Principal Software Engineer, Forwarding Plane

About the Role Alkira, a Lumen company, is seeking a Principal Software Engineer, Forwarding Plane to lead the architecture, design, and evolution of our next-generation cloud networking Forwarding Plane platform. This is a highly visible technical leadership role responsible for building and scaling the core packet-processing infrastructure that powers Alkira's cloud networking and security services. You will own critical Forwarding Plane technologies including flow /session management, NAT, policy enforcement, secure cloud connectivity, and traffic optimization. As a hands-on technical leader, you will drive architectural decisions, develop high-performance networking software, and mentor engineering teams while helping define the future of cloud networking infrastructure. The ideal candidate combines deep expertise in systems programming, deep knowledge in VPP/DPDK and other kernel bypass technologies, cloud networking, Linux internals, and high-performance packet processing with a passion for solving complex distributed systems challenges. Location: This position is a hybrid role and requires onsite collaboration with the team at our San Jose, CA office 2 - 3 times during the weekWhat You'll Do Platform Architecture & Ownership Own the architecture, design, implementation, and long-term technical roadmap of Alkira's core Forwarding Plane platform. Define scalable and resilient networking architectures supporting enterprise-grade cloud networking and security services. Drive technical strategy for Forwarding Plane reliability, scalability, observability, and maintainability. Establish engineering standards and best practices across Forwarding Plane development effort High-Performance Networking Development Design and develop high-performance packet-processing systems and networking services. Build and enhance Forwarding Plane components including: Flow/Session management Network Address Translation (NAT) Policy enforcement Traffic steering and load balancing IPsec and secure tunnel processing Cloud connectivity services Develop performance-critical software in C for Linux-based environments. Optimize packet-processing pipelines for throughput, latency, and resource efficiency. Expertise in cloud networking across AWS, Azure, GCP and other cloud service providers Performance Engineering Drive end-to-end performance optimization across the networking stack. Leverage modern packet-processing frameworks such as DPDK and VPP. Evaluate and integrate emerging technologies including: Hardware acceleration Kernel bypass technologies Cloud-native networking innovations Perform deep performance analysis, profiling, debugging, and tuning of production systems. Technical Leadership Lead architecture reviews and drive technical decision-making across teams. Mentor senior and staff-level engineers on networking and systems design. Partner with product management, platform engineering, and security teams to deliver strategic initiatives. Influence technology direction and guide the adoption of networking best practices across the organization. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree in computer science, Computer Engineering, or related discipline; Master's degree preferred. 12+ years of software engineering experience with significant focus on networking and systems software. Expert proficiency in C. Deep understanding of Linux operating systems, networking subsystems, and kernel internals. Extensive systems programming experience in performance-sensitive environments. Strong expertise in TCP/IP networking fundamentals and protocols. Hands-on experience developing high-performance Forwarding Planeor packet-processing software. Deep knowledge of: NAT Stateful connection tracking IPsec Routing and forwarding technologies Firewall and policy enforcement systems Network security concepts Experience with DPDK, VPP, or similar high-performance packet-processing frameworks. Proven experience analyzing and optimizing software for performance, scalability, and reliability. Demonstrated technical leadership and mentoring experience. Preferred Qualifications Experience building cloud networking platforms in AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. Knowledge of SD-WAN, SASE, ZTNA, and cloud security architectures. Experience with VPP/DPDK, kernel bypass technologies. Advanced Linux networking frameworks. Experience contributing to open-source networking projects. Strong background in distributed systems and highly available networking services. Experience designing and operating multi-tenant cloud networking platforms. ABOUT ALKIRAAlkira, a Lumen company, is building the future of enterprise networking: one programmable platform to connect, secure, and operate every cloud, site, partner, data center, and AI workload.Founded by Amir and Atif Khan, the creators of Viptela and pioneers of the SD-WAN market, Alkira was built to radically simplify how enterprises deploy and manage network infrastructure. Today, as part of Lumen, we are bringing that cloud-native operating model to a global network foundation trusted by the world’s largest enterprises.Our platform helps customers move faster without managing hardware, stitching together providers, or operating fragmented cloud networks. Teams can build and scale connectivity on demand, apply consistent security and segmentation, and gain visibility across distributed environments from one place.At Alkira, you’ll help shape the next chapter of networking: cloud-like consumption, private-network performance, and total control across the enterprise. We move fast, solve hard problems, and build technology that changes how global businesses connect.COMPENSATION This information reflects the anticipated base salary range for this position based on current national data. Minimums and maximums may vary based on location. Individual pay is based on skills, experience and other relevant factors. Location Based Pay Ranges: $167,273 - $278,789Life at Alkira, a Lumen Connect SolutionLife at Alkira is human and connected, even in a fast moving, AI‑focused organization. We set clear expectations and trust people to meet them. With real support and shared accountability, teams collaborate better, move faster, and deliver meaningful outcomes. Our Lumen 8 behaviors guide how we interact, make decisions, and work together, shaping a culture built to perform and win. To learn more about Life at Alkira, a Lumen Connect Solutionand how we live into the Lumen 8, please visit: Background ScreeningIf you are selected for a position, there will be a background screen, which may include checks for criminal records and/or motor vehicle reports and/or drug screening, depending on the position requirements. For more information on these checks, please refer to the Post Offer section of our FAQ page. Job-related concerns identified during the background screening may disqualify you from the new position or your current role. Background results will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.Equal Employment OpportunitiesWe are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, citizenship, national origin, religion, veteran status, disability, genetic characteristic or information, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, family status, pregnancy, or other legally protected status (collectively, “protected statuses”). We do not tolerate unlawful discrimination in any employment decisions, including recruiting, hiring, compensation, promotion, benefits, discipline, termination, job assignments or training.Privacy NoticeAlkira, a Lumen Connect Solution is committed to protecting the privacy and security of personal information collected during the recruitment and hiring process. Our Applicant Privacy Notice explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect applicant information, as well as how individuals may request access to or deletion of their personal data.To review Alkira's Global Employment Applicant and Talent Community Privacy Notice, please visit:DisclaimerThe job responsibilities described above indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not intended to include a comprehensive inventory of all duties and responsibilities for this job. Job duties and responsibilities are subject to change based on evolving business needs and conditions.In any materials you submit, you may redact or remove age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.Please be advised that Alkira, a Lumen Connect Solution does not require any form of payment from job applicants during the recruitment process. All legitimate job openings will be posted on our official website or communicated through official company email addresses. If you encounter any job offers that request payment in exchange for employment at Alkira, a Lumen Connect Solution, they are not for employment with us but may relate to another company with a similar name.DepartmentEngineering - R&DEmployment TypeFull-TimeMinimum ExperienceExperienced