Senior/Principal Product Systems Engineer in Cambridge

Overview
At Microsoft Research, we are shaping the next generation of AI infrastructure through high-risk, high-reward programs spanning devices, systems, software, hardware, and AI infrastructure. As a Senior/Principal Product Systems Engineer, you will own the system-level definition and technical integration of emerging optical interconnect technologies as they move from research prototypes toward deployable infrastructure. Working across research, Azure engineering, product teams, suppliers, and external partners, you will translate product scenarios into clear requirements, specifications, verification plans, and technical roadmaps, while driving trade-offs and risk management across optics, electronics, packaging, thermal, mechanical, firmware, networking, manufacturing, and qualification.

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

• Own the system-level product definition, including requirements, specifications, interfaces, acceptance criteria, and technical baselines.
• Translate AI infrastructure and networking scenarios into measurable performance, reliability, cost, power, manufacturability, serviceability, and deployment requirements.
• Lead multidisciplinary architecture, design, and trade-off reviews across optics, electronics, photonics, packaging, thermal, mechanical, firmware, networking, manufacturing, test, and qualification.
• Act as a primary technical interface with suppliers and development partners, ensuring deliverables are complete, testable, and aligned to specification.
• Partner with Microsoft Research, Azure engineering, product, supply-chain, and operations teams to maintain an integrated product and technology roadmap.
• Own the system-level risk register, verification strategy, qualification plan, and stage-gate criteria from prototype through deployment readiness.
• Coordinate technical execution across workstreams by maintaining clear decisions, interfaces, dependencies, milestones, and escalation paths.
• Communicate product maturity, technical gaps, alternatives, and recommendations to technical and senior stakeholders.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications

• Degree in electrical or electronic engineering, computer engineering, systems engineering, physics, applied physics, photonics, computer science, or a related field, and relevant experience in systems engineering, product development, hardware engineering, or technical product integration; or equivalent experience.
• Broad technical understanding across some of the following: optical links and photonics, mixed-signal electronics, ASICs, packaging, signal and power integrity, thermal and mechanical design, networking, reliability, and high-volume manufacturing.
• Experience defining requirements, specifications, interfaces, verification plans, or qualification criteria for a complex multidisciplinary hardware or infrastructure product.
• Experience leading system-level technical trade-offs and integrating contributions from multiple engineering disciplines.
• Experience working directly with external suppliers, technology partners, OEMs, ODMs, or component vendors on technical deliverables and design reviews.
• Ability to operate effectively in an ambiguous, fast-moving environment spanning research, product engineering, and commercialization.
• Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken, including the ability to explain assumptions, document decisions, and align diverse technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience taking a complex hardware, optical, semiconductor, networking, or cloud-infrastructure technology product through its full development cycle from concept or prototype through design validation, qualification, manufacturing readiness, or deployment.
• Experience building technical and product roadmaps that connect customer or internal product scenarios to architecture, supplier capability, validation evidence, and investment decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strong execution leadership across teams while retaining ownership of product definition and system-level technical outcomes.
• For appointment at the Principal level, demonstrated experience setting technical direction, leading across organizational boundaries, and influencing product or platform decisions for complex engineering programs.

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.