Senior Director, Network Platform Engineering

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 Senior Director of Network Platform Engineering to define how one of the world’s most interconnected digital infrastructure platforms is designed, built, and evolved. This executive will lead the architecture, design, technology selection, and validation of Equinix’s global network across the full interconnection stack, from optical transport and Metro Connect to software-defined Equinix Fabric and Fabric Cloud Router. The role will establish the technical foundation that enables Equinix to deliver secure, resilient, automated, and increasingly intelligent connectivity worldwide.

This is not a traditional network engineering role. It is an opportunity to shape the future of digital interconnection at a moment when applications and AI agents are beginning to provision and optimize infrastructure through software. The successful candidate will set architectural direction, make critical technology bets, engage the world’s leading cloud and AI companies, and build the team that architects the next generation of Equinix infrastructure.

The role may be based at Equinix headquarters in Redwood City, California, or in another major Equinix metro.

The Opportunity

Equinix is advancing from foundational connectivity toward an intelligent, software-defined interconnection platform. Fabric One is being developed as an intent-driven, any-to-any connectivity platform that enables applications and AI agents to provision their own networks. Fabric Intelligence introduces an AI-native operations layer designed to manage and optimize network performance. Fabric Geo Zones extends this architecture further by enabling compliant data paths across jurisdictions.

The Senior Director of Network Architecture will determine how these capabilities come together as a secure, scalable, and coherent global platform. This leader will balance the demands of today’s production network with the emerging requirements of distributed AI, autonomous infrastructure, data sovereignty, and real-time digital services.

Responsibilities

• What You Will Own
• Define the Future of the Equinix Network
• Own the end-to-end architecture for the Equinix interconnection portfolio, including:
• Equinix Fabric
• Fabric Cloud Router
• Metro Connect
• Internet Exchange
• Network Edge
• Precision Time
• Internet Access
• Future software-defined and AI-enabled interconnection services
• Create an architectural foundation that supports the company’s long-term product ambitions and enables a seamless, multiyear roadmap of differentiated products and services
• Architect the Next Generation of Interconnection
• Serve as the design authority for the network supporting Fabric One and future intent-driven connectivity capabilities
• Translate product vision into a secure, resilient, and scalable network architecture capable of supporting increasingly dynamic applications, distributed AI workloads, autonomous services, and machine-to-machine infrastructure consumption
• Lead Technology Strategy and Critical Design Decisions
• Set Equinix’s strategy across optical transport, network fabrics, routing, software-defined interconnection, automation, and emerging infrastructure technologies
• Lead the evaluation, selection, and validation of technologies across:
• Network silicon
• Optical and coherent systems
• DWDM and OTN
• IP/MPLS and BGP
• Software-defined networking
• Network orchestration
• Automation and telemetry platforms
• Vendor and open technology ecosystems
• Make disciplined architectural trade-offs that improve scalability, reliability, customer experience, and long-term economics
• Build Intelligence into the Network
• Shape the technical foundation for Fabric Intelligence and other AI-native capabilities that manage, optimize, and protect the Equinix network
• Advance Equinix toward increasingly predictive and autonomous network operations through intelligent observability, intent-driven orchestration, automated optimization, and closed-loop remediation
• Enable Distributed AI and Data Sovereignty
• Partner with Product to define the network architecture supporting emerging capabilities such as Distributed AI Hub, Inference Exchange, and future AI infrastructure services
• Design for the performance, data movement, latency, security, and resiliency requirements of distributed AI training and inference
• Advance the architecture for Fabric Geo Zones, enabling compliant data paths and infrastructure consumption across geographic and jurisdictional boundaries
• Deliver Architecture That Operates Reliably at Global Scale
• Partner closely with Network Operations to translate architecture and design into a highly reliable production network
• Ensure architectural decisions account for operational readiness, lifecycle management, observability, resilience, maintainability, and the realities of running mission-critical global infrastructure
• Engage Customers and Shape the Industry
• Represent Equinix’s network architecture with senior executives, strategic customers, board stakeholders, and industry audiences
• Engage CTO-level leaders across hyperscalers, neoclouds, network providers, technology partners, and the broader digital infrastructure ecosystem
• Use these relationships to anticipate market shifts, influence partner roadmaps, and ensure Equinix’s architecture remains aligned with the needs of the world’s most demanding infrastructure customers
• Build a World-Class Architecture Organization
• Recruit, develop, and lead an exceptional global team of network architects, systems engineers, and technical program managers
• Create an environment capable of attracting and retaining engineers who have operated at cloud and hyperscale network scale
• Establish clear technical standards, raise architectural quality, and build a culture of accountability, innovation, and engineering excellence
• What Success Looks Like
• Establish a clear, multiyear architecture for Equinix’s global interconnection platform
• Create the technical foundation for Fabric One and future intent-driven network services
• Accelerate the evolution toward intelligent and autonomous network operations
• Enable new products supporting distributed AI, cloud connectivity, and data sovereignty
• Improve alignment among Architecture, Product, Engineering, and Network Operations
• Make technology and vendor decisions that improve performance, reliability, scalability, and economics
• Build an architecture organization recognized for technical excellence and industry influence
• Strengthen Equinix’s credibility with major cloud, AI, network, and infrastructure partners

Requirements

• Required Qualifications
• 15+ years of experience designing, building, or operating large-scale global networks
• Direct experience at a major public cloud provider or responsibility for a hyperscale carrier, exchange, or similarly complex global network
• Deep expertise across optical networking, DWDM, OTN, coherent systems, IP/MPLS, BGP at scale, SD-WAN, and software-defined interconnection
• Demonstrated success defining architecture and technology strategy for mission-critical infrastructure
• Proven experience leading senior engineers and building high-performing technical organizations
• Ability to translate product and business strategy into scalable architecture and executable roadmaps
• Strong executive presence, including experience engaging senior customers, executive teams, boards, strategic partners, and industry audiences
• Ability to influence across Product, Engineering, Operations, Security, and commercial organizations without relying solely on direct authority
• Preferred Qualifications
• Experience designing network infrastructure for distributed AI training, inference, or other high-performance computing workloads
• Understanding of the latency, bandwidth, data movement, and resiliency requirements associated with AI infrastructure
• Experience with intent-driven networking, OpenAPI-based orchestration, autonomous operations, or software-defined infrastructure
• Familiarity with data sovereignty, jurisdictional routing, and compliance-driven network design
• Experience within interconnection ecosystems, internet exchanges, carrier-neutral colocation, or cloud exchange platforms
• Demonstrated industry impact through standards participation, open-source contributions, patents, publications, or external thought leadership
• Why This Role Matters
• The next generation of infrastructure will not be provisioned solely by people. It will increasingly be consumed and optimized by applications, platforms, and AI agents. Equinix sits at the intersection of the networks, clouds, partners, and infrastructure upon which that future depends.
• The Senior Director of Network Architecture will determine how those environments connect and how Equinix evolves from a global interconnection leader into an increasingly intelligent, software-defined infrastructure platform.
• This is an opportunity to build more than a network. It is an opportunity to define the architecture through which the next generation of digital and AI services operates.
• The targeted pay range for this position in the following location is / locations are:
• United States - Redwood City Office GHQ : 240,000 - 360,000 USD / 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.
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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.

• 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 Affirmative 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.
• We use artificial intelligence in our hiring process. Learn more here .
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This posting is a new position within our organization.