Staff Software Engineer, Linux Networking

Google; Town of Montana (WI); On-site; USD 207,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Google is seeking a Staff Software Engineer to lead the Linux Kernel Networking team in Sunnyvale, CA. This advanced role focuses on designing and delivering high-throughput kernel networking solutions and PCIe drivers for Google's massive-scale infrastructure.

The position requires deep expertise in C/C++, systems programming, and network performance optimization, with opportunities to mentor engineers and influence upstream kernel work across cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience programming in C++.
• 5 years of experience testing and launching software products.
• 5 years of experience building and developing large-scale infrastructure, distributed systems, or networks, or experience with compute technologies, storage, or hardware architecture.
• 3 years of experience with software design and architecture.
• Experience in systems programming using C or C++, with experience in Linux kernel internals and large-scale system architecture design.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical lead for the Linux Kernel Networking team, collaborating with leadership to define long-term architectural strategy, establish team vision, and manage project priorities, deliverables, and production support.
• Design, develop, test, and enhance large-scale Linux kernel networking solutions and PCIe-related device drivers tailored for high-throughput, low-latency performance.
• Coach, mentor, and guide a distributed team of engineers, supporting their career development and fostering high engineering standards.
• Drive alignment across cross-organizational teams on goals, roadmaps, and dependencies to execute planet-scale infrastructure projects.
• Leverage emerging AI-assisted tools and best practices to accelerate software development workflows, testing, and deployment cycles.

Skills

C++ programming

Systems programming

Linux kernel

Large-scale systems

Software design

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience

Tools

PCI Express (PCIe)

Device drivers

Kernel networking

Job description

Staff Software Engineer, Linux Networking

Location: Sunnyvale, CA, USA

Experience Level: Advanced

Minimum qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 8 years of experience programming in C++.
• 5 years of experience testing and launching software products.
• 5 years of experience building and developing large-scale infrastructure, distributed systems, or networks, or experience with compute technologies, storage, or hardware architecture.
• 3 years of experience with software design and architecture.
• Experience in systems programming using C or C++, with experience in Linux kernel internals and large-scale system architecture design.

Preferred qualifications

• Master's degree or PhD in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• 8 years of experience with data structures/algorithms.
• 3 years of experience in a technical leadership role leading project teams and setting technical direction.
• 3 years of experience working in a complex, matrixed organization involving cross-functional or cross-business projects.
• Experience with PCI Express (PCIe) interfaces, related device driver development, and advanced network protocols or kernel-level networking performance optimization.

About the job

Google's software engineers develop the next-generation technologies that change how billions of users connect, explore, and interact with information and one another. Our products need to handle information at massive scale, and extend well beyond web search. We're looking for engineers who bring fresh ideas from all areas, including information retrieval, distributed computing, large-scale system design, networking and data storage, security, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, UI design, and mobile; the list goes on and is growing every day. As a software engineer, you will work on a specific project critical to Google's needs with opportunities to switch teams and projects as you and our fast-paced business grow and evolve. We need our engineers to be versatile, display leadership qualities, and be enthusiastic to take on new problems across the full-stack as we continue to push technology forward. The Linux Kernel Networking team within CoreOS builds and maintains the secure, high-performance stack powering Google's global infrastructure and Google Cloud. Managing all internet-facing traffic, production traffic, and massive AI/ML data pipelines, our work delivers planet-scale impact across millions of machines. We follow an "upstream first" philosophy and guide the community as a major contributor to Linux TCP/IP. In this role, you will design, optimize, and maintain core kernel networking protocols for latency-sensitive and high-throughput workloads. In addition to technical execution, you will direct cross-organizational initiatives, mentor engineers across career stages, contribute directly to the upstream kernel, and have the opportunity to manage a small team. The AI and Infrastructure team is redefining what's possible. We empower Google customers with breakthrough capabilities and insights by delivering AI and Infrastructure at unparalleled scale, efficiency, reliability, and velocity. Our customers include Googlers, Google Cloud customers, and billions of Google users worldwide. We're the driving force behind Google's groundbreaking innovations, empowering the development of our cutting-edge AI models, delivering unparalleled computing power to global services, and providing the essential platforms that enable developers to build the future. From software to hardware, our teams are shaping the future of world-leading hyperscale computing, with key teams working on the development of our TPUs, Vertex AI for Google Cloud, Google Global Networking, Data Center operations, systems research, and much more. Individual pay is determined by factors including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

Compensation

US: $207000 - $300000 (USD) + 20% bonus target + equity + benefits

Learn more about benefits at Google.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a technical lead for the Linux Kernel Networking team, collaborating with leadership to define long-term architectural strategy, establish team vision, and manage project priorities, deliverables, and production support.
• Design, develop, test, and enhance large-scale Linux kernel networking solutions and PCIe-related device drivers tailored for high-throughput, low-latency performance.
• Coach, mentor, and guide a distributed team of engineers, supporting their career development and fostering high engineering standards.
• Drive alignment across cross-organizational teams on goals, roadmaps, and dependencies to execute planet-scale infrastructure projects.
• Leverage emerging AI-assisted tools and best practices to accelerate software development workflows, testing, and deployment cycles.

Locations: Sunnyvale, CA, USA

Experience Level: Advanced Experience owning outcomes and decision making, solving ambiguous problems and influencing stakeholders; deep expertise in domain.