily lives and industries through these five segments, serving customers worldwide via a network of around 400 group companies in 40 countries and a workforce exceeding 280,000 employees.
