Staff Software Development Engineer

Fortinet; California, Sunnyvale (MO, CA); On-site; USD 166,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Staff Software Development Engineer to lead the architecture and development of complex systems. This hands-on role requires deep technical expertise and a passion for solving challenging problems at scale. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams, mentor engineers, and drive high-impact projects from concept to completion. Join a supportive work environment that values diversity and offers a competitive rewards package, allowing you to make a meaningful impact for over 660,000 customers globally. If you are ready for a rewarding career journey, this is the opportunity for you.

Benefits

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k)

Paid Holidays

Vacation Time

Sick Time

Comprehensive Leave Program

Qualifications

• 5+ years of software development experience with a proven track record of technical leadership.
• Strong system design and architecture skills for scalable, high-performance systems.
• Expert-level coding skills in Golang, Python, Rust, or Java.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of large-scale, distributed systems.
• Set technical direction and establish best practices for architecture and coding.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive high-impact projects.

Skills

Backend Development

API Design

Performance Optimization

Observability

System Design

Distributed Systems

Problem-Solving

Communication

Collaboration

Mentoring

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science

Master's Degree in Engineering

Tools

AWS

GCP

Azure

Docker

Kubernetes

Job description

As a Staff Software Development Engineer (Staff SDE), you will play a key technical leadership role - driving architecture, design, and development of complex systems. You'll partner with engineering leadership and cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software while mentoring and guiding other engineers.

This is a hands-on role requiring deep technical expertise, system-level thinking, and a passion for solving hard problems at scale.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the design and development of large-scale, distributed systems or mission-critical components


• Set technical direction and establish best practices for architecture, coding, testing, and deployment


• Collaborate with Product, QA, and other teams to drive high-impact projects from concept to completion


• Break down complex problems, propose solutions, and make sound engineering trade-offs


• Review code, mentor engineers, and promote engineering excellence across the team


• Continuously improve system performance, reliability, and maintainability


• Stay current with industry trends and emerging technologies, bringing fresh ideas to the team

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field


• 5+ years of software development experience with a proven track record of technical leadership


• Backend Development: Strong foundation in backend engineering principles, including API design, performance optimization, and observability


• Strong system design and architecture skills for scalable, high-performance systems


• Deep understanding of algorithms, data structures, design patterns, and distributed systems


• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure) and modern development practices (CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes)


• Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills


• Passion for mentoring and growing other engineers


• Expert-level coding skills in Golang, Python, Rust, Java will be plus

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in Networking, SaaS, Storage Systems, Data analysis etc.]


• Experience leading cross-team or multi-year technical projects


• Contributions to open-source projects or technical publications

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $166,100-$214,900. Fortinet offers employees a variety of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 401(k), 11 paid holidays, vacation time, and sick time as well as a comprehensive leave program.

Wage ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, and job level. Exact salary offers will be determined by factors such as the candidate's subject knowledge, skill level, qualifications, experience, and geographic location.

All roles are eligible to participate in the Fortinet equity program, Bonus eligibility is reviewed at time of hire and annually at the Company's discretion.

Why Join Us:

We encourage candidates from all backgrounds and identities to apply. We offer a supportive work environment and a competitive Total Rewards package to support you with your overall health and financial well-being. Embark on a challenging, enjoyable, and rewarding career journey with Fortinet. Join us in bringing solutions that make a meaningful and lasting impact to our 660,000+ customers around the globe.