Software Development Engineer Staff

Equinix; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 134,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Equinix’s Developer Experience team builds self‑service tools and templates that power the Equinix Developer Platform. You’ll craft scalable, opinionated systems that reduce toil and enable AI‑assisted coding, reviews, and agentic workflows across the engineering organization.

You’ll help design how AI‑driven SDLC models are adopted safely, balancing quality, security, and governance while working with security, CI/CD, and application engineering teams to ensure a smooth delivery pipeline.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of software engineering experience, including platform engineering or developer experience.
• Experience designing and operating opinionated systems at scale.
• Track record of reducing developer toil through automation.
• Understanding of AI‑driven SDLC models and governance considerations.
• Strong written communication and documentation skills.
• Ability to work cross‑functionally with security, CI/CD and application engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate golden-path systems for engineers across the company.
• Eliminate developer toil through automation and productized tooling.
• Shape and implement AI‑driven SDLC capabilities within our standards.
• Evaluate impact of AI on delivery speed, quality, and developer satisfaction.
• Partner with security, CI/CD, and application engineering teams to align on standards.
• Contribute to the evolution of our developer portal and platform products.

Skills

Software engineering

Platform engineering

Automation to reduce toil

AI‑driven SDLC

Cross‑functional collaboration

Technical writing

Job description

Who are we?

Equinix is the world’s digital infrastructure company®, shortening the path to connectivity to enable the innovations that enrich our work, life and planet.

Who are we?

Equinix is the world’s digital infrastructure company®, shortening the path to connectivity to enable the innovations that enrich our work, life and planet.

A place where tech thinkers and future builders turn bold ideas into breakthrough experiences, we welcome your unique perspective.

Help us challenge assumptions, uncover bias, and remove barriers—because progress starts with fresh ideas. You’ll find belonging, purpose, and a team that welcomes you—because when you feel valued, you’re empowered to do your best work.

Job Summary

The Developer Experience team delivers solutions that power the Equinix Developer Platform. Improving the templates, tooling, and automation that hundreds of engineers rely on every day to design, build, ship, and operate software. As a Software Engineer on this team, you’ll design and operate opinionated, self-service systems that remove toil at scale. You’ll also help define how AI-driven software development lifecycle (SDLC) models are adopted safely and effectively across the engineering organization, from AI-assisted coding and review to agentic workflows embedded in the delivery pipeline.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and operate golden-path systems that make the right way the easy way for engineers across the company
• Eliminate developer toil through automation and productized tooling, not through documentation or guidelines alone
• Shape and implement AI-driven SDLC capabilities, such as AI-assisted code generation, review, test generation, and agentic workflows, and ensure they fit within our standards for quality, security, and compliance
• Evaluate the impact of AI on delivery speed, quality, and developer satisfaction, and use that evidence to guide the platform roadmap
• Partner with security, CI/CD, and application engineering teams to align on standards without creating bottlenecks
• Contribute to the evolution of our developer portal and platform products

Qualifications

Required

• 7+ years of software engineering experience, including at least 3 years in a platform engineering or developer experience role at a mid-to-large engineering organization
• Experience designing and operating opinionated systems at scale, the kind that hundreds of engineers depend on daily. Background at companies with strong platform cultures (e.g., Spotify, Netflix, Stripe, Uber, Airbnb) is strongly preferred
• A track record of reducing developer toil through automation, not just documentation or guidelines
• A working understanding of AI-driven SDLC models, including how AI tools and agents change the way code is written, reviewed, tested, secured, and shipped, along with the risks and governance considerations that come with them
• Strong written communication skills. This role produces tooling that must be self-explanatory, and documentation is part of the deliverable
• The ability to work cross-functionally with security, CI/CD, and application engineering teams to align on standards without creating bottlenecks

Preferred

• Experience with Backstage or similar developer portal frameworks
• Familiarity with enterprise compliance requirements, including audit trails, change evidence, and vulnerability scanning integration
• Hands-on experience integrating LLM-based or agentic tools into developer workflows and CI/CD pipelines
• Experience measuring engineering effectiveness (e.g., DORA metrics, lead time for change, delivery velocity)

The targeted pay range for this position in the following location is / locations are:

United States - New York City Office NYO1 : 134,000 - 200,000 USD / Annual

United States - Redwood City Office GHQ : 146,000 - 218,000 USD / Annual

United States - Chicago Office CHO : 134,000 - 200,000 USD / Annual

United States - Tampa Office TAO : 121,000 - 181,000 USD / Annual

Canada - Toronto Office TRO : 102,000 - 152,000 CAD / Annual

Our pay ranges reflect the minimum and maximum target for new hire pay for the full‑time position determined by role, level, and location.

The pay range shown is based on our compensation structure in place at the time of posting and may be updated periodically based on business needs.

Individual pay is based on additional factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education and/or training.

The targeted pay range listed reflects the base pay only and does not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Employees are eligible for bonus, and equity may be offered depending on the position.

Equinix Benefits

As an employee, you become important to Equinix’s success. We ensure all your benefits are in line with our core values: competitive, inclusive, sustainable, connected and efficient. We keep them competitive within the current marketplace to ensure we’re providing you with the best package possible. So, wherever you are in your career and life, you’ll be able to enhance your experience and bring your whole self to work.

Employee Assistance Program

An Employee Assistance program is available to all employees.

US Benefits: - Insurance: You may enroll in health, life, disability and voluntary plans that are designed for you and your eligible family members. - Retirement: You and Equinix may contribute to a retirement plan to help you plan for your financial future. - Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays: You will receive an accrued amount of PTO each pay period along with various paid holidays for you to rest and recharge. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific plan or program terms.

Canada Core Benefits: - Insurance: You may enroll in healthcare coverage that is designed to complement the provincial healthcare system, along with life, disability and optional benefit plans that are designed for you and your eligible family members. - Retirement: You may also enroll in Equinix-sponsored retirement or savings plans: Defined Contribution Pension Plan (DCPP), Group Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax‑Free Savings Plan (TSFA). - Vacation and Paid Holidays: Equinix offers both vacation and personal time, along with various paid holidays for you to rest and recharge. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits. Benefits are subject to specific plan or program terms, and to change at Equinix discretion.

Equinix is committed to ensuring that our employment process is open to all individuals, including those with a disability. If you are a qualified candidate and need assistance or an accommodation, please let us know by completing this form.

Equinix is an Equal Employment Opportunity and, in the U.S., an Affidavit Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to unlawful consideration of race, color, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, place of birth, citizenship, sex, pregnancy / childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or domestic partnership status, age, veteran or military status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, political / organizational affiliation, status as a victim or family member of a victim of crime or abuse, or any other status protected by applicable law.

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This posting is a new position within our organization.