Description

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end protocol development projects involving Layer‑2 and Layer‑3 networking: design, implementation, performance, reliability, and interoperability.
• Be hands‑on (when needed) in coding, code reviews, and debugging for protocol stack implementations in C/C++, Go, and/or Python.
• Define technical architecture/specifications for features such as VLANs, STP/MSTP, LACP, ARP, IPv4/IPv6, static and dynamic routing (OSPF, BGP, RIP etc.), MPLS, multicast, etc.
• Oversee integration with switching and routing hardware/software platforms, SDKs, drivers, and ensure alignment with underlying OS / kernel networking modules.
• Ensure performance, scalability, low latency, robustness, and security in routing/switching / protocol behavior.

People & Team Management:

• Build, lead, mentor, and grow a team of engineers (protocol engineers, switch/routing stack developers, QA) working on Layer‑2/Layer‑3 network software.
• Define roles and responsibilities; set clear goals; conduct regular performance reviews; promote skills growth.
• Foster a culture of ownership, collaboration, innovation, quality, and accountability.
• Handle hiring, resourcing, handling team bottlenecks and conflicts; ensure high team morale and productivity.

Project & Program Management:

• Manage project scope, deliverables, timelines, dependency management, risk mitigation.
• Maintain visibility to senior leadership; provide status updates, escalate issues appropriately.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional stakeholders: product managers, systems engineering, hardware/firmware teams, QA, DevOps.
• Maintain and enforce high standards for documentation: protocol specs, design docs, test plans, decision logs.
• Stay updated on industry standards, best practices, new protocols and emerging trends in routing/switching, ASIC/hardware offload etc.

Required Skills & Qualifications

• 12‑18 years of relevant experience in software development / engineering leadership in networking domain
• Demonstrable hands‑on experience with Layer‑2 and Layer‑3 protocols (e.g. STP/MSTP/VLAN/LACP, ARP, IPv4/IPv6, static routing, OSPF, BGP, multicast etc.).
• Strong coding skills in C / C++, and one or more of Go, Python. Comfortable understanding, reviewing, guiding code in these languages.
• Good knowledge of Linux networking stack, kernel modules, drivers, possibly real‑time or embedded systems if relevant.
• Experience in performance optimization, packet‑processing, measuring latency, throughput, debugging protocol interop issues.
• Proven people management experience: hiring, mentoring, setting performance goals, dealing with team dynamics.
• Strong planning, project management / program management skills. Ability to manage multiple overlapping streams.
• Excellent written & verbal communication skills with both technical and non‑technical stakeholders.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s in Computer Science / Electrical / Electronic Engineering or similar; higher degree is a plus

Key Skills

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degrees