Do you want to be at the forefront of innovating the latest hardware designs to propel Microsoft’s cloud growth? Are you seeking a unique career opportunity that combines both technical capabilities, cross team collaboration, with business insight and strategy? 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. 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. Join the Strategic Planning and Architecture (SPARC) team within Microsoft’s Azure Hardware Systems and Infrastructure (AHSI) organization and be a part of the organization behind Microsoft’s expanding Cloud Infrastructure and for powering Microsoft’s “Intelligent Cloud” mission. Microsoft delivers more than 200 online services to more than one billion individuals worldwide and AHSI is the team behind our expanding cloud infrastructure. We deliver the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft's cloud businesses including Microsoft Azure, Bing, MSN, Office 365, OneDrive, Skype, Teams and Xbox Live. SPARC is hiring a **Principal Systems Architect – Optical Technologies** with a focus on driving the adoption of emerging optical technologies into AI-centric datacenters. The candidate is expected to evaluate alternative interconnect technologies and identify innovative ways of applying them to new systems architectures. Technologies in scope include SerDes and die-to-die electrical interfaces, optical transceivers, optical integration into ASIC packages, optical circuit switches, lasers etc. The candidate may extend existing methodologies that account for System TCO, loss budget, power and reliability to include proposed optical components and drive Proof-of-Concept definitions to create line-of-sight to deployment **Responsibilities** + Deliver detailed optical interconnect requirements in the form of RFIs, RFPs and product specifications. + Propose and utilize POC / prototyping frameworks for the rigorous evaluation of optical technologies. + Engage with optical technology vendors and conduct detailed analysis of competing technologies. + Educate / disseminate technology directions to Microsoft’s internal stakeholders on optical foundations and fundamental directions. **Qualifications** **Required/Minimum Qualifications:** + Bachelor's Degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 7+ years of technical engineering experience + Master's Degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years of technical engineering experience + Doctorate Degree in Optical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years of technical engineering experience + OR equivalent experience. + 2+ years of experience with datacenter-class optical module technologies such as QSFP/OSFP form factor pluggable modules or emerging Near-Packaged Optics (NPO) or Co-Packaged Optics (CPO) approaches. + 2+ years of experience within architecting optical transceivers for target metrics such as physical dimensions, power (or energy efficiency), bandwidth density, temperature sensitivity, BER and failure rates. + 2+ years of experience with with optical transceiver ingredients such as EIC, PIC, drivers, TIAs, photo-detectors, modulators and lasers. **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:** + A background in computer and systems architecture with exposure to AI or HPC systems with an understanding of scale-up and scale-out requirements is highly desired. + Skilled in partnering and influencing architects, hardware engineers, software leads and executives. + Ability to manage through ambiguity, bringing clarity and results orientation to engage and energize collaborators and stakeholders. + Verbal and written communication skills, and ability to articulate and engage with both technical and non-technical stakeholders at all levels. + Experience leading and driving complex projects with respect and integrity, including those with multiple workstreams spanning different business and technical disciplines. Optical Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $137,600 - $267,000 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 $180,400 - $294,000 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 Microsoft will accept applications and processes offers for these roles on an ongoing basis. \#AHSI #SPARC 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) .