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Computer Network Architect Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

Senior AI Network Systems Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$116K - $159K/yr

Responsibilities AI Network Architecture & System Integration * Define and develop networking ... Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related ...

About this Opportunity Reporting to Assistant Director of Wireless Design & Architecture, the ... Bachelorsdegree in communications engineering, computer science, or related field or equivalent ...

Skills and Experience Bacheloras Degree or equivalent in Computer Science or related disciplines ... network architecture and other mobile technology. Strong hands-on understanding of industry best ...

... shaping future network architecture. You operate comfortably across hardware and software ... Excellent communications and organizational skills * BS or MS in Engineering or Computer Science or ...

... shaping future network architecture. You operate comfortably across hardware and software ... Excellent communications and organizational skills * BS or MS in Engineering or Computer Science or ...

... Computer Engineering, relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience * 6 years of work experience in network engineering, with emphasis on network design or architecture (not purely ...

... Computer Engineering, relevant technical field, or equivalent practical experience * 6 years of work experience in network engineering, with emphasis on network design or architecture (not purely ...

Enterprise Architect

Seattle, WA · On-site

$78.50 - $101.25/hr

Develop cloud adoption frameworks including landing zones, networking, IAM, data, and integration ... Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field (Master's preferred). * 12-20 ...

We are looking for a networking savvy Solutions Architect to join the NVIDIA team focused on ... What we need to see: * BS/MS/PhD in Electrical/Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Physics, or ...

Solutions Architect

Seattle, WA · On-site

$71.75 - $94.50/hr

Develop, design, and recommend technology infrastructure solutions including Storage Area Network ... Bachelor's degree (Computer Science or Information Technology) from a four-year college or ...

Showing results 21-40

Computer Network Architect information

See Seattle, WA salary details

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How much do computer network architect jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 10, 2026, the average hourly pay for computer network architect in Seattle, WA is $81.94, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70.91 and $95.00 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the computer network architect position, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Computer Network Architect, you need deep knowledge of network design, security principles, and infrastructure protocols, typically supported by a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with tools like Cisco, Juniper, or Arista platforms, alongside certifications such as CCNP or CCIE, is highly valued. Analytical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication are important soft skills for success in this role. These competencies are essential to ensure reliable, secure, and scalable network solutions that meet organizational needs.

What does a computer network architect do?

A computer network architect designs, plans, and implements computer networks for organizations, including local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WANs), and intranets. They analyze an organization’s needs, select appropriate hardware and software, and ensure network security and performance, often using tools like network simulation software and requiring certifications such as Cisco CCNA. Their work involves collaborating with IT teams and maintaining network infrastructure to support business operations.

Is a computer network architect a good career?

A computer network architect designs and implements complex network systems, often requiring knowledge of networking protocols, security, and hardware. It is considered a high-demand profession with competitive salaries and opportunities for advancement, especially for those with certifications like Cisco or Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP).

What are some common challenges faced by computer network architects in their daily work?

Computer Network Architects often encounter challenges such as designing scalable networks to support evolving business requirements and ensuring robust cybersecurity across complex infrastructures. Staying current with rapidly changing technologies and troubleshooting unexpected network issues can also be demanding aspects of the role. Collaboration with IT teams, vendors, and management is a regular part of the job, requiring clear communication and coordination. These challenges make the role both dynamic and rewarding for professionals who enjoy problem-solving and continuous learning.

How much does a computer network architect get paid?

Computer network architects typically earn a median annual salary of around $120,000, with salaries ranging from approximately $80,000 to over $180,000 depending on experience, location, and certifications. They design and implement network infrastructure, often requiring knowledge of networking protocols, security, and specialized tools.
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Infographic showing various Computer Network Architect job openings in Seattle, WA as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 1% As Needed, 79% Full Time, 14% Part Time, 4% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $170,436 per year, or $81.9 per hour.

Senior AI Network Systems Engineer

Microsoft

Redmond, WA • On-site

$116K - $159K/yr

Full-time

Posted 24 days ago


Microsoft rating

8.5

Company rating: 8.5 out of 10

Based on 132 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

78th of 242 rated software companies


Job description

Overview
Microsoft Silicon, Cloud Hardware, and Infrastructure Engineering (SCHIE) is the team behind Microsoft's expanding Cloud Infrastructure and responsible for powering Microsoft's "Intelligent Cloud" mission. SCHIE delivers the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft's over 200 online businesses including Bing, MSN, Office 365, Xbox Live, Teams, OneDrive, and the Microsoft Azure platform globally with our server and data center infrastructure, security and compliance, operations, globalization, and manageability solutions. Our focus is on smart growth, high efficiency, and delivering a trusted experience to customers and partners worldwide and we are looking for passionate engineers to help achieve that mission.
The Platform Systems Engineering (PSE) team is seeking a Senior AI Network Systems Engineer to drive the architecture, integration, validation, optimization, and deployment of large-scale AI networking infrastructure. This role focuses on Layer 3 and Layer 4 networking technologies, RDMA-based fabrics, TCP/UDP transport behavior, network performance, congestion management, and scale-out AI networking environments.
You will work closely with networking, silicon, firmware, system software, validation, and Azure infrastructure teams to build reliable, high-performance AI networks that support next-generation AI systems deployed at hyperscale.
Microsoft's mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.
Responsibilities
AI Network Architecture & System Integration
  • Define and develop networking requirements for large-scale AI training and inference clusters.

