Staff Software Engineer, SDN Networking

Crusoe is on a mission to accelerate the abundance of energy and intelligence. As the only vertically integrated AI infrastructure company built from the ground up, we own and operate each layer of the stack — from electrons to tokens — to power the world's most ambitious AI workloads. When you join Crusoe, you join a team that is building the future, faster.

We're in the midst of the greatest industrial revolution of our time. The demand for AI compute is boundless, and power is a bottleneck. We're solving that — with an energy-first approach that makes AI infrastructure better for the world and faster for the people innovating with AI.

We're looking for problem-solving, opportunity-finding teammates with a sense of urgency, who believe in the scale of our ambition and thrive on a path not fully paved — people who want to grow their careers alongside a team of experts across energy, manufacturing, data center construction, and cloud services.

If you want to do the most meaningful work of your career, help our customers and partners advance their AI strategies, and be part of a high-performing team that believes in each other, come build with us at Crusoe.

About This Role:

Crusoe Cloud seeks a highly skilled and experienced Staff Software Engineer to lead the development and execution of our cutting-edge Software Defined Networking strategy. You will play a pivotal role in driving innovation and performance improvements within our network infrastructure by leveraging advanced technologies such as XDP/EBPF, DPDK, SmartNICs, and DPUs/IPUs.

What You’ll Be Working On:

• Develop and execute the roadmap for Crusoe Cloud's Software Defined Networking strategy.

• Lead the engineering team through all phases of the software development lifecycle, including architecture decisions, design processes, design reviews, code reviews, and implementation tasks.

• Collaborate closely with the network infrastructure organization to develop and deploy industry-leading networking solutions.

• Lead the design, development, and support of Linux Kernel and driver components, focusing on system architecture and optimization.

• Drive the adoption and integration of kernel bypass technologies such as XDP/EBPF, AF_XDP, and DPDK.

• Deeply understand and leverage network accelerators such as Mellanox/Nvidia SmartNICs (ConnectX6/7), DPU Bluefield3, and Intel IPU.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams across the organization to ensure successful project delivery and operational excellence.

What You’ll Bring to the Team:

• 6+ years of proven experience in building and operating high-performance networking systems in a production environment.

• Strong proficiency in system programming languages such as C, C++, and/or Rust.

• Deep expertise in Linux Systems Internals, including kernel architecture, memory management, and device drivers.

• In-depth knowledge of network programming principles and packet processing pipelines.

• Hands-on experience with kernel bypass technologies like XDP/EBPF, AF_XDP, and DPDK.

• Proven understanding of TCP/IP and networking accelerators such as Mellanox/Nvidia SmartNICs, DPU Bluefield3, and Intel IPU.

• Familiarity with technologies like SR-IOV, vDPA, and scalable functions.

• Strong background in kernel or embedded development, with a focus on the Linux kernel.

• Experience with Open vSwitch, Openflow, and Open Virtual Networking technologies.

• Proven ability to effectively communicate and collaborate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Demonstrated commitment to professional software engineering best practices, including coding standards, code reviews, source control management, testing, and operations.

• A strong track record of contributions to the open-source community (e.g., Open vSwitch/OVS, Open Virtual Networking/OVN, Multus, Cilium).

Bonus Points:

• Advanced degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

• Proven leadership experience in a technical role.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Experience with cloud networking platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and virtualization technologies (VMware, KVM).

Benefits:

• Industry competitive pay

• Restricted Stock Units in a fast growing, well-funded technology company

• Health insurance package options that include HDHP and PPO, vision, and dental for you and your dependents

• Employer contributions to HSA accounts

• Paid Parental Leave

• Paid life insurance, short-term and long-term disability

• Teladoc

• 401(k) with a 100% match up to 4% of salary

• Generous paid time off and holiday schedule

• Cell phone reimbursement

• Tuition reimbursement

• Subscription to the Calm app

• MetLife Legal

• Company paid commuter benefit; $300 per month

Compensation:
Compensation will be paid in the range of $185,000 - $224,000 per year + Bonus. Restricted Stock Units are included in all offers. Compensation will be determined based on the applicant's knowledge, education, experience, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Crusoe is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, citizenship, marital status, sex/gender, sexual preference/ orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, national origin, or any other status protected by law or regulation.