Principal Network Engineer

Title: Principal Network Engineer Location: Alexandria, Virginia, United States; Austin, Texas, United States; Denver, Colorado, United States; Remote US; Seattle, Washington, United States

Overview

Fleet Data Centers designs, builds and operates mega-scale data center campuses. Fleet provides its customers flexibility and predictability to meet their upside demand forecasts, addressing a key need in the market as traditional leased models are struggling to keep pace with the demand for new Cloud and AI infrastructure. Fleet is led by a team of industry veterans that have already made a lasting imprint on the evolution of global digital infrastructure and are committed and uniquely capable of upleveling data center development scale and operations in the face of rising demand. Fleet is well positioned to bring in-house design, engineering and operational capabilities to collaborate with customers on tailored solutions for campuses of 500MW+. This unique model enables Fleet to provide the world's largest and most sophisticated customers a seamless extension of their own data center fleets with constant access to design innovation. Fleet is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, with satellite offices in Seattle, WA and Arlington, VA.

Position Overview:

The Principal Network Engineer will be responsible for the architecture, design, deployment, and long-term technical ownership of Fleet Data Centers' network infrastructure supporting our hyperscale data center campuses. This role will serve as Fleet's subject matter expert for fiber infrastructure, structured cabling systems, carrier connectivity, and operational technology (OT) networks, including IoT, BMS, and EPMS environments.

The successful candidate will partner closely with customers, Product, Design, Construction, Operations, and external service providers to develop scalable, resilient, and secure network solutions that support Fleet's growing portfolio of campuses. This individual will establish technical standards, evaluate emerging technologies, guide complex infrastructure decisions, and provide technical leadership throughout the full project lifecycle from planning and design through construction, commissioning, and operations.

This role is highly technical and hands-on, requiring deep expertise in fiber infrastructure design, network architecture, and mission-critical environments. The Principal Network Engineer will serve as Fleet's technical authority for network infrastructure, ensuring network solutions meet the performance, reliability, and scalability requirements of the world's largest cloud and AI customers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Network Architecture & Design: Develop and maintain network architecture standards for Fleet's hyperscale data center campuses.
• Network Architecture & Design: Create network design drawings, rack elevations, and site infrastructure documentation.
• Network Architecture & Design: Review due diligence materials and drive network scope definition according to project requirements.
• Network Architecture & Design: Design scalable, resilient, and secure network infrastructure supporting Fleet's campus operations, fiber backbone, structured cabling systems, and operational technology environments.
• Network Architecture & Design: Define standards supporting security, IoT, BMS, and EPMS networks.
• Network Architecture & Design: Partner with customers to understand connectivity requirements and translate those requirements into repeatable Fleet design standards.
• Network Architecture & Design: Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend solutions that enhance reliability, scalability, operational efficiency, and maintainability.
• Network Architecture & Design: Establish design standards, documentation requirements, and engineering best practices across Fleet's network infrastructure portfolio.
• Network Architecture & Design: Support master planning efforts to ensure network infrastructure scales alongside future campus growth.
• Fiber Infrastructure: Design and support both inside-plant and outside-plant fiber infrastructure across Fleet campuses.
• Fiber Infrastructure: Develop structured cabling standards, fiber distribution architectures, pathway designs, and capacity planning strategies.
• Fiber Infrastructure: Design resilient fiber topologies incorporating route diversity, redundancy, and future growth requirements.
• Fiber Infrastructure: Apply expertise in single-mode and multi-mode fiber systems, optical transport technologies, attenuation characteristics, and bandwidth capabilities.
• Fiber Infrastructure: Provide technical guidance regarding conduit systems, underground routing, aerial infrastructure, splicing strategies, testing methodologies, and installation best practices.
• Fiber Infrastructure: Support fiber testing, commissioning, validation, and troubleshooting activities.
• Fiber Infrastructure: Evaluate environmental and physical factors that impact long-term fiber performance and reliability.
• Fiber Infrastructure: Ensure network and fiber designs support operational resiliency and eliminate potential single points of failure.
• Technical Leadership: Serve as Fleet's subject matter expert for network and fiber infrastructure.
• Technical Leadership: Establish technical standards, design guidelines, and engineering best practices across the organization.
• Technical Leadership: Review engineering deliverables, construction documents, and vendor designs to ensure compliance with Fleet standards.
• Technical Leadership: Support design reviews, commissioning activities, and operational readiness assessments.
• Technical Leadership: Provide technical leadership throughout planning, design, construction, commissioning, and operational phases.
• Technical Leadership: Collaborate closely with Product, Design, Construction, Operations, and customer teams to drive successful project outcomes.
• Technical Leadership: Support troubleshooting and resolution of complex network infrastructure challenges.
• Vendor & Carrier Management: Evaluate network, fiber, and structured cabling vendors, suppliers, and service providers.
• Vendor & Carrier Management: Support RFP development, technical evaluations, vendor selection, and contract negotiations.
• Vendor & Carrier Management: Evaluate carrier route availability, network diversity, resiliency, latency, and long-term scalability.
• Vendor & Carrier Management: Support procurement activities related to network infrastructure, fiber connectivity, and associated materials.
• Financial & Project Support: Support budget development and cost management associated with network infrastructure projects.
• Financial & Project Support: Conduct cost-benefit analyses evaluating materials, architectures, deployment approaches, and carrier strategies.
• Financial & Project Support: Identify opportunities to optimize costs while maintaining performance, reliability, and scalability.
• Financial & Project Support: Evaluate lifecycle costs to ensure long-term operational efficiency and sustainability.
• Financial & Project Support: Coordinate with internal stakeholders to ensure network infrastructure projects are delivered on schedule and within budget.

