Senior Software Engineer II, Network Datapath

Digital Ocean
Austin
Workplace: RemoteFull timeUSD 167,200 - 209,000 annuallyFunction: Software EngineeringSkills: ["Communication","Technical writing","Project ownership","Cross-functional collaboration","Mentoring"]

Build and evolve high-performance network datapath software for a cloud infrastructure stack. You’ll design and optimize packet processing and forwarding across host, kernel, user space, and hardware-accelerated datapaths, improving throughput, latency, CPU efficiency, and reliability. Work with Linux networking, eBPF/XDP, DPDK/AF_XDP, SR-IOV, and programmable datapaths, while integrating with DPUs/SmartNICs and creating observability, testing, and RFC-driven documentation.

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FursaFursa
Digital Ocean
Digital Ocean
1 day ago

Senior Software Engineer II, Network Datapath

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Source: Company careers pageValidated by: Fursa AI
Last checked: 13 hours agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Build and evolve high-performance network datapath software for a cloud infrastructure stack. You’ll design and optimize packet processing and forwarding across host, kernel, user space, and hardware-accelerated datapaths, improving throughput, latency, CPU efficiency, and reliability. Work with Linux networking, eBPF/XDP, DPDK/AF_XDP, SR-IOV, and programmable datapaths, while integrating with DPUs/SmartNICs and creating observability, testing, and RFC-driven documentation.
Location: Austin
Workplace: Remote
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Software Engineering
Seniority: Mid level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Design, develop, and optimize high-performance network datapath software for cloud infrastructure.
  • •Build and improve packet-processing and forwarding systems to increase throughput, reduce latency, and improve CPU efficiency, scalability, and reliability.
  • •Develop networking functionality across host, kernel, and user space, including integration with hardware-accelerated datapaths.
  • •Analyze packet-processing paths to eliminate bottlenecks and improve performance; investigate complex production issues (drops, latency, throughput degradation, CPU utilization, unexpected traffic).
  • •Author RFCs and architecture/design documentation, develop automated testing/benchmarking, and provide technical guidance while mentoring other engineers.

Pay and Benefits

Salary: USD 167,200 - 209,000 annually
Perks:EquityFlexible TimeLearning BudgetEmployee Assistance

Key Requirements

  • •Strong experience designing and developing production software in C, C++, or Go.
  • •Strong understanding of networking and packet processing, including TCP/IP, routing, switching, VLANs, VXLAN, BGP, ECMP, NAT, load balancing, and network virtualization.
  • •Experience developing software for Linux-based networking systems, including Linux kernel networking internals and NIC drivers.
  • •Experience debugging and optimizing performance-sensitive systems, including performance analysis, profiling, benchmarking, and troubleshooting.
  • •Experience with high-performance networking technologies such as DPDK, XDP, eBPF, AF_XDP, or SR-IOV (hardware-accelerated networking is highly valuable).
Experience:Cloud networkingLinuxHigh-performance networkingHardware acceleration
Skills:CommunicationTechnical writingProject ownershipCross-functional collaborationMentoring
Languages:English
Tech Stack:CC++GoLinuxLinux kernel networkingTCP/IPRoutingVLANVXLANBGPECMPNATLoad balancingNetwork virtualizationLinux networking internalsNetwork namespacesSocketsQueuesInterruptsNIC drivers

Company Brief

Digital Ocean
Provides cloud infrastructure and developer-focused cloud services including scalable droplets, managed databases, Kubernetes, object storage, and networking to simplify deploying and managing applications for developers and small-to-medium businesses.
Industry: Cloud Computing
Company Size: Enterprise (1,001+ employees)
Revenue: USD 250M to 500M
Growth: Public Company
Valuation: Public Company (Market Cap in USD)
Funding: IPO / Publicly Listed
Headquarters: New York, United States
Founded: 2011
Glassdoor
Glassdoor: 3.8
WebsiteLinkedIn