Lead Network Engineer - Backbone Engineering

Overview

As Lead Network Engineer at Salesforce, you will be part of the Infrastructure Strategy and Data Center Operations team, a global group responsible for delivering and supporting the technology infrastructure that powers Salesforce’s Global Network.

The role involves collaborating with field teams, vendor sourcing, global network operations, and application owners to drive innovation in an agile environment. You will contribute to standards, processes, and automation to achieve operational excellence across the SaaS infrastructure.

• Act as liaison with the vendor sourcing team and develop/maintain capacity metrics
• Project manage new capacity installs with sourcing, field engineering, and other stakeholders
• Update network and associated data stores for capacity additions and decommissions
• Provide feedback, documentation, and implementation for new network designs
• Develop network configuration automation with Python and Ansible
• Collaborate with connectivity partners and customer engagement teams to troubleshoot issues
• Manage BGP peering relationships and design peering networks
• Oversee backbone router migrations, grooming, and decommissioning
• Lead network design life cycles, including documentation and approvals
• Maintain Network Data Statements of Work (SoTs)

• Minimum 7 years in production network environments (or comparable experience)
• Proven project management skills
• Experience with telecommunications vendors and Cisco/Juniper carrier‑class routers (e.g., ASR9K, CRS, MX960, PTX, MX2K)
• Experience with Cisco Nexus‑based switches
• Knowledge of routing protocols such as BGP and IS‑IS
• Fundamental understanding of WDM technologies
• Strong Python coding skills and Unix/Linux–based OS proficiency
• Experience developing and maintaining network automation tools (Ansible)
• Familiarity with Git or other version control systems
• Ability to self‑manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Understanding of current AI, machine learning, LLMs, MCP, etc.
• Related technical degree required

• Managing co‑located infrastructure
• Experience with DWDM platforms (e.g., Ciena, Cisco DCI)
• Experience with MACSec encryption
• Extensive network troubleshooting and monitoring skills
• Hands‑on production hardware life‑cycle management
• Experience with Puppet, Terraform, containers, and/or Kubernetes
• Familiarity with CI/CD principles
• Prior lift‑and‑shift backbone router migrations
• Administration of global, web‑scale IP Address allocations
• Solid understanding of transit, public peering, and SFI spaces
• Writing prompts for public AI chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini)
• Experience with AI‑assisted coding tools
• Prior Salesforce core application experience (developer or support role)

Salesforce offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, mental health support, paid parental leave, life and disability insurance, 401(k) with employer match, employee stock purchase program, and global time‑off programs.

Salesforce is an equal‑opportunity employer and maintains a policy of non‑discrimination with all employees and applicants for employment. Any employee or potential employee is assessed on merit, competence, and qualifications without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, transgender status, age, disability, veteran or marital status, political viewpoint, or other classifications protected under law.

The typical base salary range for this position is $172,500 – $260,100 annually, with an expanded range of $207,800 – $285,800 in select cities within the San Francisco and New York City metropolitan areas. The range represents base salary only and does not include additional compensation or benefits.