Network Sourcing Engineer

Overview

Cloud Ops and Innovation (CO+I) is the engine that powers Microsoft’s cloud services. The team is responsible for designing, building and operating our unified global datacenters; managing the demand planning and capacity utilization of our unified infrastructure; and for operating the physical infrastructure (including supply chain, hardware, power, security, and workflow teams). We focus on smart growth with an emphasis on automation, data driven engineering, cost-effectiveness, and environmental sustainability. We deliver the core infrastructure and foundational technologies for Microsoft’s over 200 online businesses including Azure, Bing, MSN, Office 365, Xbox Live, Skype, and OneDrive. Our infrastructure is comprised of a large global portfolio of more than 100 datacenters and 1 million servers. Our portfolio is built and managed by a team of subject matter experts working 24x7x365 to support services for more than 1 billion customers and 20 million businesses in over 90 countries worldwide.

The Cloud Interconnection and Acquisitions team is looking for a Network Sourcing Engineer. As a Network Sourcing Engineer you are responsible for acquisition of Fiber, Edge, Egress and Peering solutions supporting all of Microsoft’s online services infrastructure. We work with the various engineering, capacity and long-range planning teams on a collaborative basis to ensure the Microsoft network has the highest quality and availability globally.

We're looking for an experienced Network Sourcing Engineer to support, influence and deliver network capacity in a fast-paced production environment. This role provides an opportunity for someone that thrives in an agile environment and able to adapt to changing conditions and priorities. The successful candidate will be analytical, possess detailed communication skills, and collaboration skills. You will be working with people from many different teams and backgrounds requiring an open growthmindset. In this role you will influence others and work cross-functionally to achieve broad goals.

Responsibilities

• Lead project initiatives for cloud infrastructure network in EMEA including metro, long haul, subsea and network colocation; Own and drive commercial and contractual negotiations with vendors providing wavelength, dark fiber, subsea and colocation services (aerial, terrestrial and undersea networks).
• Support our colocation efforts within the region to ensure resiliency, diversity and quality uptime of our network services portfolio.
• Collaborate with internal teams to identify and define strategic initiatives to meet expansion and cost reduction needs.
• Region and market topology expertise/SME to determine specific routes and deals that meet Microsoft network requirements.
• Build strategic relationships with vendors and industry experts.
• Communicate progress internally and collaborate with network deployment teams.
• Collaborate with internal business and networking technical teams to identify and define strategic initiatives necessary to meet Microsoft's ongoing needs for both expansion and cost reduction.
• Build strategic relationships with vendors; Identify unique opportunities for partnership or expansion with these teams; Determine specific routes and partnerships that meet commercial, technical, and timing requirements.
• Partner and ensure contracting compliance with service suppliers, legal team and physical security teams for continuous and consistent rigor ensuring contracts contain the correct SLA’sSolid understanding of network strategy, topology planning and cost vectors.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Materials Science, or related field AND 3+ years experience in procurement, supply chain, sourcing, engineering, operations, or relevant sales-related roles OR
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Materials Science, or related field AND 4+ years experience in procurement, supply chain, sourcing, engineering, operations, or relevant sales-related roles OR equivalent experience.

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.

Additional/Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Materials Science, or related field AND 6+ years experience in procurement, supply chain, sourcing, engineering, operations, or relevant sales-related roles OR
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Materials Science, or related field AND 8+ years experience in procurement, supply chain, sourcing, engineering, operations, or relevant sales-related roles OR equivalent experience.
• 6+ years of experiences in networking technologies.
• Strategic negotiations and/or business development obtaining services from high-technology providers in data center and Internet technologies.
• Experiences with contractual/MSA negotiations.
• Solid understanding of domestic and global carrier networks.
• Working knowledge of the fundamentals of optical networking: Fiber optics and DWDM technologies.
• Solid grasp and experience with workflow management.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, including financial analytics.
• 5+ Years proven knowledge of Data Center Operations, Inside Plant Management and Design, Outside plant, Bulk Fiber Installation and diverse terrestrial routing fundamentals.
• 5+ Years demonstrated experience and knowledge of regional regulatory environments.

Key skills/competency

• Network Sourcing
• Commercial Negotiations
• Contractual Compliance
• EMEA Network Infrastructure
• Fiber Optics
• DWDM Technologies
• Supply Chain Management
• Strategic Relationships
• Financial Analytics
• Workflow Management