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Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Software Engineer, Network Datapath - **Company:** Shehzad Hassan - **Location:** Denver, CO, United States (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Salary:** $167,000.0 - $209,000.0 - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** Computer-Aided Design, Adobe InDesign, Artificial Intelligence, Automation of Tests, Border Gateway Protocol, C++ (Programming Language), Cloud Computing, Cloud Engineering, Profiling, Computer Networks, Software Debugging, Software Design Documents, Linux, Network Address Translation, Microprocessors, Network Interface Controllers, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Linux Kernel, Network Architecture, Routing, Network Virtualization, Open Source Technology, Overlay Transport Virtualization, PCI Express, Digitalocean, Software Deployment, Software Engineering, TCP/IP, Encapsulation (Networking), Virtual Local Area Networks, Multithreading, Computer Networking Systems, Load Balancing, Cloud Platform System, Computer Network Technologies, Firewalls (Computer Science), Perf (Linux), Low Latency, Performance Monitor, Hardware Acceleration - **Published:** September 22, 2026 - **Apply:** https://www.builtincolorado.com/job/senior-software-engineer-ii-network-datapath/11293224?handler=ApplyRedirect ## About the Role * Strong experience designing and developing production software in C, C++, or Go. * Strong understanding of networking and packet processing. * Experience developing software for Linux-based networking systems. * Solid understanding of networking concepts including TCP/IP, routing, switching, VLANs, VXLAN, BGP, ECMP, NAT, load balancing, and network virtualization. * Experience debugging and optimizing performance-sensitive systems. * Understanding of Linux networking internals, including the Linux kernel networking stack, network namespaces, sockets, queues, interrupts, and NIC drivers. * Experience with one or more high-performance networking technologies such as DPDK, XDP, eBPF, AF_XDP, or SR-IOV. * Experience with multithreaded and concurrent software. * Strong understanding of performance analysis, profiling, benchmarking, and troubleshooting. * Ability to reason about complex systems across hardware, operating systems, networking, and applications. * Ability to independently drive projects from technical design through implementation and production deployment. * Strong technical writing skills, with the ability to produce RFCs, architecture/design documents, technical proposals, and other documentation required to drive engineering projects. * Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively across engineering teams. Experience with hardware-accelerated networking is highly valuable. This includes: * Experience developing software for DPUs, SmartNICs, IPUs, or programmable NICs. * Understanding how functionality can be distributed between host CPUs, NICs, DPUs, and switches. * Experience with DPU-based networking, security, storage, virtualization, or packet processing. * Experience with programmable datapaths such as P4, eBPF, or other programmable data-plane technologies. * Understanding of PCIe, DMA, queues, interrupts, RSS, offloads, and NIC hardware architecture., * Experience working on cloud networking or hyperscale infrastructure. * Experience developing Linux kernel networking code or NIC drivers. * Experience with DPDK, XDP, eBPF, AF_XDP, or DPU-based datapaths in production. * Experience with 400G+ networking. * Experience with high-performance packet processing at 10/25/40/100/200/400G+ speeds. * Experience with network virtualization and overlay technologies such as VXLAN/EVPN. * Experience with programmable switches. * Experience with performance analysis using tools such as perf, eBPF tooling, flame graphs, or hardware performance counters. * Experience building network datapath tests and benchmarking infrastructure. * Contributions to Linux, DPDK, eBPF, OVS, or other networking/open-source projects., * We innovate with purpose. You'll be a part of a cutting-edge technology company with an upward trajectory, who are proud to simplify cloud and AI so builders can spend more time creating software that changes the world. As a member of the team, you will be a Shark who thinks big, bold, and scrappy, like an owner with a bias for action and a powerful sense of responsibility for customers, products, employees, and decisions. ## Description DigitalOcean is looking for a Senior Software Engineer, Network Datapath to help build and evolve the software that powers high-performance networking across our cloud infrastructure. You will work at the intersection of networking, operating systems, distributed systems, and high-performance software, developing datapath technologies that enable DigitalOcean to deliver high throughput, low latency, and predictable network performance at scale. This role will focus on the software running in and around the network datapath, including packet processing, forwarding, routing, acceleration, observability, and integration with host and hardware-based networking components. You will work closely with Network Infrastructure, Compute, Availability, and hardware teams to design, implement, optimize, and operate production networking systems. The ideal candidate is a strong software engineer with deep networking knowledge who enjoys working close to the system and is excited about optimizing the path that packets take through cloud infrastructure. What You'll Be Doing * Design, develop, and optimize high-performance network datapath software for DigitalOcean's cloud infrastructure. * Build and improve packet-processing and forwarding systems with a focus on throughput, latency, CPU efficiency, scalability, and reliability. * Develop networking functionality across the host, kernel, user space, and hardware-accelerated datapath. * Work with technologies such as Linux networking, eBPF, XDP, DPDK, AF_XDP, SR-IOV, and programmable datapaths. * Analyze packet-processing paths and identify opportunities to eliminate bottlenecks and improve performance. * Develop software for routing, packet filtering, encapsulation, tunneling, load balancing, traffic steering, and network virtualization. * Build and improve datapath observability, telemetry, debugging, and performance monitoring. * Design software that integrates with DPUs, SmartNICs, programmable NICs, and other hardware acceleration technologies. * Develop automated testing and benchmarking frameworks to validate datapath correctness and performance. * Investigate complex production networking issues, including packet drops, latency, throughput degradation, CPU utilization, and unexpected traffic behavior. * Work with Network Infrastructure and Compute engineers to