Required Qualifications:

• Experience & Expertise: 10+ years of experience in network engineering, fiber infrastructure, telecommunications, or related mission-critical environments.
• Experience & Expertise: Extensive firsthand experience designing, deploying, and maintaining large-scale network infrastructure.
• Experience & Expertise: Deep expertise in fiber infrastructure design, structured cabling systems, and carrier connectivity.
• Experience & Expertise: Experience supporting network infrastructure throughout planning, design, construction, commissioning, and operational phases.
• Experience & Expertise: Strong understanding of mission-critical infrastructure requirements within data centers, cloud environments, telecommunications networks, or similar industries.
• Experience & Expertise: Experience serving as a technical lead, subject matter expert, principal engineer, or equivalent technical authority.
• Technical Knowledge: Advanced knowledge of fiber optic technologies, structured cabling systems, and network infrastructure design.
• Technical Knowledge: Experience with optical transport technologies including DWDM, CWDM, and related platforms.
• Technical Knowledge: Understanding of routing, switching, carrier connectivity, and data center network architectures.
• Technical Knowledge: Familiarity with operational technology networks including IoT, BMS, and EPMS environments.
• Technical Knowledge: Proficiency with AutoCAD, Visio, GIS platforms, and related infrastructure design tools.
• Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of network testing, troubleshooting, commissioning, and validation methodologies.
• Industry Standards & Compliance: Knowledge of industry standards including ANSI/TIA, IEEE, ITU-T, ISO/IEC, BICSI, NEC, and NFPA requirements.
• Industry Standards & Compliance: Familiarity with fiber performance standards, structured cabling requirements, and telecommunications infrastructure best practices.
• Industry Standards & Compliance: Understanding of applicable building codes, safety standards, and fire protection requirements associated with data center infrastructure.
• Tools & Delivery: Experience producing network drawings, rack elevations, GIS documentation, and construction-ready infrastructure deliverables.

Preferred Qualifications:

• License: Professional Engineer (PE) license.
• Experience working in global data center projects, navigating region-specific regulations and environmental conditions.
• Hyperscaler: Familiarity with (AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, and Meta) cloud providers’ data center requirements.
• Cloud Certifications: Relevant cloud certifications (e.g., AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Azure Fundamentals, etc.).
• Global Experience: Experience leading product launches in global markets, including knowledge of international land, energy and/or data center regulations and compliance.
• Technical Background: A strong technical understanding of cloud services, networking, and software development lifecycles.
• Professional Development: Industry certifications or formal training in fiber optics, structured cabling, telecommunications, or network engineering.

Key Competencies:

• Technical Leadership: Ability to establish and execute a long-term network infrastructure strategy aligned with Fleet's growth objectives.
• Strategic Thinking: Capable of developing scalable infrastructure plans supporting future campus development.
• Influence & Collaboration: Ability to drive alignment across cross-functional teams without direct management authority.
• Results-Oriented: Demonstrated success delivering reliable, scalable, and resilient infrastructure solutions.
• Effective Communication: Ability to communicate complex technical concepts to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Problem Solving: Ability to assess complex infrastructure challenges and develop innovative solutions.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous in planning, designing, and reviewing critical infrastructure systems.

Working Conditions:

• This role requires occasional travel to data center sites across multiple regions (up to 25% travel).
• Ability to work in both office environments and active construction sites, adhering to all safety protocols.

Fleet Data Centers Employment:
Fleet Data Centers employees enjoy competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401(k) program, standard paid holidays, and unlimited PTO.