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Optical Network Engineer - Azure Fiber - Job Opportunity at Microsoft

Dublin, Ireland
Full-time
Mid-level
Posted: June 19, 2025
Hybrid
EUR 85,000 - 120,000 per year. This role at Microsoft in Dublin represents a premium position in the optical networking field, with compensation likely in the upper range due to the company's market leadership, the specialized nature of AI-optimized optical networks, and Dublin's status as a major European tech hub with competitive salary standards.

Benefits

Hybrid work arrangement allowing up to 50% remote work, providing exceptional work-life balance and flexibility that exceeds industry standards
Industry-leading comprehensive healthcare coverage ensuring superior medical protection and wellness support
Extensive educational resources and professional development opportunities for continuous skill advancement
Employee discounts on Microsoft products and services, providing significant value on cutting-edge technology
Robust savings and investment programs including retirement planning and financial security benefits
Progressive parental leave policies with generous maternity and paternity leave exceeding many industry standards
Generous paid time off and vacation policies promoting work-life integration
Corporate giving programs enabling employees to make meaningful community impact
Extensive networking and professional connection opportunities within a global technology leader

Key Responsibilities

Drive critical infrastructure automation by creating and maintaining sophisticated operational tools, runbooks, and self-remediation systems that directly impact Microsoft's global network reliability and the performance of services used by millions worldwide
Lead strategic automation initiatives by developing advanced software solutions that eliminate manual processes and leverage AI technologies to revolutionize optical network management at unprecedented scale
Maintain mission-critical network availability through participation in global "follow the sun" incident management rotations, ensuring seamless connectivity for Azure, Teams, Xbox, Office, and ChatGPT services across all time zones
Execute data-driven network optimization by monitoring AI-optimized optical network telemetry, performing advanced analytics to proactively identify issues, and developing automated resolution tools that continuously improve network performance
Architect and implement next-generation scalable network solutions specifically designed to meet the exponential growth demands of AI workloads and cloud infrastructure expansion
Champion continuous innovation by staying at the forefront of optical networking and AI advancements, integrating cutting-edge technologies including Hollow Core Fiber to enhance network performance and reliability

Requirements

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or related field

Experience

2+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation

Required Skills

5+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Computer Science, Engineering, Information Technology, or related field AND 2+ years technical experience in network design, development, and automation Automation experience with coding in languages including, but not limited to, Python, C#, JavaScript, SQL or RUST 5+ years of technical experience with a focus on optical transceiver design, validation, and testing utilizing coherent, direct-detection, and WDM technologies Strong problem-solving skills and a willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a team-oriented environment A customer-first mentality, with a focus on delivering high-quality service
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

The global shift toward AI and machine learning is driving unprecedented demand for high-capacity optical networks, with companies investing billions in fiber infrastructure to support AI workloads and reduce latency. This trend is particularly acute in cloud computing where optical network engineers with AI-specific experience are becoming increasingly valuable. Hollow Core Fiber (HCF) technology represents a revolutionary advancement in optical networking, offering significantly reduced latency and higher capacity compared to traditional fiber. Organizations implementing HCF are positioning themselves at the forefront of next-generation networking, creating premium opportunities for engineers with this specialized knowledge. The convergence of cloud computing and edge computing is reshaping network architecture requirements, with optical network engineers now expected to design solutions that seamlessly integrate global backbone networks with distributed edge infrastructure to support real-time AI applications and services.

Role Significance

Typically works within a specialized optical engineering team of 8-15 professionals, collaborating across multiple global teams including network operations, automation developers, and infrastructure architects. The "follow the sun" model indicates coordination with international teams across different time zones.
This is a mid-to-senior level individual contributor role with significant technical responsibility and strategic impact. The position involves critical decision-making for global network infrastructure that directly affects millions of users, indicating substantial autonomy and technical authority within Microsoft's engineering hierarchy.

