Principal Network Engineer
Fleet Data Centers
- Location
- Onsite (Austin, Texas · Austin, Texas · Austin, Texas · Austin, Texas)
- Compensation
- $120k - $150k/yr
- Employment
- Full-time
- Level
- Senior Level
About the Role
Fleet Data Centers is seeking a Principal Network Engineer to lead the architecture, design, and technical strategy for network infrastructure across their hyperscale campuses. This role is crucial for establishing engineering standards and guiding infrastructure decisions from concept through commissioning.
Skills
Benefits
- Medical Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- 401K Program
- Paid Holidays
- Unlimited PTO
Full job details
Position Overview
Fleet is seeking a Principal Network Engineer to lead the architecture, design, and technical strategy for network infrastructure across our hyperscale campuses.
This role serves as Fleet's technical authority for fiber infrastructure, structured cabling, carrier connectivity, and Operational Technology (OT) networks including IoT, BMS, and EPMS. Working across Product, Design, Construction, Operations, customers, and external partners, you'll establish engineering standards, guide infrastructure decisions, and support projects from concept through commissioning and operations.
This is a highly technical, hands-on engineering role focused on building secure, resilient, and scalable network infrastructure for mission-critical data center environments.
What You'll Do
- Design scalable network architectures supporting hyperscale campus operations
- Develop standards for fiber infrastructure, structured cabling, OT networks, and carrier connectivity
- Design inside-plant (ISP) and outside-plant (OSP) fiber systems with redundancy and future capacity in mind
- Serve as Fleet's technical SME for network and fiber infrastructure
- Establish engineering standards, documentation, and best practices across the organization
- Review engineering packages, vendor designs, and construction documents
- Support commissioning, testing, troubleshooting, and operational readiness
- Partner with customers to translate connectivity requirements into scalable design standards
- Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend improvements to reliability, performance, and scalability
- Lead technical evaluations, RFPs, vendor selection, and carrier relationships
- Support budgeting, lifecycle cost analysis, procurement, and project execution
What We're Looking For
Experience:
- 10+ years in network engineering, telecommunications, fiber infrastructure, or mission-critical environments
- Experience designing and deploying large-scale network infrastructure
- Expertise in fiber infrastructure, structured cabling, and carrier connectivity
- Experience supporting projects through design, construction, commissioning, and operations
- Background serving as a Principal Engineer, Technical Lead, or Subject Matter Expert
- Data center, cloud, or other critical infrastructure experience strongly preferred
Technical Expertise:
- Fiber optic systems, structured cabling, and network architecture
- DWDM, CWDM, optical transport technologies
- Routing, switching, and carrier networking
- OT networks including IoT, BMS, and EPMS
- AutoCAD, Visio, GIS, and infrastructure design tools
- Network testing, validation, troubleshooting, and commissioning
- Industry standards including ANSI/TIA, IEEE, ITU-T, ISO/IEC, BICSI, NEC, and NFPA
Travel:
- Up to 25% travel to Fleet campuses and project sites
Expected Salary range: $120,000–$150,000 + discretionary bonus
Fleet Data Centers Employment
Fleet Data Centers employees enjoy competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including 100% employer-covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, a 401K program, standard paid holidays, and unlimited PTO.
NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties to meet the organization's ongoing needs.
Fleet Data Centers is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants are considered for employment regardless of age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or veteran status. If you need assistance applying for any of our open positions, please contact us at info@fleetdatacenters.com.