Software Engineer (L5) - Traffic Engineering

Netflix, Inc.; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 388,000 - 619,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plans

Mental Health support

401(k) Retirement Plan with employer"s

Stock Option Program

Disability Programs

Health Savings and Flexible Spending

Family-forming benefits

Life and Serious Injury Benefits

Paid leave of absence programs

Job summary

Netflix, Inc. is seeking a senior Traffic Engineer to design, build, and operate the core infrastructure that manages traffic across Netflix’s cloud and edge environments. You will help ensure a fast, reliable streaming experience during live events and spikes in demand.

You will work with Data Science to develop predictive models for scaling and failover, architecting robust, fault-tolerant systems and collaborating with multiple teams to deliver high-impact solutions.

Qualifications

• 7+ years experience crafting complex, scalable distributed data infrastructure.
• Experience in traffic is preferred.
• Proficiency in Java, Golang, or Python with a solid understanding of memory management.
• Able to break down complexity, iterate, and communicate progress to a wide variety of partners and stakeholders.
• Proven track record of developing and maintaining high-impact systems.
• Experience building and operating scalable, fault-tolerant, distributed systems.
• Automation and orchestration frameworks for scaling and reliability.
• Experience in predictive modeling and data pipelines for traffic shaping and scaling.
• BS in Computer Science or a related field.

Skills

Java

Golang

Python

Multithreading

Memory management

Communication

Problem solving

Education

BS in Computer Science

Job description

At Netflix, our mission is to entertain the world. Together, we are writing the next episode - pushing the boundaries of storytelling, global fandom and making the unimaginable a reality. We are a dream team obsessed with the uncomfortable excitement of discovering what happens when you merge creativity, intuition and cutting-edge technology. Come be a part of what’s next.

Team Overview

The Traffic Engineering team designs, builds, and operates the core infrastructure that manages how traffic flows across Netflix’s cloud and edge environments. Our systems ensure that every member receives a fast, reliable, and high-quality streaming experience, even during massive live events and unexpected spikes in demand. The TMF team is instrumental in driving Netflix’s cloud scalability and resiliency by building robust capabilities for end-to-end traffic management, including region failover, traffic shaping, and predictive scaling. We work closely with Data Science to develop and operationalize predictive models, translating them into actionable strategies for scaling our infrastructure in real time. By automating and optimizing traffic management, we enable Netflix to deliver uninterrupted entertainment to hundreds of millions of members worldwide—making our work critical to Netflix’s reputation, member satisfaction, and continued growth.

Why our work is important

The work of the Traffic Engineering team is critical to Netflix’s ability to deliver a seamless, high-quality streaming experience to hundreds of millions of members worldwide. As Netflix expands into live events and continues to grow its global audience, the demands on our infrastructure for speed, reliability, and scalability have never been higher. Our team ensures that Netflix can handle massive spikes in traffic—such as during live sporting events or global premieres—without interruption or degradation in quality. By building resilient systems for traffic management, automated scaling, and rapid failover, we protect the member experience and uphold Netflix’s reputation for reliability. The innovations and solutions developed by the TMF team directly enable Netflix to push the boundaries of what’s possible in streaming, supporting new business opportunities and ensuring that our members can enjoy their favorite stories anytime, anywhere, without compromise.

This would be your dream job if you enjoy:

• Solving real business needs at a large scale by applying your software engineering and analytical problem-solving skills.
• Architecting and building a robust, scalable, and highly available distributed infrastructure.
• Enjoying the pursuit of engineering excellence by evangelizing, establishing and iterating on best practices.
• Collaborating with multiple teams on creating solutions and supporting solutions with a myriad of sometimes conflicting requirements.
• Being curious and enjoying working on ambiguous problems where the solutions are not (yet) well defined.

Qualifications

• 7+ years experience in crafting complex, scalable distributed data infrastructure.
• Experience in traffic is preferred.
• Proficiency in Java, Golang, or Python with a solid understanding of multi-threading and memory management.
• Able to break down complexity, iterate, and communicate progress to a wide variety of partners and stakeholders.
• Proven track record of developing and maintaining high-impact systems.
• Experience building and operating scalable, fault-tolerant, distributed systems.
• Automation and orchestration frameworks for scaling and reliability.
• Experience in predictive modeling and data pipelines for traffic shaping and scaling.

You have a BS in Computer Science or a related field.

What to expect from us

• High Impact - your work will touch every engineer at the company and be crucial for the ongoing success of Netflix.
• Stunning Colleagues - you will be working with other excellent people with diverse perspectives, who value collaboration, working to excel as the “dream team”.
• Energizing Challenges - there is a wealth of opportunity when working on complex technical projects and our culture both enables and encourages you to rise to the challenges.
• Feedback – you will constantly have opportunities for growth because meaningful positive and constructive feedback is part of everyday life at Netflix.

Generally, our compensation structure consists solely of an annual salary; we do not have bonuses. You choose each year how much of your compensation you want in salary versus stock options. To determine your personal top of market compensation, we rely on market indicators and consider your specific job family, background, skills, and experience to determine your compensation in the market range. The range for this role is $388,000.00 - $619,000.00.

Benefits

• Health Plans
• Mental Health support
• 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match
• Stock Option Program
• Disability Programs
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts
• Family-forming benefits
• Life and Serious Injury Benefits
• Paid leave of absence programs

Full-time hourly employees accrue 35 days annually for paid time off to be used for vacation, holidays, and sick paid time off.

Full-time salaried employees are immediately entitled to flexible time off.

See more details about our Benefits here.

Netflix is a unique culture and environment. Learn more here.

Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates. If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.

At Netflix, we want to entertain the world. Whatever your taste, and no matter where you live, we give you access to best‑in‑class TV series, documentaries, feature films and games. Our members control what they want to watch, when they want it, in one simple subscription. We’re streaming in more than 30 languages and 190 countries, because great stories can come from anywhere and be loved everywhere. We are the world’s biggest fans of entertainment, and we’re always looking to help you find your next favourite story.