Crusoe
Senior Staff Optics Engineer, Network Qualification & Strategy
San Francisco, CA - US. Posted a month ago
The role
The Senior Staff Optics Engineer will define and build the optical network strategy and architecture from the ground up. This role covers data center interconnect, metro, long-haul DWDM, and the backbone for AI training and inference traffic.
What you will do
- Define multi-year optical strategy and reference architecture across campus DCI, metro, regional, and long-haul segments.
- Architect the transport layer for inter-campus and backbone growth.
- Lead technical evaluation and selection of optical line systems and transponders.
- Partner on dark fiber, IRU, and wavelength acquisition.
- Define how the optical layer is modeled, provisioned, and monitored through open interfaces and vendor controllers.
- Own optical-layer failure modes end to end and lead RCA for optical incidents.
- Work with Network Engineering, SDN, data center design, NetOps, finance, and supply chain.
- Establish optical design standards, engineering documentation, and operational runbooks.
- Mentor engineers and help build out the optical engineering function.
Required qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering, Optical Engineering, Physics, or a related technical field
- 12+ years of experience in optical transport networking
- 5+ years as an architect or senior technical lead designing production DWDM networks at service provider, hyperscaler, or cloud scale
- Deep hands-on expertise with optical platforms, covering design, commissioning, and operational troubleshooting
- Strong command of optical fundamentals: OSNR and power budgets, EDFA and Raman amplification, chromatic and polarization mode dispersion, nonlinear impairments, flex-grid spectrum planning, and C+L ba
- Experience with coherent technologies across pluggable (400ZR/ZR+, 800ZR) and embedded transponders
- Proven track record defining the architecture and roadmap for an optical network from early stage through scale
- Experience leading vendor evaluations, RFPs, and technical negotiations with optical platform vendors and fiber providers
- Clear written and verbal communication
Nice to have
- Master's degree
- Experience building DCI or backbone networks for AI/ML or hyperscale data center environments
- Experience with open and disaggregated optical systems
- Experience automating optical networks with NETCONF/YANG, OpenConfig, gNMI, or TAPI
- Experience with dark fiber acquisition, IRU negotiations, long-haul route engineering, or subsea systems
- Vendor certifications (Ciena OC-P or OC-C, Nokia Optical Network Professional)
- Participation in OIF, IEEE 802.3, or the OpenROADM MSA
Benefits
- Competitive compensation and equity packages
- Restricted Stock Units
- Paid time off, paid holidays & leave of absence programs
- Comprehensive health, dental & vision insurance
- Employer contributions to HSA account
- Paid parental leave
- Paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
- Professional development & tuition reimbursement
- Mental health & wellness support
- Commuter benefits (parking & transit)
- Cell phone stipend
- 401(k) Retirement plan with company match up to 4% of salary
About the company
Crusoe is a vertically integrated AI infrastructure company that owns and operates each layer of the stack to power AI workloads. The company uses an energy-first approach to build AI infrastructure.