Principal Software Engineer

Job Title:

Principal Software Engineer - Embedded Linux & Optical Networking Systems

Direct Placement, hybrid work schedule

Job Description

This role focuses on developing chassis-level firmware and system control software for large-scale optical networking platforms. You will work on embedded Linux-based user-space applications that sit above low-level real-time firmware, concentrating on system integration, northbound interfaces, networking protocols, redundancy, and overall system reliability. The platform includes a controller and management card acting as the master, multiple line cards handling optical and transport functions, and a user-facing control plane that abstracts and manages the underlying hardware.

You will build and enhance software that manages provisioning, upgrades, fault handling, security, and communication between hardware subsystems and customer-facing interfaces.

Responsibilities

* Develop embedded Linux firmware and system-level software for chassis controllers and management cards.

* Implement and maintain northbound interfaces, including NETCONF, RESTCONF, gRPC, and other APIs used by customer-facing systems.

* Design, implement, and support system provisioning, configuration management, and fault detection capabilities.

* Architect, design, and support in-service software upgrades (ISSU) to enable seamless, zero-downtime software updates where possible.

* Implement redundancy and high-availability logic, such as active/standby controller architectures and failover mechanisms for telecom-grade systems.

* Collaborate closely with line card teams to integrate hardware and optical subsystems into a cohesive chassis-level solution.

* Support lab testing, system bring-up, and integration activities for new hardware and software releases.

* Assist with customer interactions when needed, including troubleshooting, deployment support, and field issue resolution.

* Contribute to security mechanisms, including authentication, access control, and mitigation of misuse or denial-of-service type behavior.

* Ensure robust communication and coordination between hardware subsystems and customer-facing interfaces within the control plane.

* Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and system-level debugging to maintain high quality and reliability.

* Document designs, interfaces, and operational procedures to support ongoing maintenance and future enhancements.

Essential Skills

* Strong experience with Embedded Linux, with emphasis on user-space application development rather than only bare-metal or RTOS environments.

* Systems-level mindset with the ability to design, debug, and optimize complex, networked hardware platforms such as controllers, chassis, or appliances.

* Hands-on experience developing software for network-oriented embedded systems.

* Solid understanding of Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking concepts, including routing fundamentals, switching concepts, and control-plane versus data-plane separation.

* Experience working on networked hardware platforms that include controllers, chassis, or telecom appliances.

* Exposure to optical networking, telecom, or transport systems such as DWDM/OTN systems, optical transport platforms, or carrier-grade networking equipment.

* Familiarity with Layer 0 and Layer 1 concepts, at least at a modeling or management level, in the context of optical or transport systems.

* Proficiency in C and C++ for embedded and systems-level software development.

* Proficiency in Python for tooling, automation, and system-level scripting.

* Experience with embedded software and firmware development in Linux-based environments.

* Ability to design and implement high-availability and redundant systems in telecom or carrier-grade environments.

* Strong debugging and problem-solving skills for complex, distributed, and hardware-integrated systems.

Additional

Skills & Qualifications

* Experience with NETCONF, RESTCONF, or gRPC for implementing northbound management and control interfaces.

* Exposure to optical components such as amplifiers, wavelength selective switches (WSS), optical supervisory channels (OSC), and lasers.

* Experience implementing or supporting in-service…