Senior Principal Network Architect - AI & Automation Lead

Equinix, Inc; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 177,000 - 265,000; Full time

Job summary

Equinix is seeking a Sr Principal Engineer to serve as a senior technical authority for the GEN network's architecture, automation, telemetry, and modernization over a multi-year horizon. You will bridge network engineering and software development, writing Python for automation and applying AI to improve observability, reliability, and operational efficiency across global deployments.

Strong leadership is needed to communicate architecture decisions to executives in terms of value, risk, cost,

Qualifications

• 15+ years of enterprise networking and architecture experience.
• Proven senior engineering authority and cross‑functional influence.
• Experience with global scale networks (thousands of nodes).
• Deep BGP/OSPF expertise with IS‑IS knowledge.
• Hands-on Python automation for network operations.
• Experience with EVPN, VXLAN, leaf‑spine fabrics.
• Strong governance, standards, and architecture reviews.
• Excellent communication of complex decisions to executives.

Responsibilities

• Define target-state GEN network architecture and multi-year strategy.
• Lead architecture reviews and cross‑functional governance.
• Guide network automation, telemetry, and AI initiatives.
• Mentor senior engineers and influence vendors.
• Ensure security, resiliency, cost, and operational readiness.

Skills

Enterprise networking

Network architecture

Python automation

AI in networks

BGP/OSPF

Network telemetry

Leadership

Vendor governance

Mentoring

Security awareness

Tools

Python

Terraform

Git

Ansible

Job description

Equinix is seeking a Sr Principal Engineer to serve as a senior technical authority for the GEN network's architecture, automation, telemetry, and modernization over a multi-year horizon. You will bridge network engineering and software development, writing Python for automation and applying AI to improve observability, reliability, and operational efficiency across global deployments.

Strong leadership is needed to communicate architecture decisions to executives in terms of value, risk, cost,