Senior Data Center Design Architect

Job ID: 200049104Posted: 2026-09-16Location: United States, Washington, RedmondSalary: USD $119,800 - $234,700 per yearEmployment type: Full-TimeWork site: 0 days / week in-office – remoteRole type: Individual ContributorTravel: Less than 25%Profession: Hardware EngineeringDiscipline: Hardware EngineeringCompany: MicrosoftOverviewMicrosoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO&I) is the team behind the cloud. Within CO&I, the Datacenter Engineering (DCE) team is responsible for delivering core datacenter infrastructure for Microsoft’s cloud business.The Microsoft portfolio consists of complex, multi-disciplinary, large scale, multi-year datacenter construction and lease projects. We are looking for a passionate, high-energy Architect to help build the cloud datacenters that power the world’s largest online services. Within Datacenter Engineering (DCE), Senior Architects provide technical leadership for the design and delivery of Microsoft's next-generation datacenter portfolio. This role requires a strategic thinker who can lead complex architectural initiatives, influence design decisions across multiple stakeholders, and ensure the successful execution of mission-critical projects from concept through operation. The ideal candidate brings deep datacenter design experience, strong leadership skills, and a passion for delivering innovative, scalable infrastructure solutions that enable Microsoft's worldwide cloud growth.In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others, and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond. ResponsibilitiesGathers information and participates in design decisions based on complexity, financial impact, quality, reliability, and time duration.Review design documentation which may include drawings, specifications, or diagrams for products or features with some general guidance and feedback from other engineers.Drive the design of all aspects of the physical networking infrastructure effectively and efficiently and address any design-related issues that arise during construction for all Microsoft datacenters/co-location facilities.Work with Datacenter Operations and partner on standards, requirements, and materials as specified.Lead design workgroups and drive cross-functional meetings for multiple, concurrent capital projects.Manage issues, decisions and risks, drive initiatives to improve the efficiency and quality to scale.Act as a critical thinker, develop statements of work and design documents, then review and critically evaluate bids and options for projects.Evaluate operational impacts, deployment, and implementation challenges associated with design implementation for Microsoft Owned facilities and Lease sites.Act as technical lead on architecture requirements and master planning impacts for special, non-conforming projects, retrofits, refreshes, and other duties as assigned.Work closely with the project team to provide design review and guidance, technical leadership, and coordinated design direction for architectural, structural, and civil elements for data center design, permitting, construction and site selection, due diligence, and master planning.Work across multiple projects and collaborate with key stakeholders, authorities having jurisdiction as well as external architect/engineering consultants and contractors to ensure that Microsoft’s data center technical design standards and quality are met. Provide architectural technical reviews and oversight for new data center designs, builds, leases, and renovations in addition to civil and structural technical support for site selection, due diligence, master planning and permitting. Provide data center architectural designs and reviews (Specifications, Drawings, and Schedules) within CAD and/or Revit drawings and/or direction to architect/engineering firms for outside design work.Collaborate with Global Technical Governance team, Global Strategy teams and Data Collection Engineering Operations Team to utilize Base of Design documentation to create and/or oversee the creation of the datacenter designs from basis of design to issue for constructions and through the Construction Administration phase of datacenter until handover for new data center project build-outs, leases, special projects and/or network upgrades.Be highly organized and able to oversee multiple projects while providing structured thinking, logic, and analytics.Hold a customer service focus with the ability to communicate with highly technical management teams.Provide both remote site support for construction teams, as well as in person or virtual site visits to review all stages of the constructions projects as well as to ensure quality is being maintained throughout.Hold large scale data center design experience, working knowledge of architecture design standards, experience site selection and due diligence and master planning for data centers, and design and peer review experience. QualificationsRequired QualificationsMaster's Degree in Architecture, or related field AND 3+ years technical engineering experience OR Bachelor's Degree in Architecture or related field AND 5+ years technical engineering experience OR equivalent experience.Other Requirements:Citizenship & Citizenship Verification:This position requires verification of citizenship due to citizenship-based legal restrictions. Specifically, this position supports United States federal, state, and/or local US government agency customers and is subject to certain citizenship-based restrictions where required or permitted by applicable law. To meet this legal requirement, and as a condition of employment, classified as Microsoft Confidential the successful candidate’s citizenship will be verified with a valid passport.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.Preferred QualificationsDoctorate in Architecture, or related field AND 3+ years technical engineering experience OR Master's Degree in Architecture, or related field AND 6+ years technical engineering experience OR Bachelor's Degree in Architecture, or related field AND 8+ years technical engineering experience OR equivalent experience.Registered Architect with Mission critical Data Center Design experience and working knowledge of Data Center Architecture and design principles.Experience with ICD 705 requirements is a plus.#COICareers | #EPCCareers | #DCDCareersHardware Engineering IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $119,800 - $234,700 per year. There is a different range applicable to specific work locations, within the San Francisco Bay area and New York City metropolitan area, and the base pay range for this role in those locations is USD $160,200 - $261,000 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation. Find additional benefits and pay information here:This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.