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.