integrate datapath functionality into DigitalOcean's broader infrastructure architecture. * Contribute to the design and implementation of next-generation network architectures. * Author RFCs, architecture documents, technical proposals, design documents, and implementation plans to drive complex networking initiatives. * Clearly document technical decisions, tradeoffs, performance characteristics, dependencies, and operational considerations. * Participate in design reviews and provide technical guidance to other engineers. * Mentor engineers and contribute to improving software engineering and networking practices across the organization., At the Senior Engineer level, you will be expected to: * Own significant technical components and deliver them from design through production. * Solve complex performance and reliability problems in the network datapath. * Make sound technical decisions based on measurable performance and operational requirements. * Develop scalable solutions rather than one-off fixes. * Proactively identify architectural and performance bottlenecks. * Work effectively across Network Infrastructure, Compute, Security, and other engineering organizations. * Produce clear RFCs and technical documentation that enable teams to align on complex architectural decisions. * Mentor other engineers and raise the technical bar within the team. * Use AI and modern engineering tools to increase personal and team leverage and accelerate delivery., Develop and maintain scalable control-plane software for DigitalOcean's Network Products team. Build APIs, optimize distributed services, troubleshoot customer-impacting issues, improve monitoring and reliability, and collaborate across networking teams on product development. Contribute to architecture, testing, CI/CD, tooling, best practices, and end-to-end ownership of cloud networking offerings such as LBaaS. Top Skills: ChefCi/CdConsulDnsDockerGitGoGrafanaGrpcJIRAKafkaKubernetesLightstepPrometheusSQLTemporalVirtualization DigitalOcean Staff Engineer Yesterday In-Office or Remote Denver, CO, USA 191K-239K Annually Entry level 191K-239K Annually Entry level Artificial Intelligence * Cloud * Software * Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Design and build software for global network infrastructure, including automation, orchestration, provisioning, device lifecycle management, telemetry, validation, and remediation. Integrate DPUs, SmartNICs, and programmable networking into scalable cloud infrastructure. Lead architecture, RFCs, technical proposals, and complex initiatives while mentoring engineers and setting technical direction across network, hardware, compute, storage, and security teams. Top Skills: BgpC++DpusEbpfEvpn/VxlanGnmiGoKubernetesNetconfNetwork Automation FrameworksOpenconfigP4PythonSmartnicsSonicStreaming TelemetryTcp/IpVendor SdksVlanYang DigitalOcean Revenue Accounting Lead 5 Days Ago In-Office or Remote Denver, CO, USA 120K-150K Annually Senior level 120K-150K Annually Senior level Artificial Intelligence * Cloud * Software * Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) Owns technical revenue accounting for complex customer, partnership, and marketplace arrangements. Evaluates ASC 606 issues, advises commercial and product stakeholders, operationalizes new monetization models, and manages recurring accounting, reporting, controls, reconciliations, disclosures, and audit matters. Leads process, systems, automation, and AI improvements while partnering cross-functionally with Sales, Legal, Product, Billing, Engineering, and Finance. Top Skills: Ai-Enabled AutomationAsc 606ErpNetSuiteOracleRmcs What you need to know about the Colorado Tech Scene With a business-friendly climate and research universities like CU Boulder and Colorado State, Colorado has made a name for itself as a startup ecosystem. The state boasts a skilled workforce and high quality of life thanks to its affordable housing, vibrant cultural scene and unparalleled opportunities for outdoor recreation. Colorado is also home to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, helping cement its status as a hub for renewable energy innovation. Key Facts About Colorado Tech * Number of Tech Workers: 260,000; 8.5% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey) * Major Tech Employers: Lockheed Martin, Century Link, Comcast, BAE Systems, Level 3 * Key Industries: Software, artificial intelligence, aerospace, e-commerce, fintech, healthtech * Funding Landscape: $4.9 billion in VC funding in 2024 (Pitchbook) * Notable Investors: Access Venture Partners, Ridgeline Ventures, Techstars, Blackhorn Ventures * Research Centers and Universities: Colorado School of Mines, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Denver, Colorado State University, Mesa Laboratory, Space Science Institute, National Center for Atmospheric Research, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Gottlieb Institute ## Related Videos - [An Applied Introduction to eBPF with Go](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1075-an-applied-introduction-to-ebpf-with-go) - [Shipping Faster with Less: Render on Cloud Hosting, AI Workloads, and the Future of DevOps](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1894-shipping-faster-with-less-render-on-cloud-hosting-ai-workloads-and-the-future-of-devops) - [Creating a routing app with Google Maps API from scratch](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/831-creating-a-routing-app-with-google-maps-api-from-scratch) - [Docker network without Docker](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1418-docker-network-without-docker) - [Remote Driving on Plant Grounds with State-of-the-Art Cloud Technologies](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/251-remote-driving-on-plant-grounds-with-state-of-the-art-cloud-technologies) - [Turning Container security up to 11 with Capabilities](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/718-turning-container-security-up-to-11-with-capabilities) ## Related Articles - [How We Built a Worry-Free System That Runs for 10+ Years – And What We’d Do Again](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/751-how-we-built-a-worry-free-system-that-runs-for-10-years-and-what-we-d-do-again) - [Highest Paying Tech Companies for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/220-highest-paying-tech-companies-for-developers) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [Best Countries for Software Engineers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/267-best-countries-for-software-engineers) - [Data Science & more: The Lopez dilemma](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/10-data-science-more-the-lopez-dilemma) - [Dev Digest 121 - AI goes offline](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/456-dev-digest-121-ai-goes-offline)