Principal Backbone & Edge Architect

Responsibilities

We are representing a confidential GPU cloud infrastructure organization seeking a Principal Network Backbone & Edge Architect to serve as the senior technical design authority for their global network infrastructure.

In this highly influential individual contributor role, you will design, validate, and own the technical standards governing transport networks—from data center edge through WAN and backbone transport to cloud exchange connectivity and Internet peering. Your architectural decisions will define what gets built and how the global network evolves.

You'll work across the global network organization and engage directly with carriers, technology vendors, hyperscalers, and enterprise customers. We need someone equally comfortable developing detailed architecture and design standards, evaluating emerging network technologies, and being hands-on in a data center validating a new backbone node.

Architecture & Standards:

• Own and maintain global network architecture standards across DC edge, WAN edge, backbone transport, cloud exchange, OOB/management, and automation architecture
• Lead the design of new network infrastructure deployments across regions
• Produce detailed network designs, topology documentation, IP addressing schemes, and routing policy frameworks
• Define technology selection criteria and lead vendor and technology evaluations for major network infrastructure decisions
• Conduct architecture reviews for significant network changes, ensuring alignment with global standards before implementation
• Contribute network architecture requirements to data center design reviews from the earliest stages of new facility planning

Technology Strategy & Roadmap:

• Own the network technology roadmap
• Identify and evaluate emerging capabilities including 800G/1.6T coherent optics, AI-driven network operations, and next-generation cloud exchange integration
• Produce and maintain technology horizon documentation to inform investment planning and strategic supplier discussions
• Evaluate and recommend technologies, vendors, and platforms aligned with commercial objectives, operating model, and growth plans

Technical Governance:

• Serve as the final technical authority for major network design decisions
• Review and approve significant network designs before implementation
• Identify technical risks within proposed architectures and drive resolution before they reach production
• Maintain and evolve network design standards library, ensuring documentation remains current and actionable across regions

Supplier & Customer Engagement:

• Engage directly with strategic technology and connectivity partners on architecture roadmaps, capabilities, and technical partnerships
• Support enterprise customer and hyperscaler engagements, including architecture walkthroughs, connectivity design reviews, and technical due diligence
• Work with carrier and colocation partners on complex challenges including multi-site diversity, capacity planning, and technology evolution
• Collaborate with Product and Sales teams to translate network architecture capabilities into customer-facing value

What We're Looking For

• 12+ years of network engineering experience, including at least 4 years in a senior architecture or Principal Engineering role
• Deep expertise in large-scale IP/MPLS network design, SRv6, IPv6, BGP, traffic engineering, and multi-AS routing architectures
• Proven experience designing carrier-grade backbone and WAN infrastructure for hyperscale or large-scale data center environments
• Hands-on expertise with Nokia SR routing platforms and coherent optical transport architecture
• Strong working knowledge of data center fabric architecture, cloud exchange platforms, and customer connectivity design
• Experience with network automation architecture, including OpenConfig, NETCONF, YANG, and API-driven infrastructure
• Strong ability to produce high-quality architecture designs, technical documentation, and standards frameworks
• Track record of strategic vendor and technology evaluation
• Experience engaging enterprise customers and hyperscalers in technical architecture discussions
• Knowledge of carrier ecosystems across EMEA, APAC, and the Americas is strongly preferred

How We Work With You

When you apply through Get A Job.ai, our talent team will review your qualifications and conduct an initial screening to ensure strong alignment with this Principal Network Backbone & Edge Architect role. Once we confirm you're a great match, we'll submit your profile to our client for consideration.

Please do not attempt to contact the client directly. All communications and negotiations will be managed through Get A Job.ai to ensure a professional and streamlined process.

Pay

Compensation details will be discussed during the screening process and are competitive with the market for this senior-level architecture role.

Equal Opportunity: Get A Job.ai is committed to inclusive hiring practices. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and work to ensure fair and equitable treatment throughout the recruitment process.