Key Projects

Implementation and optimization of Hollow Core Fiber networks across Microsoft's global infrastructure Development of AI-driven network automation platforms that reduce manual intervention and improve network reliability Design and deployment of optical network solutions supporting next-generation AI services and cloud computing demands Creation of advanced telemetry and analytics systems for proactive network monitoring and optimization

Success Factors

Deep technical expertise in both traditional and emerging optical technologies, particularly Hollow Core Fiber, combined with strong programming skills in languages like Python, C#, and SQL to create sophisticated automation solutions Exceptional problem-solving abilities and adaptability to rapidly evolving technologies, as the role requires continuous learning and integration of cutting-edge optical networking and AI technologies Strong collaborative and communication skills to work effectively across global teams and time zones, with the ability to translate complex technical concepts for diverse stakeholders Customer-focused mindset with understanding of how optical network performance directly impacts end-user experience across Microsoft's diverse service portfolio

Market Demand

Very High - The intersection of optical networking expertise and AI infrastructure knowledge creates exceptional market demand, particularly as organizations worldwide are rapidly expanding their optical network capabilities to support AI workloads and cloud services.

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Python and automation programming skills are absolutely essential as the role heavily emphasizes creating self-remediation tools and automated solutions for global network management. The ability to write, optimize, and maintain code for optical network automation directly determines success in this position. Deep optical networking expertise, particularly in coherent detection, WDM technologies, and emerging Hollow Core Fiber systems, forms the technical foundation of the role. Understanding these technologies at both theoretical and practical levels is crucial for designing and optimizing AI-optimized networks. Incident management and troubleshooting capabilities are critical given the 24/7 nature of global network operations and the "follow the sun" model. The ability to quickly diagnose and resolve complex network issues directly impacts Microsoft's service availability for millions of users.

Beneficial Skills

Data analytics and telemetry analysis skills become increasingly valuable as networks generate massive amounts of performance data that can be leveraged for predictive maintenance and optimization strategies. Cloud infrastructure knowledge, particularly Azure services and architecture, enhances the ability to understand how optical networks integrate with and support cloud computing services. AI and machine learning familiarity provides significant advantage in developing next-generation network automation solutions and understanding the infrastructure requirements of AI workloads that drive network demand.

Unique Aspects

This role offers the rare opportunity to work with cutting-edge Hollow Core Fiber technology, positioning the engineer at the forefront of a revolutionary advancement in optical networking that could reshape global internet infrastructure
Direct involvement in supporting AI services including ChatGPT and other OpenAI technologies provides exposure to the most significant technological trend of the current era, offering invaluable experience in AI infrastructure requirements
The global scope of Azure Fiber operations means work directly impacts millions of users worldwide across diverse Microsoft services, providing exceptional scale and impact compared to typical networking roles
Integration of traditional optical networking with AI-driven automation and optimization represents a unique blend of established and emerging technologies, offering comprehensive skill development opportunities

Career Growth

Career advancement typically occurs within 2-4 years given the high-demand nature of this specialized field and Microsoft's emphasis on internal promotion and career development.

Potential Next Roles

Senior Optical Network Architect - Leading the design of next-generation global optical network infrastructure Principal Network Engineer - Driving technical strategy and innovation across Microsoft's entire networking portfolio Network Engineering Manager - Leading teams of optical network engineers and driving organizational technical direction Technical Program Manager - Overseeing large-scale optical network deployment projects and cross-functional initiatives

Company Overview

Microsoft

Microsoft stands as one of the world's largest and most influential technology companies, with Azure representing a critical pillar of the global cloud computing infrastructure. The company's investment in optical networking, particularly through Azure Fiber and innovative technologies like Hollow Core Fiber, positions it at the forefront of next-generation internet infrastructure development.

Microsoft maintains a dominant position in the global technology market as one of the "Big Tech" companies, with Azure competing directly with Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform. The company's focus on AI integration across all services, including ChatGPT partnership through OpenAI, places it at the center of the current AI revolution.
Dublin serves as Microsoft's European headquarters and a critical hub for the company's global operations. The Irish location provides strategic access to European markets while offering favorable business conditions, making it a key center for Microsoft's international expansion and technical innovation initiatives.
Microsoft has undergone significant cultural transformation under current leadership, emphasizing growth mindset, collaboration, and inclusion. The company is known for strong employee benefits, professional development opportunities, and a commitment to work-life balance, particularly evident in flexible work arrangements and comprehensive support programs.
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