Principal Software Engineer - AI ADC

ThreatX; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 207,000 - 253,000; Full time

Job summary

A10 Networks is seeking a Sr. Staff Engineer with AI ADC expertise to drive architecture of AI Gateway and AI-aware traffic management for high-scale applications. You will own design, prototyping, and cross-team alignment.

You will mentor engineers, collaborate with product management and AI strategy groups, and guide performance, benchmarking, and scaling for global deployments.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in AI/LLM-driven traffic management and ADC platforms.
• Proven ability to drive architecture and align with product roadmap.
• Strong mentoring and cross-team collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and development of AI Gateway components for intelligent routing of LLM/AI application traffic.
• Design and implement LLM-aware load balancing, incorporating semantic, token, latency, and model-level insights into traffic decisions.
• Develop enhancements for ADC and GSLB platforms to support AI workloads, including token-aware rate limiting, inference latency-based routing, AI model endpoint discovery and health checks, integration with vector databases, model registries, and ML observability systems.
• Contribute to advanced features including Layer-8 context-aware routing, adaptive traffic shaping, and AI-driven anomaly detection.
• Drive system-wide architecture: data plane, control plane, configuration, and distributed state management.
• Mentor engineering teams on AI workload behaviors, traffic characteristics, and tuning strategies.
• Collaborate with AI research and platform teams to align architectural decisions with product roadmap.
• Create guidance on performance optimization, benchmarking, and scaling for global multi-node deployments.

Skills

AI/LLM systems

ADC architecture

Load balancing

Distributed systems

Mentoring teams

Tools

Vector databases

Model registries

ML observability systems

Job description

Principal Software Engineer - AI ADC

A10 Networks is accelerating its AI‑ driven innovation across the ADC and GSLB product lines. We are seeking a highly experienced Sr. Staff Engineer to be part of the development of next‑generation AI‑aware traffic management and AI Gateway capabilities.

This role combines deep domain expertise in Application Delivery Controllers (ADC), Server Load Balancing (SLB), DNS/GSLB, with practical experience in AI/LLM systems, to build intelligent routing, inference‑aware load balancing, and Layer‑8 contextual decision engines for AI workloads.

The ideal candidate is a senior staff engineer who can drive architecture, design, prototyping, and execution—working closely with product management, platform teams, and AI strategy groups.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and development of AI Gateway components for intelligent routing of LLM/AI application traffic

• Design and implement LLM‑aware load balancing, incorporating semantic, token, latency, and model‑level insights into traffic decisions

• Develop enhancements for ADC and GSLB platforms to support AI workloads, including:

  • Token‑aware rate limiting

  • Inference latency‑based routing

  • AI model endpoint discovery and health checks

  • Integration with vector databases, model registries, and ML observability systems

  • Contribute to advanced features including Layer‑8 context‑aware routing, adaptive traffic shaping, and AI‑driven anomaly detection

  • Drive system‑wide architecture: data plane, control plane, configuration, and distributed state management

  • Mentor engineering teams on AI workload behaviors, traffic characteristics, and tuning strategies

  • Collaborate with AI research and platform teams to align architectural decisions with product roadmap.

  • Create guidance on performance optimization, benchmarking, and scaling for global multi‑node deployments

AI Use Guidelines for Interviews: Our interviews are designed to reflect your own skills and thinking. The use of AI or recording tools during live interviews is not permitted unless explicitly invited by the interviewer or approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation. If these tools are used inappropriately or in a way that misrepresents your work, your application may not move forward in the process.

Targeted compensation guideline: Up to 230K OTE. Compensation will vary based on number of factors, including market demand for specific skills, role type, job level, and individual qualifications. Final salary offers are determined by considerations including, but not limited to, subject matter expertise, demonstrated skill level, relevant experience, geographic location, education, certifications, and training.

A10 Networks is an equal opportunity employer and a VEVRAA federal subcontractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. A10 also complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

#LI-AN1 - Hybrid