Principal Software Engineer SD-WAN

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 156,000 - 315,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Career development programs

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Hewlett Packard Enterprise seeks a Principal Software Engineer to lead architecture and development of secure SD‑WAN solutions from an onsite California office. You will define technical strategy, drive performance, and mentor engineers across product, hardware, and QA teams.

The role requires 10+ years in secure networking, mastery of IPSec/IKEv2, and deep experience with DPDK, VPP, and eBPF. Strong C/C++ skills and hardware offloads are essential.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of software engineering in secure networking and Linux kernel development.
• Deep expertise in IPSec/VPN, IKEv2, and cryptographic libraries.
• 5+ years in high‑performance networking frameworks and cryptographic offloads.

Responsibilities

• Lead architecture and implementation of secure SD‑WAN products for enterprises.
• Drive performance optimization using DPDK, VPP, and eBPF with hardware accelerators.
• Mentor senior engineers and collaborate with product, hardware, and QA teams.
• Evaluate new security technologies and manage secure SD‑WAN lifecycle with pen tests.
• Address CVEs and security issues to maintain high product integrity.

Skills

Secure networking

C/C++

Multithreaded programming

Linux kernel development

High-performance networking

Tools

DPDK

VPP

eBPF

Intel QAT

AES-NI

StrongSwan/Libreswan/OpenVPN/WireGuard

Job description

Principal Software Engineer SD-WAN

This role has been designed as ''Onsite' with an expectation that you will primarily work from an HPE office.

Who We Are:

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the global edge-to-cloud company advancing the way people live and work. We help companies connect, protect, analyze, and act on their data and applications wherever they live, from edge to cloud, so they can turn insights into outcomes at the speed required to thrive in today's complex world. Our culture thrives on finding new and better ways to accelerate what's next. We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have the flexibility to manage our work and personal needs. We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good. If you are looking to stretch and grow your career our culture will embrace you. Open up opportunities with HPE.

Job Description:

As a Principal Software Engineer, you will serve as the technical leader and chief architect for our next-generation secure SD‑WAN solutions. This is a hands‑on, visionary role where you will define and drive the technical strategy for highly secure, scalable, and high‑performance networking products. You will address complex challenges in secure connectivity, advanced cryptography, and large-scale packet processing, directly shaping the future of our SD‑WAN portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead the architecture, design, and implementation of secure SD‑WAN products, including site‑to‑site and remote access solutions for enterprise environments.
• Drive performance optimization initiatives, leveraging technologies such as DPDK, VPP, eBPF technology, and hardware crypto accelerators to ensure robust throughput and reliability.
• Provide hands‑on technical leadership and mentorship to senior engineers, fostering a culture of excellence in code quality, design, and best practices.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (product management, hardware, QA) to translate business requirements into innovative technical solutions.
• Research, evaluate, and integrate emerging security technologies, including quantum‑safe cryptography, to future‑prove products against evolving threats.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex networking and security issues, ensuring the highest standards of product integrity and customer trust.
• Work with external penetration testing companies and manage the secure development lifecycle of products through penetration testing.
• Proactive in analyzing CVEs and security vulnerabilities, advising product development teams on remediation to ensure products deliver high levels of security and customer confidence.

• Handle customer escalations related to security issues and perform threat analysis.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of software engineering experience, with a strong emphasis on secure networking, embedded systems, and Linux kernel development.
• Deep expertise in IPSec/VPN technologies, including IKEv2 protocol, tunnel modes, and advanced troubleshooting.
• 5+ years high-performance networking frameworks (DPDK, VPP, eBPF technology), security protocols (IPSec, TLS, SSL), and cryptographic libraries and accelerators (OpenSSL, AES, RSA, ECC, Intel QAT, AES‑NI).

• Developed solutions using open‑source networking and security tools like StrongSwan, Libreswan, OpenVPN, or WireGuard..
• Experience with FIPS 140-2/3 validation and Common Criteria certification for security products.
• Extensive experience with hardware offloading (Intel QAT, AES‑NI) for cryptographic operations.
• Advanced proficiency in C/C++ and multithreaded, system‑level programming.
• Proven track record of architecting, leading, and delivering large‑scale, secure networking products.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
• Experience working on NextGen Firewalls, Secure Web Gateways, IDS/IPS, and Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) is a plus.

Preferred

• Experience with quantum‑safe cryptography and next‑generation security protocols.
• Background in SD‑WAN product development for enterprise or service provider markets.

What We Can Offer You:

Health & Wellbeing

• We strive to provide our team members and their loved ones with a comprehensive suite of benefits that supports their physical, financial and emotional wellbeing.

Personal & Professional Development

• We also invest in your career because the better you are, the better we all are. We have specific programs catered to helping you reach any career goals you have - whether you want to become a knowledge expert in your field or apply your skills to another division.

Unconditional Inclusion

• We are unconditionally inclusive in the way we work and celebrate individual uniqueness. We know varied backgrounds are valued and succeed here. We have the flexibility to manage our work and personal needs. We make bold moves, together, and are a force for good.

Let's Stay Connected:

• Follow @HPECareers on Instagram to see the latest on people, culture and tech at HPE.

#unitedstates

Job:

Engineering

Job Level:

TCP_05

"The expected salary/wage range for this position is provided below. Actual offer may vary from this range based upon geographic location, work experience, education/training, and/or skill level. - United States of America: Annual Salary USD 155,500 - 315,000 in California The listed salary range reflects base salary. Variable incentives may also be offered."

Information about employee benefits offered in the US can be found at https://myhperewards.com/main/new-hire-enrollment.html

HPE is an Equal Employment Opportunity/ Veterans/Disabled/LGBT employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, or any other protected category, and all decisions we make are made on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. Our goal is to be one global team that is representative of our customers, in an inclusive environment where we can continue to innovate and grow together. Please click here: Equal Employment Opportunity .

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is EEO Protected Veteran/ Individual with Disabilities.

HPE will comply with all applicable laws related to employer use of arrest and conviction records, including laws requiring employers to consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories.