Senior Systems Software Engineer - Data Path

Quantum; Centennial (CO); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plans

401(k) matching

Employee stock purchase program

Wellness reimbursement

Job summary

Quantum is seeking a Senior Systems Software Engineer to join the Core Storage Team in Centennial, CO or Mendota Heights, MN. You will design, implement, and optimize the Data Path, handling I/O from NIC to durable storage across a cluster, with a focus on low latency and concurrency.

Ideal candidates bring 15+ years in C/C++, familiarity with Linux I/O, storage protocols, and containers/Kubernetes, and a collaborative, self-motivated approach.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of experience with C/C++ or equivalent development.
• Experience with containers and Kubernetes is a plus.
• Experience with Linux I/O subsystem and networking is a plus.
• Experience with storage protocols and clustering design is a plus.
• Experience with NAS protocols like SMB and NFS is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and maintain scalable, high-performance data path components.
• Identify and eliminate bottlenecks in the I/O path.
• Implement features like erasure coding, snapshots, and data scrubbing for durability.
• Manage concurrency and lock-free data structures to maximize CPU utilization.
• Ensure linear scalability as nodes are added without impacting clients.

Skills

C/C++

Linux I/O

Kubernetes

Containers

Networking

Storage protocols

GIT

JIRA

NFS SMB

RDMA

NVMe-oF

Erasure coding

Lock-free data structures

Concurrency

Distributed systems

Tools

GIT

JIRA

Job description

Senior Systems Software Engineer - Data Path

With over 40 years of innovation, Quantum's end-to-end platform is uniquely equipped to orchestrate, protect, and enrich data across its lifecycle, providing enhanced intelligence and actionable insights. Leading organizations in cloud services, entertainment, government, research, education, transportation, and enterprise IT trust Quantum to bring their data to life, because data makes life better, safer, and smarter. Quantum is listed on Nasdaq (QMCO). For more information, visit www.quantum.com.

We are seeking a high-caliber Senior Systems Software Engineer to join our Core Storage Team. In this role, you will be responsible for the "brain" of our distributed storage system: the Data Path. You will design, implement, and optimize the software layers that handle I/O requests from the moment they hit the network interface until they safely persisted across a cluster of nodes. This is a deep-systems role requiring a passion for low-latency code, concurrency, and distributed systems theory.

Specific duties include but are not limited to:

• Distributed Architecture: Design and maintain scalable, high-performance data path components including distributed caching, metadata management, and data placement algorithms.
• Performance Optimization: Identify and eliminate bottlenecks in the I/O path. You will work with technologies like NVMe-over-Fabrics (NVMe-oF), RDMA, and zero-copy data transfer techniques to achieve microsecond-level latency.
• Data Integrity & Resilience: Implement complex features like erasure coding, snapshots, thin provisioning, and background data scrubbing to ensure 99.9999% data durability.
• Concurrency & Locking: Manage high-concurrency challenges, utilizing lock-free data structures and asynchronous programming models to maximize multi-core CPU utilization.
• Scalability: Ensure the data path scales linearly as nodes are added to the cluster, managing rebalancing and reconstruction without impacting client performance.

Job Requirements:

• Minimum 15 years of experience using C/C++ or other equivalent skills for development.
• Experience with containers and Kubernetes is a plus.
• Experience with Linux I/O subsystem, networking is a plus.
• Experience with Storage protocol, clustering design and development is a plus.
• Experience with any AI tools or programming is a plus.
• Experience with NAS protocols like SMB and NFS is a plus.
• Ability to work in a team environment.
• Ability to work with a remote team.
• Self-motivated, able to identify and solve problems on their own.
• Ability to collaborate cross functionally and integrate other components into the solution.
• Approach problems creatively and not just repeat the same mistakes made before them.
• Effective communicator to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Willing and able to come into our Centennial, CO or Mendota Heights, MN office during core business hours (10am - 4pm local) Tuesday - Thursday.

Desired Skills:

• Experience in Linux operating system, able to perform installs, upgrades, maintenance and configuration.
• Experience using GIT.
• Experience using JIRA.

Our ideal candidate would be eager to learn, enjoy problem solving, has detailed experience developing and troubleshooting software/hardware issues.

Quantum provides a diverse portfolio of health plans for medical and prescription, dental, vision, life, disability, and supplemental medical insurance options. We also support our team members’ efforts to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle through reimbursement and educational programs. Quantum offers a company-matched 401(k) plan to help employees save for retirement in a tax-advantaged way. We also have an Employee Stock Purchase Program for purchasing Quantum stock at a discounted rate.

Anticipated Salary Range: $160,000 to $200,000 for qualified applicants.

The above pay range represents Quantum's good faith and reasonable estimate of possible compensation at the time of posting. Pay within the range will be based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, relevant experience, knowledge/education, skills/abilities, internal equity, and budgetary considerations.

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