Principal Networking Engineer
Harbor Compute
Principal Networking Engineer
Harbor Compute
Designs and operates AI compute infrastructure
Harbor Compute builds, owns and operates the data centers that power frontier AI. We turn land, energy and engineering into usable AI infrastructure, and we do it responsibly, alongside the communities we build in: energy strategies that strengthen power resilience, economics where host communities share in the upside, local suppliers, whenever possible, and siting/design shaped by local input.
Harbor Compute is looking for an expert network engineer who can also contribute on software development to help build and lead our network engineering team. We are building and designing network fabrics for accelerated compute clusters and associated management networks from concept to full implementation and operations. Help decide how we do things, as we aim to set the bar high across all activities related to delivering reliable, responsible compute.
Work as a design partner on our network modeling system backing the implementation and deployment at every step, from cut sheet generation clear to link qualification and active hardware health monitoring. Partner with experts in information retrieval and performance software design to build world class, purpose built software with profound flexibility and performance. Partner with experts in industrial design and electrical engineering to deliver world-class supercompute deployments.
Ideal candidates will have hands on experience with network automation and operations, be intimately familiar with the operating constraints of fiber-optic networks, and have the skills necessary to design and validate the designs of network fabrics. Provide meaningful peer review for site designs to ensure sufficient power provisioning ratios, and be able to help over-all with building very large, very fast accelerated compute deployments. Combined low level programming experience will be preferred.
Design and review the design of accelerated compute cluster network fabrics.
Support the deployment of a network from design, to procurement, to cabling, to qualification.
Contribute to observability, monitoring, provisioning, automation, modeling and simulation software for networks.
Support the operations of said networks.
Work with a team of world-class experts.
10+ years experience with networking and network operations.
5+ years experience in designing and deploying networks.
A comprehensive mastery of networking equipment and network protocols.
Experience and skills with both front end and back end networks.
Hands on experience with fiber-optic equipment and logistics.
Some hands-on experience with systems programming.
Hands on network support experience.
The base salary range for this role is expected to be $190,000 – $300,000. The starting salary will be determined by job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and market location, with consideration for market alignment and internal equity. In addition to base salary, our total rewards package includes equity and a comprehensive benefits program, based on eligibility.
Health insurance, fully covered: Harbor pays 100% of premiums for you and your family.
Your choice of carrier: Choose from national carriers such as Aetna, Cigna, Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare, with plans that vary by deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, network and coverage level. Availability varies by state.
Big-company plan options: We offer insurance through a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), which gives our growing team access to the range of plans usually found at much larger employers.
Unlimited PTO: We trust you to know when you need to rest and recharge. Plan time off with your manager around the needs of your team.
Harbor Compute is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome people of all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected status. If you need an accommodation at any point in the hiring process, let us know.
Designs and operates AI compute infrastructure
Harbor Compute designs and runs physical AI infrastructure in three tiers: Core Harbor for large-scale distributed training, Middle Harbor for regional GPU capacity, and HarborOne for inference at qualified sites. It provides GPU compute, private networking, a CDN, and AI delivery networks within purpose-built data centers, using high-density power, advanced cooling, and interconnects like NVLink, NVSwitch, and InfiniBand. The leadership team combines deep experience from OpenAI’s infrastructure program with veterans from Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Amazon, and Tesla, backed by investors such as a16z Speedrun and NVIDIA Inception. Its goal is to deliver reliable, scalable, and responsible AI infrastructure that supports massive training, low-latency regional inference, and seamless model hosting and workflows for enterprises and labs.
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