Senior Engineer - Network Software
Datum’s mission is to help 1k clouds thrive in the AI era by unlocking internet superpowers for every builder. We’re working in the open to bring the foundational capabilities that all the big guys use (private networking, peering, direct interconnection, etc) into the hands of builders and modern “alt clouds” — no network team required.
One of Datum’s core values is to be connectors: of applications, services, networks, and people. As such, this role (just like all roles at Datum) will work directly with users, customers, partners, and the broader community.
Another key value is to be open by default, from how we license our code (AGPLv3) to how we communicate, engage with, and document our work. We believe this engenders trust from our customers and community, but also because open is the best way to build. It's more secure, more operable, and even more enjoyable.
Still interested? Read on!
The Role
We're looking for a Senior+ Engineer to architect, build, and run the core networking features for Datum Cloud. This is a senior technical leadership role focused on designing scalable, high-performance networking systems that connect fragmented cloud ecosystems and enable seamless, secure AI workload distribution.
You'll work extensively with distributed networking protocols, software-defined networking, and cloud-native infrastructure while solving complex connectivity and performance challenges across multiple cloud providers and edge locations. This role requires deep networking expertise combined with a passion for open-source development and building systems that other engineers love to use.
What You'll Own
Network Infrastructure & Architecture
Design and implement Datum's core networking stack and connectivity fabric
Build software-defined networking solutions for multi-cloud and edge environments
Build high-performance routing, switching, and traffic management systems
Architect network protocols/APIs for seamless workload distribution across providers
Partner with leadership to advance projects with key customers, partners, and suppliers
Distributed Systems & Performance
Design networking solutions that scale from startup to hyperscale usage patterns
Implement intelligent traffic routing, load balancing, and failover mechanisms
Build network observability, monitoring, and diagnostic tools for complex environments
Optimize network performance for AI workloads and high-bandwidth applications
Open Source Leadership
Drive technical networking decisions in collaboration with our open-source community
Review and mentor contributions from external developers on networking components
Maintain high code quality standards and documentation for network APIs
Represent Datum at conferences and in technical working groups
Cloud-Native & AI Integration
Design networking solutions that integrate seamlessly with Kubernetes and AI-forward companies, working with and expanding our MCP and skills-based interfaces to the platform
Build network policies and security frameworks for multi-tenant cloud environments
Implement service mesh integration and east-west traffic optimization
Ensure compatibility with major cloud provider networking services (AWS, GCP, Azure)
About You
Network Engineering Expertise
8+ years of network engineering experience with large-scale production systems
Deep understanding of networking and related protocols (BGP, MPLS, TCP/IP, HTTP/3, QUIC, TLS)
Extensive experience with software-defined networking (SDN) and overlays, container networking and hypervisors
Expert knowledge of routing, switching, NAT traversal, zero-trust, and security
Distributed Systems & Programming
Strong programming skills in Rust or C++ for high-performance networking apps
Experience with distributed systems design, consensus algorithms, and fault tolerance
Passion for network performance, packet processing, and kernel networking
Familiarity with SRv6, eBPF, DPDK, VPP, mpTCP and other advanced networking technologies
Cloud & Infrastructure Experience
Extensive experience with multi-cloud networking and hybrid cloud connectivity
Deep knowledge of Kubernetes networking, CNI plugins, and service mesh architectures
Experience with code-driven infra for network provisioning
Love of edge computing, CDN architectures, and global traffic management
Experience with Envoy or other network-focused edge workloads
Open Source & Leadership
Track record of contributing to or maintaining networking-focused open-source projects
Experience mentoring engineers and driving technical decision-making in teams
Understanding of open-source governance, community building, and public development
Passion for building networking tools that other developers and operators love to use
Technology Stack
Languages: Rust (primary), Go
Networking: BGP, QUIC, Cilium, Iroh
Infrastructure: Envoy, Kubernetes, Pulumi, NetBox
Cloud Platforms: AWS, GCP, Azure, multi-cloud networking
Monitoring: Prometheus, Grafana, OpenTelemetry, network flow analysis
Development: GitHub, CI/CD, automated testing, network simulation
Open Source Commitment
This role involves significant public development work. You'll be:
Contributing to Datum's public networking repositories with transparent development
Engaging with the community through GitHub issues, RFCs, and technical discussions
Speaking at networking conferences and writing technical blog posts
Collaborating with external contributors, cloud providers, and other partners
Maintaining high standards for code quality, performance, and documentation
What Success Looks Like
Adoption and growth for Datum in the cloud-native and AI infrastructure communities
High-performance, reliable network connectivity across diverse cloud environments
Strong developer experience as evidenced by community contributions and feedback
Technical leadership recognized within the networking and distributed infra ecosystem
Scalable network architecture supporting the next generation of AI hyperscalers
We believe in openness, clarity, and collaboration. To learn more about how Datum aims to operate, please review our public handbook.