Principal Software Development Engineer in Test

Akamai Career Site; United States; Hybrid; USD 169,000 - 305,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

FlexBase program

Healthcare benefits

401K plan

Job summary

Akamai is seeking a Principal SDET/Principal Software Development Engineer in Test to lead test strategy for our Linux kernel used by AI and Compute platforms. You will design scalable automated testing, validate new kernel features, and port modifications across versions.

You will also mentor peers, drive CI/CD improvements, and ensure high performance, reliability, and security in production-like environments. The role demands deep kernel knowledge and strong collaboration across teams.

Qualifications

• 12 years of relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent.
• Experience in software validation/development in C with focus on Linux kernel infrastructure and scripting.
• Deep understanding of Linux kernel internals (KVM, virtio drivers, cgroups, memory management, file systems, block IO, ethernet drivers, TCP/IP).
• Extensive experience with Linux kernel debugging tools, performance benchmarking, and CI/testing frameworks.
• Self-starter and technical leader who collaborates well to solve complex infra challenges.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and scale automated test frameworks to validate performance, reliability, and security of the Akamai Linux kernel for AI and Compute platforms.
• Develop test suites to validate enhancements and port Akamai modifications to newer Linux kernel versions and VM infra software.
• Debug and troubleshoot low-level system issues across testing and simulated production environments.
• Architect and enhance build/test automation to achieve robust CI/CD workflows.
• Provide technical leadership, set quality standards, and mentor junior members.

Skills

Linux kernel

C programming

Python scripting

Shell scripting

Perl scripting

KVM

Virtio drivers

Memory management

TCP/IP stack

CI frameworks

Linux kernel debugging

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Are you passionate about system performance, reliability, and security?

Does the opportunity to improve the platform running Akamai's AI and Compute platform excite you?

Join our Cloud Platform Infrastructure Group - Linux Infrastructure team

Our team is part of Cloud Platform Infrastructure Group. At the core of Akamai infrastructure, we work on complex and exciting systems that are available 24/7.

Partner with the best

As a Principal SDET, you will lead the test strategy for Akamai's custom Linux kernel. You will design scalable continuous testing infrastructure and troubleshoot complex system issues. This will help validate feature functionality and maximize the performance of a global AI and Compute platform known for its dependability.

As a Principal Software Development Engineer in Test, you will be responsible for:

• Designing, building, and scaling advanced automated test frameworks to validate the performance, reliability, and security of the Akamai Linux kernel for AI and Compute platforms
• Developing test suites to validate new custom enhancements and facilitate porting existing Akamai modifications to newer versions of the Linux kernel and VM infrastructure software
• Debugging, isolating, and troubleshooting complex, low-level system issues found in a variety of testing and simulated production environments
• Architecting and enhancing existing build and test automation infrastructure to achieve robust, continuous integration and testing
• Providing technical leadership, setting quality standards, and mentoring junior members of the organization

Do what you love

To be successful in this role you will:

• Have 12 years of relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent
• Have experience in software validation/development in C with a solid focus on Linux kernel infrastructure and experience in scripting (Python/Shell/Perl)
• Possess a deep understanding of Linux kernel internals (KVM, virtio drivers, cgroups, memory management, file systems, block IO, ethernet drivers, and TCP/IP stack)
• Have extensive experience with Linux kernel debugging tools, performance benchmarking, and continuous testing/CI frameworks
• Be a motivated self-starter and established technical leader who thrives on collaborating with others to solve highly complex infrastructure challenges

About us

At Akamai, we make life better for billions of people, trillions of times a day.

Whether you're streaming live events, scrolling social media, watching your favorite series, or managing your savings, we're the engine behind the scenes. We provide the world's most distributed platform from Cloud to Edge to help the giants of the digital world work faster and stay more secure, making the internet a better experience for everyone.

Our focus is simple:

Cloud and Edge: Running apps closer to users for instant performance.

Security: Neutralizing threats before they ever reach your data.

Content Delivery: Scaling the world's biggest moments without a glitch.

AI: Enabling our customers to build, secure, and scale AI apps on the world's most distributed cloud platform.

At Akamai, we don't just support the internet; we power and protect it, because behind every great digital experience is a massive hidden challenge. And we're the ones who solve it. When millions of people hit play or pay, Akamai ensures it just works.

Benefits at Akamai

We support your health, well-being, finances, and life beyond work. See our benefits.

FlexBase adapts to your job's needs

Akamai's FlexBase program is yet another way we show our commitment to providing employees with an exceptional workplace experience. It's not about telling employees where to work; it's about supporting employees to do their best work.

We trust our incredible employees to work in ways that suit them best: at home, in an office, or a combination of both.

Compensation

Akamai is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. For US based candidates only - the base salary for this position ranges from $169,300 - $304,700/year; a candidate’s salary is determined by various factors including, but not limited to, relevant work experience, skills, certifications and location. Compensation for candidates outside the US will vary. The compensation package may also include incentive compensation opportunities in the form of annual bonus or incentives, equity awards and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP). Akamai provides industry-leading benefits including healthcare, 401K savings plan, company holidays, vacation (in the form of PTO), sick time, family friendly benefits including parental leave and an employee assistance program including a focus on mental and financial wellness; Eligibility requirements apply.