Lead Network Engineer - Backbone Engineering

Lead Network Engineer - Backbone Engineering

As a Lead Network Engineer at Salesforce, you will be part of the Infrastructure Strategy and Data Center Operations team, a dynamic, global team delivering and supporting technology infrastructure in the Salesforce Global Network to meet growth needs.

The Backbone Engineering team is responsible for network capacity and connectivity strategy for the Salesforce core network, including peering relationships, capacity planning, and new PoP builds. The team also designs backbone routing architecture and automates configuration changes.

• Act as a liaison with the vendor sourcing team
• Help develop and maintain metrics on capacity vendors
• Project manage new capacity installs with sourcing, field engineering
• Update network and associated data stores for capacity additions and decommissions
• Work with teams to document and implement new network designs
• Develop in Python and Ansible for network configuration automation
• Collaborate with connectivity partners and customer engagement on troubleshooting
• Manage BGP peering relationships and design
• Handle backbone router migrations, grooms, decommissions
• Document network design life cycles and approvals
• Maintain network data So Ts

• Minimum 7 years in production network environments
• Proven project management skills
• Experience with telecommunications vendors
• Experience with Cisco and Juniper carrier-class routers
• Experience with Cisco Nexus switches
• Knowledge of BGP and IS-IS routing protocols
• Fundamental understanding of WDM technologies
• Strong Python coding skills
• Good Unix/Linux operating systems knowledge
• Experience developing and maintaining network automation tools (Ansible)
• Experience with Git
• Ability to self-manage multiple projects
• Understanding of AI, machine learning, LLMs, MCP, etc.
• Related technical degree required

• Managing co-located infrastructure
• DWDM platforms, preferably Ciena and Cisco DCI
• MACSec encryption
• Extensive network troubleshooting and monitoring
• Hands‑on lifecycle management of production hardware
• Experience with Puppet, Terraform, Containers, K8S
• Familiarity with CI/CD principles
• Prior experience with lift and shift backbone router migrations
• Experience administering global, web‑scale IP address allocations
• Solid understanding of transit, public peering, SFI spaces
• AI chat prompt experience
• AI‑assisted coding experience
• Experience with Salesforce core application

When you join Salesforce, you’ll be limitless in all areas of your life. Our benefits and resources support you to find balance and be your best. Apply today to shape the future and redefine what’s possible.

If you require assistance due to a disability, please submit a request via the Accommodations Request Form.

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It also applies to recruiting, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, assessment…

McLean, VA (Washington DC‑Baltimore area)

Typical base salary range $184,000 – $253,000 annually (varies by location and role).