Senior Principal Engineer

F5 Networks, Inc.; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 259,000 - 389,000; Full time

Job summary

F5 Networks, Inc. in San Jose seeks a Senior Principal Engineer to drive the architecture, strategy, and execution of the next‑generation AI Security and Delivery Platform.

You will design high‑performance, secure control plane and data plane architectures for enterprise AI workloads across hybrid cloud environments. Lead multi‑cloud design with Kubernetes CRDs, ingress controllers, service meshes, and cloud networking, while partnering with executives and product teams to translate needs into

Qualifications

• 15+ years of software engineering experience with architectural leadership in enterprise networking, cloud security, API/gateway infrastructure, or application delivery platforms.
• Advanced proficiency in Go, C, and Rust for high-performance system-level and network software development.
• Deep experience in distributed control plane design, high-performance data plane packet processing, application delivery controllers (ADCs), reverse proxies, and API management systems.
• Deep knowledge of Kubernetes architecture, custom controllers, container networking, and multi-cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP, private cloud).
• Solid understanding of the AI Software Development Lifecycle, AI application workloads, enterprise AI security frameworks, and traffic delivery dynamics.

Responsibilities

• Technical Strategy & Architecture: Define the overall architectural vision and long-term technical roadmap for F5’s AI security, application delivery, intelligent traffic routing, and control plane technologies.
• Core Systems Engineering: Architect and lead the implementation of high-throughput, low-latency data plane and distributed control plane systems using Go, C, and Rust.
• AI Ecosystem & Lifecycle Integration: Deeply integrate platform infrastructure with the modern AI software development lifecycle—including runtime protection, prompt/response scanning, model serving delivery, vector stores, and orchestration frameworks.
• Cloud & Kubernetes Native Platforming: Lead multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud architecture designs utilizing Kubernetes CRDs, ingress/gateway controllers, service meshes, and cloud-native network topologies across public and private cloud environments.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner closely with executive leadership, product management, and engineering teams to translate complex business requirements into robust technical specifications and execution plans.

Skills

Go

C

Rust

Distributed systems

Architectural leadership

APIs & gateways

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science/Computer Engineering

Tools

Kubernetes

AWS

Azure

GCP

Service meshes

CRDs

Job description

At F5, we strive to bring a better digital world to life. Our teams empower organizations across the globe to create, secure, and run applications that enhance how we experience our evolving digital world. We are passionate about cybersecurity, from protecting consumers from fraud to enabling companies to focus on innovation. Everything we do centers around people. That means we obsess over how to make the lives of our customers, and their customers, better. And it means we prioritize a diverse F5 community where each individual can thrive.

About the Role As a Senior Principal Engineer at F5, you will serve as a primary technical authority driving the architecture, strategy, and execution of F5’s next-generation AI Security and Delivery Platform. You will design high-performance, resilient, and secure control plane and data plane architectures that safeguard, optimize, deliver, and route critical traffic across enterprise AI workloads and modern application infrastructure across hybrid public and private cloud environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Technical Strategy & Architecture: Define the overall architectural vision and long-term technical roadmap for F5’s AI security, application delivery, intelligent traffic routing, and control plane technologies.
• Core Systems Engineering: Architect and lead the implementation of high-throughput, low-latency data plane and distributed control plane systems using Go, C, and Rust.
• AI Ecosystem & Lifecycle Integration: Deeply integrate platform infrastructure with the modern AI software development lifecycle—including runtime protection, prompt/response scanning, model serving delivery, vector stores, and orchestration frameworks.
• Cloud & Kubernetes Native Platforming: Lead multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud architecture designs utilizing Kubernetes CRDs, ingress/gateway controllers, service meshes, and cloud-native network topologies across public and private cloud environments.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Partner closely with executive leadership, product management, and engineering teams to translate complex business requirements into robust technical specifications and execution plans.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• 15+ years of software engineering experience with a proven track record of architectural leadership in enterprise networking, cloud security, API/gateway infrastructure, or application delivery platforms.
• Advanced proficiency in Go, C, and Rust for high-performance system-level and network software development.
• Deep experience in distributed control plane design, high-performance data plane packet processing, application delivery controllers (ADCs), reverse proxies, and API management systems.
• Deep knowledge of Kubernetes architecture, custom controllers, container networking, and multi-cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP, private cloud).
• Solid understanding of the AI Software Development Lifecycle, AI application workloads, enterprise AI security frameworks, and traffic delivery dynamics.

The Job Description is intended to be a general representation of the responsibilities and requirements of the job. However, the description may not be all-inclusive, and responsibilities and requirements are subject to change.

The annual base pay for this position is: $259,200.00 - $388,800.00 F5 maintains broad salary ranges for its roles in order to account for variations in knowledge, skills, experience, geographic locations, and market conditions, as well as to reflect F5’s differing products, industries, and lines of business. The pay range referenced is as of the time of the job posting and is subject to change. You may also be offered incentive compensation, bonus, restricted stock units, and benefits. More details about F5’s benefits can be found at the following link: https://www.f5.com/company/careers/benefits. F5 reserves the right to change or terminate any benefit plan without notice. Please note that F5 only contacts candidates through F5 email address (ending with @f5.com) or auto email notification from Workday (ending with f5.com or @myworkday.com).

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is the policy of F5 to provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and employment applicants without regard to unlawful considerations of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, sensory, physical, or mental disability, marital status, veteran or military status, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable local, state, or federal laws. This policy applies to all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, job assignment, compensation, promotion, benefits, training, discipline, and termination. F5 offers a variety of reasonable accommodations for candidates. Requesting an accommodation is completely voluntary. F5 will assess the need for accommodations in the application process separately from those that may be needed to perform the job. Request by contacting [e-mail].

Hybrid: Employees within 30 commutable miles of an F5 office are required to work from the office a minimum of 30 business days per quarter.

Remote: Primarily work from designated home location but can come into an F5 office to work or travel to an offsite location as needed.

Together, we're building a better digital world. Founded in 1996, F5 is a global leader in application delivery and security. Our premier platform helps customers secure and deliver every app, API, and piece of infrastructure across all environments. Backed by over three decades of expertise and 553 patents, our solutions protect against threats while ensuring fast, reliable digital experiences. With over 6,400 employees, we serve more than 23,000 customers in over 170 countries. To continue this work, we need people like you—the best minds in the industry. We're committed to a unique, human-first culture that encourages authenticity, prioritizes diversity and inclusion, and fosters the growth and success of our employees.