Principal Network Architect, Backbone Network (AI Infrastructure)

Location: Based in Sydney, Australia

Company

hirify.global develops and operates sustainable AI infrastructure in Asia Pacific, including the hirify.global AI Cloud GPU platform and AI Factory digital infrastructure.

What you will do

• Own the technical architecture of the national and international backbone supporting hirify.global AI Factory and hirify.global AI Cloud services.
• Develop reference architectures, technical standards, and reusable design patterns across subsea and terrestrial fibre, optical transport, IP/MPLS, segment routing, data-centre interconnection, and partner connectivity.
• Define resilience profiles and validate physical-route, duct, and shared-risk-link-group diversity.
• Provide technical assurance across concept design, delivery readiness, operational resilience, cutovers, and continuous improvement.
• Lead carrier, subsea operator, equipment vendor, and technology evaluations, including technical RFP criteria and design governance.
• Mentor network engineers and advise the Head of Connectivity on backbone architecture and complex technical decisions.

Requirements

• More than 12 years of progressive experience designing and operating large-scale backbone networks in carrier, hyperscale, cloud, or specialist AI infrastructure environments.
• Principal-level experience authoring reference architectures, design standards, reusable patterns, and technical assurance frameworks.
• Deep expertise in terrestrial long-haul fibre, subsea cable systems, landing-station connectivity, route and duct diversity, and SRLG-based resilience modelling.
• Strong knowledge of DWDM/OTN, coherent and client-side optics, ROADM, amplification and regeneration planning, including 100G, 400G, and 800G systems.
• Strong knowledge of IP/MPLS, segment routing, EVPN, traffic engineering, peering, transit, internet exchange, and high-capacity data-centre interconnection.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Telecommunications, Computer Science, or a related discipline is preferred.

Nice to have

• Experience delivering backbone infrastructure in APAC markets, particularly Indonesia, Australia, and Singapore.
• Experience at a hyperscale operator, carrier, or AI infrastructure operator.
• Experience with value engineering and sustainability outcomes while maintaining resilience and performance.

Culture & Benefits

• Work on sustainable AI infrastructure and energy-efficient GPU cloud technology.
• Collaborate across carriers, subsea operators, terrestrial fibre providers, data-centre partners, and internal engineering teams.
• Operate across geographies, cultures, and time zones with responsibility for mission-critical connectivity.
• Join a diverse and inclusive workplace focused on innovative engineering solutions.