Senior Platform Networking Software Engineer, Systems Engineering

About the role

You will architect and own the end-to-end design of high-performance networking software for next-generation storage platforms at the forefront of the data storage industry. This role places you at the center of hard-software integration, where your innovative thinking will transform complex hardware constraints into seamless, zero-downtime customer experiences. You will collaborate daily with hardware engineers and cross-functional software teams to define the future of enterprise data storage and ensure our platforms remain at the cutting edge of performance and reliability. The work you will do changes the world, operating in the exciting area of tech that defined the industry's founding principles. If you are ready to seize endless opportunities and leave your mark, this is your chance to join the smartest team in the industry and drive the core software that powers our storage platforms.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect High-Performance Networking: Drive the end-to-end design and debugging of C/C++ networking software to ensure next-generation switching and fabric platforms meet rigorous scalability and resiliency benchmarks.
• Own Core Protocol Development: Deliver critical Layer 2 and Layer 3 features - including forwarding behavior and control-plane protocols - that simplify operations for global enterprise customers.
• Lead Hardware-Software Integration: Partner with ASIC vendors and internal platform teams to implement switch SDK functionalities, ensuring robust hardware interfaces and successful in-service software upgrades (ISSU).
• Innovate with Open Networking: Design and customize SONiC-based solutions across the control and data planes to enhance our disaggregated network operating system capabilities.
• Drive Technical Excellence: Act as a technical mentor and lead for complex initiatives, setting the standard for code quality and architectural decisions across cross-functional networking efforts.
• Champion Reliability and Performance: Conduct deep performance analysis and tuning to eliminate bottlenecks and ensure our platforms deliver consistent, high-throughput data paths under all conditions.
• Define and Execute Test Strategy: Create comprehensive test plans and validation procedures that verify protocol correctness, stability, and interoperability across diverse network topologies.
• Collaborate with Product and Operations: Work closely with product managers and site reliability engineers to translate business requirements into robust networking features and operational best practices.
• Mentor Emerging Engineers: Provide hands-on guidance and code reviews to junior developers, fostering a culture of learning, quality, and ownership within the systems engineering organization.
• Maintain and Evolve Core Libraries: Refactor and optimize low-level networking libraries to improve maintainability, scalability, and alignment with industry standards.
• Ensure Compliance and Security: Implement security-hardened networking configurations and ensure all changes adhere to enterprise compliance frameworks and best practices.
• Support Global Deployments: Engage in on-call rotations to troubleshoot critical issues in live environments, driving rapid resolution and minimizing customer impact.
• Contribute to Architecture Roadmaps: Participate in long-term platform planning to identify gaps and opportunities for next-generation networking capabilities.
• Enable Automation and Tooling: Build scripts and frameworks that automate network testing, deployment, and diagnostics to accelerate development cycles.
• Promote Open Source Collaboration: Contribute insights and enhancements back to open-source networking projects, such as SONiC, to strengthen the broader ecosystem.

Requirements

• Systems Programming Expertise: Advanced proficiency in C/C++ (C++11+) with a track record of building and debugging performance-sensitive systems software or networking applications.
• Deep Networking Domain Knowledge: Mastery of Layer 2 and Layer 3 protocols (Ethernet, VLANs, BGP, ECMP) and the ability to translate these complex behaviors into production-ready code.
• Hardware Interfacing Skills: Practical experience working with switch SDKs or Linux networking internals (kernel concepts, drivers, or packet processing) to interact directly with ASIC capabilities.
• Availability-Focused Engineering: Understanding of non-disruptive upgrade (NDU) technologies and the architectural discipline required to build systems that minimize customer impact during maintenance.
• Proven Debugging Aptitude: Expertise in diagnosing complex software issues in live systems using logs, packet traces, and core dumps.
• Strong Collaboration Orientation: Demonstrated ability to work effectively with hardware engineers, firmware teams, and cross-functional software developers in a matrixed environment.
• Solid Command of Linux Systems: Extensive experience with Linux networking stack, shell scripting, and system performance monitoring tools.
• Commitment to Quality: Meticulous attention to detail, with a strong preference for writing clean, maintainable, and well-documented code.

Practical notes

• We are primarily an in-office environment and therefore, you will be expected to work from the Santa Clara, CA office in compliance with Pure's policies, unless you are on PTO, or work travel, or other approved leave.

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Location: Santa Clara, California

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Engagement: Full-time

• Hours: Full-time
• Travel: None specified