L2/L3 Protocol Development Engineer - Networking Stack

Position Overview :

We are seeking a highly experienced and visionary Senior Lead Engineer / Technical Architect to spearhead the development of a cutting-edge networking solution. You will be the cornerstone of a new, strategic customer engagement, responsible for designing and building a complete network software and firmware stack from the ground up.This role demands an individual with exhaustive knowledge of L2/L3 protocols, NOS internals, and security protocols. You will architect the data plane, integrate critical L4-L7 services, and ensure robust, high-performance line-rate processing. Crucially, this is a "train the trainer" profile; you will not only lead technically but also mentor the team, establishing best practices and elevating their capabilities.

Key Responsibilities :

- End-to-End Architecture : Lead the greenfield architecture and design of the entire L2/L3 networking stack, including the data plane (Fast Path) and control plane interactions, for a new platform.

- Core Protocol Development : Develop high-performance, scalable, and robust code in Embedded C on Linux for the data plane, focusing on L2/L3 forwarding and feature implementation.

- L4-L7 Service Integration : Design, implement, and integrate critical L4-L7 protocols with a mandatory focus on OpenSSL, NAT, IPsec, and MacSec.

- NOS Expertise : Leverage your deep understanding of Network Operating System (NOS) internals to ensure seamless integration, performance tuning, and system stability.

- Line-Rate Processing : Implement logic for line-rate packet processing, including specific requirements for regular expression (RegEx) matching in the data path.

- Container Networking : Architect and integrate solutions for container networking, ensuring efficient and scalable connectivity for modern applications.

- Validation & Performance Tuning : Utilize traffic generation tools like IXIA to perform rigorous performance validation, stress testing, and functional verification of the entire software stack.

- Technical Leadership & Mentorship : Act as the senior technical authority. Mentor engineers, lead design reviews, and establish a center of excellence for network protocol development within the team.

Required Skills & Qualifications (Must-Haves) :

- Experience : 12-18 years of hands-on experience in network protocol development, with a proven track record of architecting complex networking software.

- Programming : Expert-level proficiency in Embedded C and a strong command of the Linux development environment.

- NOS Internals : Exhaustive, hands-on knowledge of NOS internals, control plane/data plane separation, and Fast Path / data plane acceleration techniques.

- L2/L3 Protocols : Deep, architectural understanding of L2 switching (VLANs, STP, LACP) and L3 routing (OSPF, BGP, VRF, ECMP).

- L4-L7 Mandatory Protocols : Demonstrable, deep implementation experience with the following :

• OpenSSL (Integration, session management, crypto offload)
• NAT (SNAT, DNAT, connection tracking)
• IPsec (Tunnel/Transport mode, IKEv1/v2, ESP/AH)
• MacSec (IEEE 802.1AE)

- IP Networking Stack : Comprehensive knowledge of the IP networking stack (TCP/IP, UDP) and packet flow through a system.

- Testing Tools : Proven experience using IXIA or Spirent for creating complex traffic profiles, performance benchmarking, and debugging.

- Container Networking : Solid understanding of container networking concepts (e.g., CNI, veth pairs, network namespaces, overlays).

Desired Skills & Qualifications (Nice-to-Haves) :

- Experience with network processors, DPUs, or SmartNICs (e.g., Broadcom, Marvell, NVIDIA).

- Proficiency in Python for automation and testing.

- Familiarity with hardware-accelerated regex engines.

- Prior experience in a customer-facing or solutions architect role.