Network Deployment and Maintenance Lead - Data Center Operations
About this role
Anthropic is building reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems to ensure technology remains safe and beneficial for society. Within the Data Center Operations organization, the network team builds and maintains the infrastructure powering a growing fleet of partner-operated data centers. This role functions as a network deployment and maintenance lead, driving the physical and operational readiness of cluster networks, management systems, telemetry, accelerator chip back-end networks, and aggregation layers.
Day-to-day responsibilities involve overseeing late-stage construction, network delivery, cabling, integration, and structured handovers into production operations. Candidates will also direct the network repair program, managing break-fix workflows, vendor RMAs, sparing policies, and operational SLAs while partnering closely with WAN and core networking teams. The position requires heavy travel exceeding fifty percent to inspect sites directly and establish strong relationships with third-party partners.
What you will do
- Own network deployment outcomes for assigned sites and data-hall waves, ensuring cluster networks and accelerator chip back-end networks are accepted on schedule.
- Engage from construction kickoff to confirm network readiness, verifying pathways, fiber trays, cabling, optics, and partner staffing before gear arrives.
- Travel on site to verify deployment, cabling, turn-up, QA, and close-out with direct observation rather than relying solely on dashboards.
- Validate handover gates for each network build to ensure cabling and link validation are complete and spares are positioned for production operations.
- Manage the network repair program across the fleet by tracking repair SLAs, prioritization, and ticket backlogs in Anthropic-owned telemetry dashboards.
- Handle RMA and spares for network gear with vendors and site operations partners to maintain parts availability and prevent bottlenecks.
- Lead operating cycles with partner site leads through weekly deployment and repair reviews, analyzing failure patterns to drive corrective actions.
What you need
- Have eight or more years of experience in data center operations or network deployment as a manager, technical lead, or similar capacity.
- Demonstrate a proven track record leading data center network deployments at a large scale across multiple sites or data-hall waves.
- Have run break-fix or repair programs for network hardware, including ticket flow, RMA, and spares management with third-party vendors.
- Possess hands-on technical depth in data center networking covering switches, structured cabling, fiber, and optics.
- Have built or substantially improved operational processes while utilizing schedule, ticket, telemetry, and inventory data for decisions.
- Can travel heavily and work on site for extended stretches during delivery surges and turn-up windows.
- Possess a bachelor's degree in a relevant domain or equivalent practical experience.
Nice to have
- Experience with dense accelerator networks, including high-speed interconnect, optics, and cabling at rack and pod scale.
- Experience standing up network operations at a new site or data hall from commissioning handoff through first turn-up.
- Experience managing RMA and warranty programs with network OEMs, including failure analysis and supplier quality engagement.
- Experience delivering deployment and repair outcomes inside partner-operated or colocation sites where on-the-floor operations are staffed via third parties.
- Familiarity with meet-me room and WAN bring-up, and with handoffs between in-hall and building-level network teams.
Skills and tech stack
Questions candidates ask
What is the remote and travel policy for this role?
Anthropic expects staff to be in an office at least 25% of the time, though some roles may require more. Additionally, this position requires 50%+ travel to get eyes on the floor at each site during network delivery, turn-up, QA, and close-out.
What is the compensation range for this position?
The annual salary range for this role is $320,000 to $405,000 USD.
What does the scope of the network infrastructure cover?
The scope includes the network within and between data halls such as the cluster network, management, telemetry, accelerator chip back-end networks, aggregation layers, cabling, optics, and switching.
How is success measured in this role?
Success is defined against Anthropic-owned ticket and telemetry data that you have built rather than self-reported status.
Does Anthropic provide visa sponsorship?
Yes, the company does sponsor visas and retains an immigration lawyer to help with the process if an offer is made.