Software Engineer L6 - Server Platform Architect

Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services, with 283 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

Open Connect (OC) is a critical group within Netflix that builds and manages a content delivery network (CDN) that delivers all of Netflix’s streaming video. In addition to streaming video, we work on projects within Netflix that leverage physical infrastructure, such as our Cloud Games and Live initiatives. According to a 2023 Sandvine report, data delivered by OC accounts for approximately 15% of all downstream traffic volume across the entire internet. Most of this traffic is delivered by our edge cache servers.

A small team of talented software engineers develop and maintain the software stack that runs the content caches. Because of the important role these caches serve, it is critical that they be both efficient and secure.

We are looking for a highly motivated Server Platform Architect, to enhance and shape the future of OC edge appliances. This leadership position requires deep technical expertise and a strategic vision across hardware, server system platforms, and security domains. You will be entrusted with understanding the evolving requirements of our edge infrastructure, developing a roadmap for future technologies, leading their development, and making a direct impact on a critical area of our business.

In this role, you will :

• Lead the development of advanced technologies, like leveraging hardware offloads to deliver high performance, reliable and secure solutions.

• Align performance metrics with business objectives to define technology roadmaps that emphasize cost-efficiency and strategic prioritization. This includes building initial proof-of-concepts, such as developing and compiling FPGA applications using high-level synthesis languages to validate technical solutions and assess their benefits.

• Develop and test the software stack to enable hardware-accelerated features, including kernel modifications, driver development, and full system integration.Collaborate with hardware and software developers to benchmark performance, analyze results and identify areas for improvement.

• Partner with contractors, vendors and developers in designing and implementing new functional features using hardware offloads, offering technical leadership, support and ensuring deliverables meet expectations throughout the development cycle.

• Partner closely with the hardware team in evaluating and integrating new hardware components into the platform.

• Adapt quickly to emerging technologies and evolving architectures demonstrating flexibility and a continuous learning mindset.

Qualifications:

• Deep understanding of server architecture, encompassing CPU, memory, I/O subsystems, and networking technologies.

• Strong FreeBSD or Linux kernel development skills, including experience with device driver development and kernel debugging.

• Solid understanding with either FreeBSD or Linux kernel internals and subsystems relevant to hardware integration such as PCIe, DMA and memory management.

• Extensive knowledge of server hardware and platform management, with demonstrated expertise in troubleshooting and resolving complex hardware issues that impact system stability and performance.

• Demonstrated experience working with hardware offload solutions and integrating third-party IP into server platforms.

• Proficiency in C/C++.

You will be successful in this role if you:

• Have the ability to define and self-manage cross-functional projects fueled by ambiguous questions.

• Possess technical leadership and management experience

• Are a self-starter, curious and not afraid to ask when in doubt

• Are a quick learner and excited about learning new technologies

• Advocate thoughtful collaboration, take pride in your work and enjoy taking full ownership of projects from conception to production

Nice to have:

• Understanding and experience deploying FPGA-based solutions in production.

• Experience developing FPGA applications for areas like high-performance networking, accelerated data processing, or security offload.

• Experience in FreeBSD kernel development

• Experience with performance analysis and optimization of server systems.

• Proficiency in developing, debugging and maintaining OpenBMC.

• Experience developing and debugging UEFI and u-root.

• Proficiency working on highly distributed systems

• Proficiency with peer-to-peer PCIe.

• Proficiency in Golang, Python.

Be sure to review our culture page to learn more about the unique Netflix culture and the opportunity to be part of our team.

Our compensation structure consists solely of an annual salary; we do not have bonuses. You choose each year how much of your compensation you want in salary versus stock options. To determine your personal top of market compensation, we rely on market indicators and consider your specific job family, background, skills, and experience to determine your compensation in the market range. The range for this role is $100,000 - $720,000.

Netflix provides comprehensive benefits including Health Plans, Mental Health support, a 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match, Stock Option Program, Disability Programs, Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts, Family-forming benefits, and Life and Serious Injury Benefits. We also offer paid leave of absence programs. Full-time hourly employees accrue 35 days annually for paid time off to be used for vacation, holidays, and sick paid time off. Full-time salaried employees are immediately entitled to flexible time off. See more detail about our Benefits here.

Netflix is a unique culture and environment. Learn more here.

Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates. If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversitybuilds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.

Job is open for no less than 7 days and will be removed when the position is filled.