  • Collaborate with silicon, system software, firmware, hardware, and Azure infrastructure teams to deliver scalable networking solutions from concept through datacenter deployment.

  • Participate in architecture reviews and influence next-generation AI networking roadmaps.

  • Define network concepts of operation, serviceability requirements, telemetry requirements, and operational models for AI infrastructure.

Layer 3 / Layer 4 Networking
  • Lead design and validation of IP-based AI networking solutions spanning TCP/IP, UDP, routing, congestion management, flow control, QoS, and traffic engineering.

  • Analyze transport-layer behavior and performance characteristics across large-scale distributed AI workloads.

  • Evaluate network protocol implementations and debug issues impacting latency, throughput, scalability, and reliability.

  • Drive optimization of network communication paths supporting distributed AI training and inference.

RDMA & AI Fabric Technologies
  • Design, validate, and optimize RDMA-based networking solutions for AI clusters.

  • Analyze RDMA performance, congestion behavior, packet loss, retransmissions, and collective communication efficiency.

  • Work closely with networking vendors and software teams to optimize AI fabric performance and workload scalability.

  • Develop validation methodologies for AI traffic patterns and collective communication workloads.

Performance Characterization & Validation
  • Develop and execute networking validation strategies covering functionality, performance, scale, interoperability, resiliency, and reliability.

  • Characterize network behavior under AI training and inference workloads.

  • Evaluate latency, bandwidth utilization, congestion events, flow distribution, and workload communication patterns.

  • Create and automate network stress, scale, and performance qualification methodologies.

Debugging & Root Cause Analysis
  • Lead end-to-end troubleshooting of networking issues across physical, data link, network, and transport layers.

  • Perform packet-level analysis and protocol debugging using telemetry, packet captures, performance counters, and diagnostic tools.

  • Investigate network switch, NIC, RDMA, routing, congestion control, and protocol-related issues.

  • Drive corrective actions and long-term reliability improvements using fleet telemetry and lab validation.

Automation & Observability
  • Build and improve network observability, diagnostics, telemetry, and monitoring solutions.

  • Develop tools and automation for network validation, performance analysis, and failure detection.

  • Improve engineering productivity through automated testing, qualification, and network health assessment frameworks.

Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
  • Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 3+ years technical engineering experience
    • OR Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field AND 5+ years technical engineering experience
    • OR equivalent experience.
  • 5+ years of experience developing or validating networking for accelerator based systems.
  • 5+ years of experience designing, integrating, validating, or troubleshooting Ethernet-based networking infrastructure, including Network switches.
  • 5+ years of experience supporting AI, HPC, cloud, or large-scale data center infrastructure deployments.

Other Requirements:
Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:
  • Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience with RDMA technologies, AI fabrics, and distributed training environments.

  • Understanding of RoCE, congestion control, ECN, PFC, DCQCN, and related AI networking technologies.

  • Experience with AI/ML workload communication patterns and collective operations.

  • Experience with SONiC, Linux networking, networking telemetry, and network operating systems.

  • Experience with network switches, SmartNICs, DPUs, NIC offloads, and large-scale cloud infrastructure.

  • Familiarity with AI networking technologies including Ultra Ethernet and hyperscale AI cluster architectures.

  • Experience developing network stress tools, validation frameworks, performance benchmarks, or observability solutions.

  • Knowledge of packet analysis tools, telemetry infrastructure, and network automation frameworks.

  • Exposure to high-speed networking environments (200G/400G/800G Ethernet).

#azure #MAIA #AI/ML #Networking
Hardware Engineering IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $160,200 - $261,000 per year.
Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/us/en/us-corporate-pay
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.

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About Microsoft

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 100 datacenters and 1 million servers. Our foundation is built upon and managed by a team of subject matter experts working to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide. With environmental sustainability and optimization at the forefront of our datacenter design and operations, we continue to grow and evolve as we meet the ever-changing business demands that hold Microsoft as a world-class cloud provider.

Industry

Computer and computer peripheral equipment and software wholesalers

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Redmond, WA, US

Year founded

1975

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