Sr Principal Engineer, Enterprise Networking Architecture

Equinix, Inc.; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 213,000 - 319,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance Program

Competitive benefits

Job summary

Equinix, Inc. in California seeks a world-class Sr Principal Engineer to serve as the definitive technical authority for Enterprise Networking Architecture within the Digital Infrastructure Organization (DIO).

This is a pure individual contributor role with no direct reports, carrying ultimate accountability for defining, governing, and evolving the global networking architecture and long-term strategy across the enterprise.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in enterprise-scale networking and security architecture; senior IC roles owning global, multi-site environments.
• External technical impact through patents, open-source contributions, or standards participation.
• Strong ability to influence executive leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Deep hands-on expertise across datacenter, WAN, security, wireless, and edge architectures.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Final Technical Authority to DIO leadership on enterprise networking architecture.
• Own the Global Networking Architecture across LAN/WAN/datacenters/cloud interconnects.
• Set and enforce standards for reference architectures, patterns, and best practices.
• Drive global alignment with cloud, security, infrastructure, and edge teams.
• Lead long-term 5-year networking roadmaps and executive-ready recommendations.
• Architect at scale for enterprise networking, security, and automation.
• Champion AI-Augmented Networking across AIOps, analytics, and autonomous remediation.
• Advance observability and automation strategies enterprise-wide.
• Shape industry trends and contribute to standards and communities.
• Represent Equinix externally through patents, publications, and talks.
• Elevate engineering excellence by mentoring senior engineers and leading guilds.

Skills

Enterprise networking

Security architecture

AI in networking

Executive communication

Education

MS or PhD in CS/EE

Tools

Python

Ansible

Terraform

GitOps

Job description

Who are we?

Equinix is the world’s digital infrastructure company®, shortening the path to connectivity to enable the innovations that enrich our work, life and planet.

A place where tech thinkers and future builders turn bold ideas into breakthrough experiences, we welcome your unique perspective.Help us challenge assumptions, uncover bias, and remove barriers—because progress starts with fresh ideas. You’ll find belonging, purpose, and a team that welcomes you—because when you feel valued, you’re empowered to do your best work.

Job Summary

Equinix is seeking a world-class Sr Principal Engineer to serve as the preeminent technical authority for Enterprise Networking Architecture within the Digital Infrastructure Organization (DIO). This is a pure individual contributor role with no direct reports, carrying ultimate accountability for defining, governing, and evolving the global networking architecture and long-term strategy across the enterprise.

This leader will own the end-to-end enterprise networking architecture—spanning campus, datacenter, cloud interconnection, carrier services, and secure access—while setting a bold, forward-looking vision for modern, secure, AI-augmented networking. The role requires deep technical mastery, architectural judgment at massive scale, and the ability to influence across global teams and executive leadership without formal authority.

Responsibilities

• Act as the Final Technical Authority: Serve as the primary interface to DIO leadership and executive stakeholders on all matters of enterprise networking architecture. Function as the ultimate escalation point for complex, cross-domain architectural decisions

• Own the Global Networking Architecture: Define and govern the holistic enterprise networking architecture across LAN, WAN, datacenter fabrics, cloud connectivity, wireless, edge/access, firewalls, secure remote access, and carrier interconnects

• Set and Enforce Standards: Establish, document, and govern reference architectures, design patterns, and best practices—ensuring consistency, resilience, and security across all regions and business units

• Drive Global Alignment: Partner closely with cloud, security, infrastructure, application, and edge architecture teams to align strategies, resolve architectural conflicts, and accelerate enterprise-wide modernization

• Lead Long-Term Strategy: Author and maintain 5-year global networking roadmaps, including technology evaluations, risk assessments, architectural trade-offs, and executive-ready recommendations grounded in a big-picture, future-focused perspective

• Architect at Scale: Design high-performance, secure, and resilient connectivity solutions across a broad technology landscape, including:

  • Enterprise and datacenter networking (Cisco, Juniper, Arista, whitebox)

  • Next-generation security platforms (Palo Alto, Fortinet, Cisco)

  • Wireless platforms (Mist AI, Meraki)

  • Out-of-band and terminal access (ZPE, Opengear)

  • Carrier and managed connectivity (MPLS, VPLS, P2P, Metro Ethernet, SD-WAN, and emerging alternatives)

• Champion AI-Augmented Networking: Lead the integration of AI across networking and operations—spanning AIOps, predictive analytics, autonomous remediation, threat detection, capacity planning, and configuration intelligence—while accounting for the networking demands of AI workloads and edge inference

• Advance Observability and Automation: Define enterprise-wide strategies for telemetry, monitoring, and observability (e.g., streaming telemetry, eBPF, AI-driven anomaly detection) to enable proactive, automated operations

