Senior Software Engineer II, Network Datapath

DigitalOcean

. Design, develop, and optimize high-performance network datapath software for DigitalOcean's cloud infrastructure .

Posted 9/22/2026full-timeRemote • Texas • United StatesSenior💰 $167,200 - $209,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in designing and developing high-performance network datapath software, with a strong focus on packet processing, performance optimization, and integration with hardware acceleration technologies. Proficient in technical documentation and collaboration across engineering teams to drive complex projects from design to production.

Highest-signal resume keywords

C/C++/Go Software DevelopmentNetworking and Packet ProcessingLinux-Based Networking SystemsDPDK/XDP/eBPF/AF_XDP/SR-IOV ExperienceTechnical Writing for RFCs and Design Documents

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Packet FilteringRoutingLoad BalancingNetwork VirtualizationPerformance AnalysisDebugging Performance-Sensitive SystemsMultithreaded Software DevelopmentTCP/IP UnderstandingLinux Networking InternalsAutomated Testing Frameworks

Soft Skills

Strong Communication SkillsMentoring EngineersCollaboration Across Teams

Tools & Technologies

DPUsSmartNICsProgrammable NICsP4PCIeDMAQueuesInterruptsRSSAI Engineering Tools

Industry Keywords

Network DatapathPerformance OptimizationScalabilityTelemetryTraffic SteeringBGPECMPNATVLANsVXLAN

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

CloudLinuxSwitchingTCP/IPC++Go

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design, develop, and optimize high-performance network datapath software for DigitalOcean's cloud infrastructure
Build and improve packet-processing and forwarding systems focused on throughput, latency, CPU efficiency, scalability, and reliability
Develop networking functionality across the host, kernel, user space, and hardware-accelerated datapath
Analyze packet-processing paths and eliminate bottlenecks
Develop routing, packet filtering, encapsulation, tunneling, load balancing, traffic steering, and network virtualization software
Build datapath observability, telemetry, debugging, and performance monitoring
Integrate software with DPUs, SmartNICs, programmable NICs, and other hardware acceleration technologies
Develop automated testing and benchmarking frameworks
Investigate production networking issues including packet drops, latency, throughput degradation, CPU utilization, and unexpected traffic behavior
Collaborate with Network Infrastructure, Compute, Availability, hardware, Security, and other engineering teams
Contribute to next-generation network architectures
Author RFCs, architecture documents, technical proposals, design documents, and implementation plans
Document technical decisions, tradeoffs, performance characteristics, dependencies, and operational considerations
Participate in design reviews and provide technical guidance
Mentor engineers and improve software engineering and networking practices

Requirements

What you’ll need

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
Understanding of 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 kernel networking stack, network namespaces, sockets, queues, interrupts, and NIC drivers
Experience with 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 for RFCs, architecture/design documents, technical proposals, and related documentation
Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively across engineering teams
Experience with hardware-accelerated networking is highly valuable, including DPUs, SmartNICs, IPUs, programmable NICs, P4, PCIe, DMA, queues, interrupts, RSS, offloads, and NIC hardware architecture
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
Mentor other engineers and raise the technical bar
Use AI and modern engineering tools to increase leverage and accelerate delivery

Benefits

Comp & perks

Reimbursement for relevant conferences, training, and education
Access to LinkedIn Learning's 10,000+ courses
Employee Assistance Program
Local Employee Meetups
Flexible time off policy
Bonus eligibility based on company and individual performance
Equity compensation, including equity grants upon hire
Option to participate in the Employee Stock Purchase Program