Network Automation & Circuit Bring-Up Engineer

Slope; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

OpenAI in San Francisco is seeking a hands-on network operations engineer to own optical transport and circuit bring-up across data centers and interconnects. You will partner with carriers, CSPs, colocation teams, and data-center staff to move connections from order to verified, ready-for-hand-off, with emphasis on reliability and safety.

Responsibilities include Layer 1 activation, diagnostics, and automated workflows that translate LLMS-assisted analysis into actionable technician steps,

Qualifications

• 3+ years of hands-on network operations, carrier activation, data-center network deployment, field engineering, optical transport, or related infrastructure experience.
• Trace end-to-end circuit across cross-connects, fiber pairs, patch panels, carrier demarcations, optics, and A-side/Z-side device ports.
• Troubleshoot optical faults using inspection/ cleaning tools, optical power meters, VFL/OLTS/OTDR evidence, DOM/DDM, interface status, and provider test results.
• Understand single-mode/multimode fiber, LC and MPO/MTP connectors, duplex polarity, TX/RX paths, wavelength and power budgets, and 100G/400G/800G optics.
• Have worked with carriers, colocation providers, remote hands, AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute, or Google Cloud Interconnect, and persist through multi-party ownership gaps.
• Can build practical automation with scripts, APIs, and structured data, and translate LLMS-generated analysis into validated actions for data-center technicians.

Responsibilities

• Own Layer 1 activation and restoration for carrier circuits, dark fiber, wavelengths, Ethernet handoffs, and dedicated cloud interconnects across data centers and points of presence.
• Reconcile complete A-side/Z-side as-builts: circuit IDs, LOAs/CFAs, carrier demarcations, MMR/ODF/MDF and patch-panel positions, fiber pairs, cross-connects, optics, and device ports.
• Investigate no-light, low-light, wrong-port, link-flap, and error-rate issues across providers and CSPs; isolate continuity, dirty connectors, polarity, incorrect patching, incompatible optics or media, wavelength/power-budget problems.
• Guide remote hands, carrier technicians, CSP operations, and colocation teams through targeted inspection/cleaning, VFL, optical power, OTDR/OLTS, approved loopback, and per-lane DOM/DDM tests.
• Verify service acceptance on both sides: correct circuit and port, admin/operational state, compatible optics, light levels, speed/FEC, clean counters, stable link, and Layer 2/3 handoff readiness.
• Own tickets and troubleshooting bridges through resolution; identify the blocker and A-side/Z-side owner, drive follow-ups, elevate with evidence, and prevent premature closure.
• Execute smart-hands and change work safely: name the exact circuit, port, and fiber pair; protect adjacent live services; get approval before intrusive tests, repatches, shutdowns, or loopbacks; maintain rollback.
• Deliver complete production handoffs with verified mappings, provider/CSP references, test results, interface evidence, incident history, risks, and clear ownership; improve runbooks and prevent repeat faults.
• Automate the full circuit-bring-up lifecycle: structure circuit, port, and patch-panel data; ingest telemetry and provider tickets; generate LLM-assisted diagnostics and technician-ready instructions; track ownership and evidence.

Skills

Network operations

Optical transport

Automation scripting

Carrier coordination

Cross-connects

Tools

VFL

OLTS

OTDR

Job description

OpenAI in San Francisco is seeking a hands-on network operations engineer to own optical transport and circuit bring-up across data centers and interconnects. You will partner with carriers, CSPs, colocation teams, and data-center staff to move connections from order to verified, ready-for-hand-off, with emphasis on reliability and safety.

Responsibilities include Layer 1 activation, diagnostics, and automated workflows that translate LLMS-assisted analysis into actionable technician steps,