Principal Operations Engineer, Network

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Principal Operations Engineer, Network based in the United States. This is a senior technical leadership role responsible for the operational reliability of network infrastructure across a hyperscale AI data center portfolio.

You will serve as the highest-level technical authority for operational networks spanning switches, routers, copper and fiber cabling, and optical systems.

The role combines hands-on network operations with site readiness, technical audits, high-risk change execution, and fleet-wide incident leadership.

You will influence how network platforms and integration designs transition from deployment into reliable production operations at unprecedented scale.

Working across network engineering, compute operations, facilities, supply chain, vendors, and customer-facing teams, you will act as a technical force multiplier across the organization.

You will also establish operational standards and playbooks while helping teams develop the technical readiness required to activate and operate new sites.

This opportunity is designed for an accomplished network operations expert who thrives in high-intensity environments, takes end-to-end ownership, and is comfortable traveling extensively to support critical infrastructure.

Accountabilities

• Network Operations Leadership: Serve as the senior technical authority for the operational network fleet across large-scale AI data centers, covering switches, routers, copper and fiber cabling, optics, and associated physical infrastructure.
• Site Readiness: Lead network site assessments, operational audits, and readiness activities to ensure network operations teams are technically prepared ahead of new site activations.
• Operational Design Review: Review network platforms, integration designs, and deployment approaches from an operational perspective and provide feedback to engineering, deployment, and supply chain teams.
• Production Change Management: Author, approve, and execute high-risk network Methods of Procedure (MOPs) and change records within live production environments.
• Incident & RCA Leadership: Lead fleet-wide root cause analysis for significant network disruptions, driving investigations through resolution and closure while ensuring lessons learned are captured and applied.
• Vendor Accountability: Establish and enforce technical and operational standards with OEMs, ODMs, deployment partners, and service vendors, including addressing RMA and integration process deficiencies while maintaining productive relationships.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Serve as the connective link between network operations, network engineering, compute operations, facilities, supply chain, and customer-facing teams.
• Operational Standards: Develop and document the operating standards, processes, health assessments, incident procedures, and technical playbooks required to scale network operations effectively.
• Technical Readiness: Teach and mentor operational teams, strengthening technical capabilities and ensuring teams are equipped to operate increasingly complex network environments.
• Build-to-Operations Transition: Help establish new sites from construction or handover through activation and steady-state operations, ensuring operational requirements are incorporated early.
• Fleet-Scale Improvement: Identify opportunities to improve reliability, efficiency, tooling, and operational processes across a rapidly expanding network fleet.
• Strategic Technical Influence: Provide clear technical feedback on architecture, deployment, integration, and operational decisions while challenging assumptions and applying first-principles thinking.
• Travel & Field Support: Travel approximately 50–75% to support site assessments, activations, audits, operational readiness, and critical network initiatives.

Requirements

• Network Operations Experience: Extensive professional experience operating mission-critical network topologies at scale, including significant experience serving as the senior technical authority for a site, campus, or network fleet.
• IP Networking: Deep hands-on experience with IP network operations and production network environments.
• Optical Networking: Strong experience with optical networking technologies and physical network infrastructure.
• Networking Protocols: St…