Principal Network Developer

Oracle•Seattle, WA

6d•$102,300 - $209,500

About The Position

As a Principal Network Development Engineer within NAT, this role serves as a senior technical leader for network acquisition, connectivity delivery, and activation across OCI’s global infrastructure. It guides connectivity engineering supporting OCI regions, AI infrastructure, capacity expansion, backbone growth, and strategic network deployments. The role operates across network architecture, telecommunications, optical infrastructure, service providers, data center engineering, deployment, and operations. Its scope includes carrier circuits, dark and lit fiber, DWDM and wavelength services, optical transport, Internet transit, peering, backbone connectivity, cross-connects, and data center interconnects. The engineer translates network designs and business requirements into technical specifications, implementation approaches, and acceptance criteria. At the Principal level, the position leads engineering decisions across programs and deployments, resolves ambiguous requirements, evaluates technical tradeoffs, and uses delivery and operational experience to influence designs, standards, and supplier requirements. It establishes requirements for circuit acceptance, fiber and optical validation, turn-up, activation, production readiness, and operational handoff. As a senior escalation point, it leads resolution of complex Layer 1 through Layer 3 issues, root cause analysis, and corrective engineering actions. The role partners with Program Managers and cross-functional engineering teams to manage technical risks, dependencies, blockers, and recovery options. It strengthens engineering practices through reusable standards, Methods of Procedure, runbooks, acceptance frameworks, accurate infrastructure records, and clear operational handoffs. It also guides the use of automation, scripting, telemetry, database management tools, and AI-assisted engineering to improve validation, troubleshooting, data quality, and delivery efficiency while maintaining engineering rigor. The position influences technical direction, mentors engineers, and raises engineering standards across NAT to improve connectivity quality, reliability, and readiness at global scale.

Requirements

Extensive experience designing, building, operating, or delivering large-scale networks within hyperscale cloud, Tier 1 ISP, telecommunications, service provider, or comparable environments.
Expert-level knowledge in at least one networking domain, such as routing, optical transport, Internet, backbone, or data center networking, with strong knowledge across multiple adjacent domains.
Deep understanding of network architectures and network device behavior.
Strong knowledge of routing and networking protocols including BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, MPLS, TCP/IP, IPv4, and IPv6.
Deep experience troubleshooting complex network problems across physical, optical, Ethernet, transport, and routing layers.
Strong understanding of optical networking, fiber infrastructure, structured cabling, cross-connects, transceivers, and physical network design.
Experience with Internet peering, transit, inter-domain networking, backbone infrastructure, or large-scale service provider connectivity.
Experience translating high-level architectures into detailed technical designs and implementation requirements.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical initiatives involving multiple engineers and cross-functional organizations.
Experience working directly with supplier engineering teams to resolve technical issues and improve infrastructure solutions.
Demonstrated ability to serve as an escalation point and lead root cause analysis for complex or large-scale network events.
Strong technical judgment and ability to evaluate tradeoffs involving architecture, resiliency, performance, cost, schedule, and operational complexity.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including communicating technical issues and recommendations to engineering and senior leadership audiences.
Experience with scripting or programming and a strong understanding of software development and network automation concepts.
Experience defining technical requirements for automation, tooling, monitoring, or operational systems.

Nice To Haves

Experience designing or delivering carrier connectivity at global scale.
Deep experience with dark fiber, lit fiber, DWDM, optical transport, wavelengths, metro fiber, or long-haul networks.
Experience with OTDR, optical power testing, fiber characterization, acceptance testing, and complex optical troubleshooting.
Experience working directly with major telecommunications carriers, ISPs, fiber providers, optical vendors, or colocation providers.
Experience with network diversity, route engineering, physical path analysis, and resiliency requirements.
Experience with Internet peering, transit architecture, BGP policy, and inter-domain networking.
Experience supporting hyperscale AI or GPU infrastructure.
Familiarity with Broadcom and NVIDIA/Mellanox-based networking platforms.
Familiarity with YANG, OpenConfig, NETCONF, gNMI, telemetry, and model-driven networking.
Experience influencing supplier technical roadmaps, hardware adoption, testing strategies, or service capabilities.
Experience using AI-assisted engineering tools to accelerate troubleshooting, analysis, documentation, scripting, and engineering workflows.
Demonstrated mentorship and technical leadership across engineering organizations.

Responsibilities

Provide senior technical leadership for complex global connectivity programs supporting OCI regions, AI infrastructure, capacity expansion, and strategic network deployments.
Own technical outcomes across carrier circuits, dark and lit fiber, wavelengths, optical transport, Internet transit, peering, backbone connectivity, cross-connects, and data center interconnects.
Translate high-level network architecture and business requirements into detailed technical delivery requirements and implementation strategies.
Lead technical design reviews covering topology, physical paths, diversity, demarcation, transport, interfaces, optics, capacity, routing, resiliency, and operational readiness.
Identify design and delivery risks early and drive engineering decisions that prevent downstream deployment and operational issues.
Define technical acceptance standards and validation requirements for network infrastructure delivered by external providers.
Lead complex Layer 1 through Layer 3 troubleshooting across fiber, optical transport, Ethernet, routing, and provider networks.
Serve as a senior escalation point for systemic or high-impact connectivity issues.
Lead root cause analysis and drive permanent corrective actions across Oracle and supplier engineering organizations.
Act as a technical authority in supplier engagements, ensuring services meet OCI engineering, reliability, scalability, and operational requirements.
Partner with Program Managers to assess technical risk, establish delivery strategy, make tradeoffs, and develop recovery plans for critical infrastructure.
Lead cross-functional engineering efforts involving network architecture, backbone, Internet, optical, capacity, deployment, operations, data center teams, and suppliers.
Develop technical standards, design patterns, acceptance criteria, Methods of Procedure, runbooks, and engineering best practices for global application.
Identify systemic gaps in network acquisition and delivery and lead improvements that increase quality, predictability, and operational readiness.
Influence supplier capabilities, technical roadmaps, testing methodologies, and service offerings based on OCI requirements.
Lead or contribute to technical evaluation of new carriers, services, hardware, optical technologies, and connectivity solutions.
Define requirements for automation and tooling that improve network delivery, validation, monitoring, inventory accuracy, and troubleshooting.
Partner with software and automation teams to translate engineering requirements into scalable tools and workflows.
Use AI-assisted engineering tools for technical analysis, troubleshooting, documentation, and solution development while maintaining engineering rigor.
Provide technical coaching and mentorship to NDEs, Program Managers, and partner teams.
Raise the technical bar for NAT and serve as a trusted technical advisor across the organization.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance, including expert medical opinion.
Short-term and long-term disability.
Life insurance and AD&D; supplemental life insurance for employees, spouses, and children.
Health care and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts.
Pre-tax commuter and parking benefits.
401(k) Savings and Investment Plan with company match.
Paid time off, including flexible vacation for eligible salaried employees or accrued vacation for other eligible employees.
11 paid holidays.
Paid sick leave: 72 hours upon hire, refreshed each calendar year, with unused hours carrying over up to a 112-hour cap.
Paid parental leave.
Adoption assistance.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
Financial planning and group legal benefits.
Voluntary benefits including auto, homeowner, and pet insurance.