Staff - Principal, Software Engineer, SDK

Eridu Corporation; Saratoga (CA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

A technology company is looking for a Principal Engineer to lead the design and development of its Software Development Kit (SDK) for switching ASICs. You should have extensive experience in L2/L3 Ethernet protocols and proficiency in programming with C/C++/Python. The role involves mentoring junior engineers, working across teams, and implementing software interfaces. The position offers a competitive salary range of $210,000 to $275,000 annually based on experience and skills.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience with a Bachelor’s or 5+ years with a Master’s.
• Expertise in L2/L3 protocols and coding in C/C++/Python.
• 10+ years building firmware and software abstractions.

Responsibilities

• Own the SDK architecture for custom switch ASICs.
• Design key software interfaces for dataplane operations.
• Lead bring-up efforts for new silicon with firmware teams.

Skills

L2 and L3 Ethernet switching and routing protocols

Programming in C/C++/Python

Embedded system software development

SDK development for Ethernet switch silicon

Network latency and system performance profiling

Education

Bachelor’s in Computer Science/ECE or Masters with relevant experience

Tools

Linux environments

Development tools for firmware and software

Job description

Position Overview

We are looking for a Principal Engineer to lead the design and development of Software Development Kit (SDK), the critical abstraction layer between the hardware and software ecosystems. You will work across Silicon, System and NOS teams to ensure our high-performance switch ASIC are performant and production ready.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the SDK architecture for Eridu's custom switch ASICs, including HAL, abstraction layers, API models, and feature programming workflows.
• Design and implement key software interfaces to support dataplane operations like L2/L3 forwarding, ACLs, QOS, buffer management and telemetry.
• Work closely with ASIC architects to translate chip specifications and datapath designs into software-programmable abstractions.
• Enable control plane integration with SONiC stack via OCP SAI or custom APIs.
• Lead bring-up efforts for new silicon, working with firmware and hardware teams to validate functionality in simulation, emulation, and production systems.
• Define and enforce best practices for modular SDK design, automated testing, CI/CD pipelines and benchmarking frameworks.
• Mentor junior engineers and influence software direction across the switch software stack.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Computer Science/ECE with 10+ years of experience or Masters in CS/ECE with 5+ years of experience.
• Expertise in L2 and L3 Ethernet switching and routing protocols.
• Coding expertise in programming languages such as C/C++/Python.
• Switch/router embedded system software development experience.
• Experience in SDK development for Ethernet switch silicon.
• Experience in the following:
• L2 switching/forwarding areas such as LAG, VLAN, xSTP, LLDP, DC fabric switching, etc.
• L3 unicast/multicast routing protocols such as RIP, OSPF, IGMP, BGP, ISIS, etc.
• ACL, QoS, Policers, TCAM, etc.
• 10+ years of hands‑on experience building firmware and software abstractions for networking ASICs, SoCs and embedded platforms.
• Strong command of C/C++ in Linux‑based environments, familiarity with compiler toolchains and tools for profiling network latency and system performance.
• Experience with modern NOS like SONiC and familiarity with simulation environments and behavioral models such as BMv2 and proprietary RTL based ASIC simulations.

Why Join Us?

At Eridu, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the future of AI infrastructure, working with a world‑class team on groundbreaking technology that pushes the boundaries of AI performance. Your contributions will directly impact the next generation of AI infrastructure solutions, transforming the performance of AI data centers.

The starting base salary for the selected candidate will be established based on their relevant skills, experience, qualifications, work location, market trends, and the compensation of employees in comparable roles.

The pay range for this role is: 210,000 - 275,000 USD per year (San Francisco Bay Area)