Lead Software Engineer - Applications

Corelight; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 175,000 - 229,000; Full time

Job summary

Corelight is shaping the future of network defense by delivering open‑source inspired, enterprise‑grade detection platforms. As a Lead Software Engineer in San Francisco, you will architect scalable, multi‑threaded systems and drive technical decisions across the product roadmap.

You will mentor engineers, partner with product and security teams, and deliver high‑availability deployments on cloud and on‑prem environments while advancing Corelight's distributed‑first engineering culture.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of software development experience on Linux/Unix‑style platforms.
• Expert-level proficiency in Go and C++.

Responsibilities

• Drive End‑to‑End Architecture: Lead software design and implementation from conception through testing, monitoring, and CI/CD.
• Mentor and Cultivate Talent: Provide technical guidance to junior engineers through design reviews and architectural oversight.
• Implement High‑Availability Systems: Build and manage automated test suites, monitoring tools, and proactive alerting for platform stability.
• Strategic Agile Collaboration: Partner with Product Managers and Scrum Masters to refine epics, provide estimates, and ensure a predictable release schedule.
• Continuous Innovation: Research and propose emerging technologies to improve software development practices.

Skills

Golang

C++

Leadership

Agile mindset

Distributed systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Git

CMake

Make

Jenkins

GitLab CI/CD

Job description

Be part of the team that defends the networks the world depends on

Corelight defends the world's most sensitive networks—from global commerce to national defense—quietly, relentlessly, and with resolve. As cyber threats grow faster and smarter, we serve as the trusted force behind network resilience, putting elite defense within reach.

By transforming digital footprints from physical, virtual, and cloud networks into actionable insights, we empower defenders to illuminate blind spots and stay ahead of an evolving threat landscape. Built on open-source innovations and fueled by industry leading agentic AI technology, Corelight helps teams to detect advanced threats and close cases with unprecedented clarity and precision.

As a Lead Software Engineer at Corelight, you will be at the forefront of engineering excellence, bridging the gap between innovative open-source foundations and enterprise-grade performance. You will play a pivotal role in shaping the architecture of our detection platform, ensuring that our defenders have the most reliable, high-performance tools to outsmart global adversaries. Your leadership will not only define the technical roadmap of our products but also cultivate the next generation of engineering talent within our distributed‑first culture.

Specific Responsibilities

• Drive End‑to‑End Architecture: Lead software design and implementation from conception through to testing, monitoring, and robust CI/CD practices.
• Mentor and Cultivate Talent: Provide technical guidance to junior engineers through design reviews, architectural oversight, and the promotion of performant, maintainable code standards.
• Implement High‑Availability Systems: Build and manage automated test suites, sophisticated monitoring tools, and proactive alerting mechanisms to ensure platform stability.
• Strategic Agile Collaboration: Partner closely with Product Managers and Scrum Masters to refine epics, provide accurate estimates, and ensure a predictable, high‑quality release schedule.
• Continuous Innovation: Proactively research and propose emerging technologies and industry trends to improve software development practices and maintain Corelight's competitive edge.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities

• Technical Vision: The ability to translate complex product requirements into scalable, multi‑threaded architectural designs.
• Collaborative Leadership: A natural ability to facilitate technical meetings, align stakeholders, and foster a culture of transparent communication.
• Agile Mindset: Comfort working in a fast‑paced, iterative environment where adaptability and quality go hand‑in‑hand.
• Mission‑Driven Focus: A passion for cybersecurity and a commitment to following open‑source workflows to secure global networks.

Qualifications / Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Professional Experience: 8+ years of software development experience specifically on Linux or Unix‑style platforms.
• Core Languages: Expert‑level proficiency in Golang and C++.
• System Mastery: Proven experience developing and maintaining multi‑threaded applications in production environments.
• Cloud & Infrastructure: Hands‑on experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and containerization tools (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Modern DevOps: Expertise in CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD) and open‑source development tools (Git, CMake, make).
• Data Architecture: Strong working knowledge of both SQL and NoSQL databases.
• Preferred: Prior experience leading software teams, a background in Network Security, or familiarity with NDR tools like Zeek and Suricata.

Notice of Pay Transparency

The compensation for this position may vary depending on factors such as your location, skills and experience. Depending on the nature and seniority of the role, a percentage of compensation may come in the form of a commission‑based or discretionary bonus. Equity and additional benefits will also be awarded.

Compensation Range

$175,000—$229,000 USD

Why Join Us?

Fueled by investments from top‑tier venture capital organizations such as Crowdstrike, Accel and Insight, Corelight is one of the fastest growing network detection and response platforms in the industry. Our passionate team thrives in a collaborative, inclusive, and geographically distributed culture. We embrace diverse perspectives, neurodiversity, curiosity and low‑ego results - fostering an environment where every innovator can solve the toughest challenges in cybersecurity and contribute their best work.

We are looking forward to meeting you. Check us out at www.corelight.com