Staff Software Engineer - Threat Protection Systems

A10 Networks, Inc; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 96,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A10 Networks, Inc. in San Francisco seeks a Staff Software Engineer to help develop next-generation Threat Protection System products.

You will design and implement high-performance DDoS detection and mitigation, contribute to the data plane, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver robust security solutions. The role requires a BS/MS in CS/CE/EE, 3+ years in networking/security, strong C/C++ and Python skills, and hands-on Linux networking experience.

Qualifications

• BS/MS in CS/CE/EE or equivalent practical experience.
• 3+ years in networking, security, or distributed systems.
• Proficient in C/C++ and scripting (Python, Bash).
• Solid understanding of TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, TLS.

Responsibilities

• Design and contribute to novel DDoS detection and mitigation approaches based on malware internals, traffic behavior, L4/L7 protocol patterns, and policy enforcement requirements.
• Contribute to an extensible DDoS mitigation data plane enabling programmable packet-processing logic and rapid response to botnet attack patterns.
• Work across data plane, control plane, configuration, logging, and policy enforcement components using multi-core and multi-threaded programming techniques.
• Investigate defects, analyze traffic behavior, identify root causes, and deliver fixes using tools like GDB, Wireshark, tcpdump.
• Collaborate with QA, support, product management, architects, and other engineering teams to clarify requirements, review designs, and validate features.
• Create design notes, implementation documentation, unit tests, and end-to-end validation plans for assigned features.

Skills

C/C++ programming

Python scripting

Bash scripting

Linux networking

Education

BS/MS in Computer Science/Engineering

Tools

GDB

Wireshark

tcpdump

Perf

Job description

At A10 Networks, we help customers keep their applications always secure and always available. We deliver security, intelligence, and automation across secure application solutions, and we are seeking a Staff Software Engineer to help develop next-generation Threat Protection System (TPS) products.

The DDoS threat landscape is changing rapidly as modern botnets, including variants such as Aisuru and Kimwolf, make large-scale attacks more common and more difficult to mitigate with traditional approaches. In this role, the engineer will apply deep insight into attack behavior to build next-generation TPS capabilities that enable rapid detection, adaptive mitigation, AI-augmented analysis, and faster customer response against evolving DDoS threats.

The engineer will contribute across design, implementation, debugging, testing, and integration while working closely with product managers, architects, QA, support, and platform teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and contribute to novel DDoS detection and mitigation approaches based on malware internals, traffic behavior, L4/L7 protocol patterns, and policy enforcement requirements
• Contribute to an extensible DDoS mitigation data plane that enables programmable packet-processing logic and rapid response to newly emerging botnet attack patterns
• Work across data plane, control plane, configuration, logging, and policy enforcement components using multi-core and multi-threaded programming techniques
• Investigate defects, analyze traffic behavior, identify root causes, and deliver practical fixes using tools such as GDB, Wireshark, tcpdump, and related network utilities
• Collaborate with QA, support, product management, architects, and other engineering teams to clarify requirements, review designs, and validate customer-impacting features
• Create design notes, implementation documentation, unit tests, and end-to-end validation plans for assigned features

Required Qualifications

• BS/MS in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
• 3+ years of software engineering experience in networking, security, distributed systems, Linux systems, or related product development
• Strong programming skills in C/C++ and scripting languages such as Python and Bash
• Solid understanding of OSI layers, TCP/IP networking, packet processing, and protocols such as DNS, HTTP, and TLS
• Hands-on experience with Linux-based networking systems, including:
• Operating system concepts, user-space or kernel networking components
• Packet filtering, forwarding, traffic-processing paths, or multi-threaded systems
• Debugging and profiling tools such as GDB, Wireshark, perf, or similar tools
• Ability to design and implement product features from requirements through coding, testing, debugging, and validation
• Good communication skills and ability to work with cross-functional engineering, QA, support, and product teams

Key Attributes

• Strong ownership mindset and willingness to take on challenging product, customer-support, and integration work
• Good systems thinking and ability to design for performance, scale, reliability, observability, and operational usability
• Practical problem-solving ability with attention to debugging, root-cause analysis, unit testing, and implementation quality
• Curiosity for next-generation security technologies, including AI/ML applications, container platforms, and distributed systems

AI Use Guidelines for Interviews:

Our interviews are designed to reflect your own skills and thinking. The use of AI or recording tools during live interviews is not permitted unless explicitly invited by the interviewer or approved in advance as part of a reasonable accommodation. If these tools are used inappropriately or in a way that misrepresents your work, your application may not move forward in the process.

Targeted compensation guideline:

Up to 160K OTE. Compensation will vary based on number of factors, including market demand for specific skills, role type, job level, and individual qualifications. Final salary offers are determined by considerations including, but not limited to, subject matter expertise, demonstrated skill level, relevant experience, geographic location, education, certifications, and training.

A10 Networks is an equal opportunity employer and a VEVRAA federal subcontractor. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. A10 also complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.

• Hybrid