Senior II Software Engineer - Linux Performance

Akamai Technologies, Inc.; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 146,000 - 264,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare benefits

401K savings plan

PTO & parental leave

Employee stock purchase plan

Job summary

Akamai Technologies, Inc. is looking for a Senior II Software Engineer to join the Linux Performance team in Austin, TX. You will analyze system performance, design enhancements, and help bring up new servers and hardware.

You should have 8+ years of experience, strong C, and exposure to Rust/Python/Bash/Perl, plus deep Linux kernel knowledge and virtualization skills. The role emphasizes fast, correct delivery and high code quality.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Strong programming skills in C and experience in Rust, Python, Bash or Perl.
• Deep understanding of Linux kernel, systems architecture and hardware/software interaction.
• Experience with virtualization technologies (Qemu/KVM, SVM/VHE).
• Experience with hardware enablement and debugging, including GPUs.
• Familiarity with debugging and performance tools like perf, BPF, and related tech.
• Knowledge of concurrent programming, data structures, and algorithms.
• Awareness of PCIe, CXL, CCIX, and USB interconnects.

Responsibilities

• Analyze system performance and identify bottlenecks.
• Design and implement performance improvements and new features.
• Contribute to server/hardware bring-up and productization.
• Extend metrics collection and create visualizations for performance insights.
• Build tooling to identify performance issues faster.

Skills

C

Rust

Python

Bash

Perl

Linux kernel

Performance analysis

Concurrency

Data structures

Algorithms

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Qemu

KVM

SVM

VHE

Perf

BCC tools

BPF

PCIe

CXL

Job description

Do you have a passion for making systems run blazingly fast?

Does it bother you when they don't?

Join our innovative team

Our Linux Performance team is a specialized group that looks to improve the performance and efficiency of Akamai's Intelligent Platform, both virtualized and bare metal. It is part of our larger Linux Engineering team, which provides the Linux kernel and operating system innovation for the Akamai global distributed network composed of 300,000+ servers deployed in 1000+ networks and 100+ countries.

Shape the future of performance at Akamai

The opportunity to significantly impact Akamai's business makes this role rewarding. Top performers embrace challenges, love learning, and fearlessly solve difficult problems. The position requires solid system design, solid programming and debugging skills, an obsession with code quality, and independence. You must be passionate about getting things done quickly and correctly.

As a Senior II Software Engineer, you will be responsible for:

• Analyzing system performance
• Identifying, designing, and implementing performance enhancements and new features
• Participating in the process of introducing and productizing new servers and hardware
• Extending metrics collection and creating visualizations to better quantify systems performance
• Building tooling to help identify system performance problems faster

Do what you love

To be successful in this role you will:

• Have 8 years of relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree or its equivalent
• Have extensive programming experience in C and experience in one or more of the following languages: Rust, Python, Bash, or Perl
• Possess a deep understanding of the Linux kernel, computer system architectures, and the intersection between software and hardware
• Have experience with virtualization technologies both in software (Qemu, KVM) and hardware (SVM, VHE)
• Have experience with hardware enablement and debugging, especially around board bring up and / or GPUs
• Have experience with debugging and performance analysis tools like perf, bcc tools, BPF, etc
• Have experience with concurrent programming, data structures, algorithms, complexity analysis
• Have knowledge of common hardware interconnects such as PCI express, CXL, CCIX, and USB

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. (https://www.akamai.com/careers/working-at-akamai?utm_source=akamai&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=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.

Connect with us on social and see what life at Akamai is like!

Compensation

Akamai is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. For US based candidates only - the base salary for this position ranges from $146,400 - $263,600/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.

Equal Employment Opportunity Rights

Akamai Technologies is an Affi-

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, protected veteran status, disability, or other protected group status.