R&D Staff Software Engineer Software

Frontdoor Defense; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 110,000 - 176,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary annual bonus

Equity grants and annual equity awards

Comprehensive benefits including 401(k

Job summary

Broadcom's Mainframe Software Division is seeking a Staff Software Engineer to lead the development and architecture of Zowe CLI, Zowe Explorer and other Zowe client applications. You will mentor the team and collaborate with the open-source community while aligning with Broadcom's product strategy.

The role emphasizes Node.js/TypeScript, C/C++, and VS Code extensions, with a focus on performance, scalability, and secure, reliable code through CI/CD pipelines.

Qualifications

• 8+ years in Mainframe software development or related field.
• Proficiency in JavaScript/TypeScript, Java, C/C++ and Node.js-based apps.
• Experience on Linux/Unix systems.
• Experience building VS Code extensions with the VS Code Extension API, plus web tech (HTML/CSS/JS/React/Vue/Angular).
• Strong CLI development background including parsing, UX, and shell integration.
• Proficient with Git and modern SDLC/Agile practices.
• Excellent problem-solving and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Drive technical direction and architectural evolution of Zowe CLI/Explorer and other Zowe client apps.
• Mentor engineers, review code, and guide design discussions.
• Implement performance and scalability improvements; perform refactoring as needed.
• Collaborate with product management and UX to translate requirements into specs.

Skills

JavaScript/TypeScript

Java

C/C++

Node.js

VS Code Extensions

Linux/Unix

CLI Development

Git

Agile/Scrum

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in CS/Engineering

Tools

VS Code Extension API

AG Grid

React

CI/CD

Job description

R&D Staff Software Engineer

Lead development and architecture of Zowe CLI/Explorer, mentor team, and drive open-source collaboration within Broadcom

Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Compensation: $109,700 - 175,500 USD / year

About The Role

Software Engineer

Broadcom's Mainframe Software Division is looking for an excellent software engineer with a passion for building high quality applications using agile practices to join our development team working on the solutions in the area of Open Mainframe.

Mainframe systems are at the heart of the digital economy, with 80% of the world's structured corporate data residing or originating on mainframes, and 55% of all enterprise applications hitting the mainframe to complete transactions. Our industry-leading products are critical to many Fortune 1000 companies.

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Staff Software Engineer to join our team focused on the development and enhancement of Zowe CLI, Zowe Explorer and other Zowe client applications. Zowe is an open-source, industry-standard project that provides a modern interface for interaction with the z/OS mainframe. This role involves significant technical leadership, hands‑on development, and collaboration within the Zowe open-source community and internal product teams. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in modern software development practices, a passion for improving the mainframe development experience, and a proven track record of delivering high-quality, scalable solutions.

Responsibilities include:

• Drive the technical direction and architectural evolution of Zowe CLI (Node.js/TypeScript), Zowe Explorer (VS Code extension) and other Zowe client applications (C/C++), ensuring alignment with Broadcom's product strategy and Zowe open-source best practices.
• Serve as a technical expert and mentor for other engineers, guiding implementation, code reviews, and design discussions.
• Identify and implement performance optimizations, scalability improvements, and architectural refactoring to enhance the user experience and maintainability of the tools.
• Collaborate with product management and UX design to translate complex user requirements into robust technical specifications and practical implementation plans.

Development and engineering tasks include:

• Design, develop, test, and maintain features for Zowe CLI and Zowe Explorer using modern programming languages and frameworks (primarily TypeScript, Node.js, AG Grid and React for VS Code webviews).
• Implement command-line interfaces, REST API interactions, and seamless integration points with z/OS services (e.g., JES, MVS datasets, z/OSMF).
• Ensure the security, reliability, and quality of the codebase through comprehensive unit, integration, and end-to-end testing, utilizing continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex software defects, performance bottlenecks, and production issues in a timely manner.

Open source and community engagement includes:

• Actively participate in the Zowe community as a contributor, committer, or maintainer, representing Broadcom's interests and contributing to the overall success of the project.
• Collaborate with engineers from various companies and open-source contributors to define and implement common standards and features within Zowe.
• Contribute to Zowe documentation, tutorials, and community efforts to promote adoption and provide technical assistance.

Required skills and experience include:

• 8 or more years of experience in Mainframe software development or a related field.
• Experience in several programming languages and frameworks, specifically, JavaScript/TypeScript, Java, C/C++ and Node.js-based applications.
• Experience developing on Linux / Unix systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in building and maintaining VS Code extensions using the VS Code Extension API, with a strong understanding of web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript/TypeScript, React/Vue/Angular).
• Deep understanding of Command Line Interface (CLI) development best practices, including command parsing, user experience, and shell scripting integration.
• Strong proficiency with version control systems (Git) and modern software development lifecycle practices, including Agile/Scrum methodologies.
• Excellent problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze complex systems and identify root causes of issues.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, capable of working effectively with distributed teams and contributing to open-source projects.

Highly desired skills include:

• Direct experience with Zowe CLI and Zowe Explorer development, customization, or advanced usage.
• Experience or strong foundational knowledge of mainframe z/OS concepts, including MVS, JES, TSO/ISPF, and z/OSMF REST APIs.
• Familiarity with other Zowe components (API Mediation Layer, Zowe Desktop, Zowe System Management Facility).
• Experience with other relevant modern web frameworks and tools (e.g., Electron, OpenAPI/Swagger).
• Prior experience contributing to or maintaining large-scale open-source software projects.

Education:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

Business Travel and Physical Demands:

• No (or minimal) business travel is expected for this position.
• Office environment. No special physical demands required.

Compensation and Benefits:

The annual base salary range for this position is USD 109,700.00 To USD 175,500.00. As a valued member of our team, you'll be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus and the opportunity to receive not only a competitive new hire equity grant, but also annual equity awards, connecting your success directly to the company's growth. All subject to relevant plan documents and award agreements.

Broadcom offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401(K) participation including company matching, Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP), Employee Assistance Program (EAP), company paid holidays, paid sick leave and vacation time. The company follows all applicable laws for Paid Family Leave and other leaves of absence.

Broadcom is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We will consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability status, medical condition, pregnancy, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We will also consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records consistent with local law.