Senior Software Engineer - Layer 2 Protocol Development

Responsibilities

• Implement the VLAN (802.1Q) protocol - frame tagging, sub-interface management, trunk/access modes, Q-in-Q
• Implement LACP (802.3ad), ARP (RFC 826), NDP (RFC 4861), and LLDP (802.1AB) protocol stacks
• Integrate with Linux kernel networking (Netlink, 8021q module, bonding driver) and optimize interface performance
• Write and test C code, debug with Wireshark/tcpdump/ethtool, and profile for packet-processing performance
• Mentor 2-3 junior engineers, review their code, and collaborate with the Principal Engineer on design decisions

Requirements

• Strong understanding of Ethernet, Layer 2 switching, and network interface concepts
• Hands-on experience implementing or debugging network protocols in production environments
• Experience with the Linux networking stack and systems programming

Nice to Have

• Experience with open-source networking projects (Linux bridge, Open vSwitch)
• Experience with NIC drivers (Intel, Mellanox, Broadcom) or hardware offload
• Understanding of STP/RSTP (802.1D/802.1w) for loop prevention
• Familiarity with network namespaces and container networking
• Knowledge of eBPF/XDP for packet filtering and processing
• Familiarity with network simulators (GNS3, Containerlab)

Key Skills

• C
• VLAN (802.1Q)
• LACP (802.3ad)
• ARP/NDP
• LLDP (802.1AB)
• Netlink
• Linux Bridge
• Wireshark
• ethtool

What You ll Gain

• Work on cutting-edge network operating system used in carrier-grade deployments
• Learn from experienced Principal Engineers and System Architects
• Deep technical expertise in Layer 2 protocols and Linux networking
• Opportunity to influence interface subsystem architecture and design decisions
• Career growth path to Lead Engineer and Principal Engineer roles
• Collaborative environment with focus on technical excellence

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