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# Network Hardware Engineer

- **Company:** CloudFlare
- **Location:** Austin, TX, United States
- **Experience:** Expert
- **Salary:** $79,040.0 - $93,600.0
- **Contract:** Temporary contract
- **Skills:** Artificial Intelligence, Systems Engineering, Network Operating System (NOS), Computer Programming, Computer Engineering, Data Centers, Software Debugging, Ethernet, White-Box Testing, Hardware Design, Monitoring of Systems, Issue Tracking Systems, Networking Hardware, Junos, Python (Programming Language), Network Architecture, Remote Direct Memory Access, Prometheus, Network Switches, Scripting, Performance Testing, Grafana, AI Coding Agents, Information Technology, Cloudflare, Free and Open-Source Software, Routing & Switching
- **Published:** October 16, 2026
- **Apply:** https://www.jofdav.com/jobs/60126074-network-hardware-engineer

## About the Role

* BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or equivalent practical experience
 * Proven ability to conduct thorough evaluation and experimentation, including testing, measurement, and/or simulation of hardware performance
 * Extensive experience with networking hardware architecture, validation, performance benchmarking, debugging, and deployment
 * Deep knowledge of network engineering and protocols used in data center switching and routing as well as Internet routing
 * Track record of driving engineering projects from idea to experiment to implementation
 * Demonstrated success in working with OEM/ODMs and technology vendors
 * Professional-level proficiency in Python or similar programming and/or scripting languages
 * Familiarity with various coding agents and other AI tools and technologies

NIce-to-Have Skills

 * Adept at automating traffic generation equipment (Spirent/Ixia) and test cases
 * In-depth hardware knowledge of platforms (ASICs, TCAMs, Packet-Pipelines, etc)
 * Experience with Optical Line Systems and troubleshooting transceiver issues
 * Familiarity with different network operating systems such as Junos, IOS-XR, EOS, SONiC, and ArcOS
 * Experience with white-box network switches and open source projects
 * Proficient in using observability and monitoring tools like Prometheus and Grafana, with the ability to analyze and observe trends over time.
 * Hands-on experience with configuring and validating RoCEv2 (RDMA over Converged Ethernet) fabrics, specifically implementing Priority Flow Control (PFC) and Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN) on network devices.

## Description

At Cloudflare, were not looking for people who wait for a polished roadmap; were looking for the builders who see the cracks in the Internet that everyone else has simply learned to live with. We value candidates who have the instinct to spot a "normalized" problem and the AI-native curiosity to create a solution using the latest tools. Our culture is built on iteration, leveraging AI to ship faster today to make it better tomorrow, while ensuring that every improvement, no matter how small, is shared across the team to lift everyone up. If youre the type of person who values curiosity over bureaucracy, and that AI is a partner in solving tough problems to keep the Internet moving forward, youll fit right in., As a pivotal technical contributor within the Network Hardware Engineering (NetHW) team, you will drive the selection and qualification process for network devices used in Cloudflare's Global Network. The NetHW team manages the New Product Introduction (NPI) process for all network devices. Our responsibilities also include the evaluation and qualification of new production network operating system images and versions. Furthermore, we provide essential support by reproducing bugs to assist Operations with TAC cases and testing new features and major configuration updates.

Role Responsibilities

You will be involved in every stage of the New Product Introduction (NPI) process, including requirements gathering, device selection, Device Validation Testing (DVT), Production Validation Testing (PVT), and Operational Acceptance. Furthermore, you will be responsible for creating and automating test plans that align with both operational needs and hardware limitations, as well as driving efforts to improve testing efficiency.

Network Hardware Systems Engineering Responsibilities:

 * Product Lifecycle Management: Lead the introduction of new network hardware systems, including detailed engineering validation in lab environments
 * Qualification & Validation: Gather requirements, contribute to network architecture, and execute hardware design and product validation
 * Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Network Engineering & Operations, Datacenter Engineering & Operations, and other operational teams to make network hardware decisions
 * Automation & Performance Testing: Develop tools and automation to effectively evaluate network hardware performance
 * Operational Support: Assist operational engineers by troubleshooting, reproducing, and resolving network hardware issues
 * Communication: Document and share results and updates via blog/wiki posts, ticketing systems, and internal presentations