• Shape the Industry: Identify emerging trends, influence vendor roadmaps, pioneer next-generation architectures, and contribute to industry standards and technical communities

• Represent Equinix Externally: Act as a visible thought leader through patents, publications, standards participation, and keynote presentations at leading industry forums (e.g., NANOG, RSA, Black Hat)

• Elevate Engineering Excellence: Mentor senior and principal engineers, lead architecture review boards and technical guilds, and foster strong collaboration across the organization

Qualifications

• Proven years of experience in enterprise-scale networking and security architecture, including 10+ years in senior, principal, or distinguished IC roles owning global, multi-site environments (10,000+ endpoints, petabit-class fabrics)

• Prior Distinguished Engineer, Senior Principal Engineer, Fellow, or equivalent executive IC role at a top-tier Fortune 50 or hyperscale technology company (e.g., Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, NVIDIA, Meta, or similar)

• Demonstrated external technical impact, including patents, influential open-source contributions, published research, standards participation, or high-profile industry speaking

• Deep, hands-on expertise across enterprise networking domains, including:

  • Datacenter and enterprise networking (BGP/EVPN, VXLAN, leaf-spine, SD-WAN, 400G+ fabrics)

  • Security architectures (zero trust, SASE/SSE, microsegmentation, next-gen firewalls)

  • Wireless networking (Mist AI, Meraki)

  • Out-of-band and resiliency engineering

  • Carrier interconnects and managed connectivity

  • Edge, hybrid/multi-cloud integration, automation, and performance optimization

• Proven success leading 3–5+ year strategic planning, delivering measurable outcomes such as cost optimization, ultra-high availability, and reduced security risk

• Strong experience applying AI/ML to networking operations and understanding AI’s broader implications on enterprise infrastructure

• Exceptional ability to influence at the executive level, communicate complex architectural concepts clearly, and align diverse global teams

• A forward-thinking mindset with the credibility and presence to drive industry-leading innovation while collaborating effectively across organizational boundaries

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field

• Active participation in industry bodies or technical communities (e.g., IETF, ONUG, CNCF networking SIGs)

• Experience operating in regulated or mission-critical environments (finance, healthcare, critical infrastructure)

• Proficiency with automation and IaC (Python, Ansible, Terraform) and GitOps-based operational models

The targeted pay range for this position in the following location is / locations are:

United States - Dallas Infomart Office DAI : 177,000 - 265,000 USD / Annual

United States - Redwood City Office GHQ : 213,000 - 319,000 USD / Annual

Canada - Toronto Office TRO : 166,000 - 248,000 CAD / Annual

Our pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum target for new hire pay for the full-time position determined by role, level, and location.The pay range shown is based on our compensation structure in place at the time of posting and may be updated periodically based on business needs. Individual pay is based on additional factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and/or training.

The targeted pay range listed reflects the base pay only and does not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Employees are eligible for bonus, and equity may be offered depending on the position.

Equinix Benefits

As an employee, you become important to Equinix’s success. We ensure all your benefits are in line with our core values: competitive, inclusive, sustainable, connected and efficient. We keep them competitive within the current marketplace to ensure we’re providing you with the best package possible. So, wherever you are in your career and life, you’ll be able to enhance your experience and bring your whole self to work.

Employee Assistance Program

An Employee Assistance program is available to all employees.

US Benefits: - Insurance: You may enroll in health, life, disability and voluntary plans that are designed for you and your eligible family members. - Retirement: You and Equinix may contribute to a retirement plan to help you plan for your financial future. - Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays: You will receive an accrued amount of PTO each pay period along with various paid holidays for you to rest and recharge. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific plan or program terms.Canada Core Benefits: - Insurance: You may enroll in healthcare coverage that is designed to complement the provincial healthcare system, along with life, disability and optional benefit plans that are designed for you and your eligible family members. - Retirement: You may also enroll in Equinix-sponsored retirement or savings plans: Defined Contribution Pension Plan (DCPP), Group Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax-Free Savings Plan (TSFA). - Vacation and Paid Holidays: Equinix offers both vacation and personal time, along with various paid holidays for you to rest and recharge. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits. Benefits are subject to specific plan or program terms, and to change at Equinix discretion.

Equinix is committed to ensuring that our employment process is open to all individuals, including those with a disability. If you are a qualified candidate and need assistance or an accommodation, please let us know by completing this form.

Equinix is an Equal Employment Opportunity and, in the U.S., an Affirictive Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to unlawful consideration of race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship, sex, pregnancy / childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic partnership status, age, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, political / organizational affiliation, status as a victim or family member of a victim of crime or abuse, or any other status protected by applicable law.

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This posting is a new position within our organization.