Principal Software Development Engineer

Fortinet

Confirmed live yesterday High trust

Quick summary

Work type
On-site
Location
Sunnyvale, CA
Salary
$175,000–$245,000 / yr
Employment
Full-time
Posted
144 days ago
Freshness
Confirmed live yesterday
Nearby
99+ roles within 25 mi

Market check

Salary context

Competitive pay

How this pay compares to similar roles

Similar $203k
This role $210k
$127k most similar roles pay here $291k

This role pays more than 63% of similar roles. Most pay $174,600–$231,000 — the shaded band above. At the midpoint, this role pays about $210k versus about $203k for comparable roles.

Based on 240 similar postings.

Employer

About Fortinet

Fortinet is a US-based cybersecurity company best known for its FortiGate next-generation firewalls. It sells a broad security platform spanning network security, SD-WAN, endpoint protection, cloud security, and SIEM/SOC operations.

Fortinet currently has 71 open roles on FindRole.

Listed pay typically runs $150,000–$183,000 across 51 roles with salary data.

Most-posted roles

View all roles at Fortinet

At a glance

TL;DR · Principal Software Development Engineer

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As a Principal Software Development Engineer, you will join the team to troubleshoot complex, system-level, multi-component issues spanning from the kernel to the application layer. You will be responsible for providing system-level optimizations and improvements in the operating system to meet evolving business requirements while maintaining existing OS-related software components. Collaborating with the hardware team, you will support the delivery of a new platform. The role requires deep expertise in Linux kernel internals including scheduling, VFS, memory management, I/O, and network internals like TCP/IP and netfilter. You must possess knowledge of x86 and arm processor architectures. Day-to-day work involves utilizing C, bash, python, and go to solve technical challenges. Experience with virtualization, containers, and cloud technologies is preferred for this role focused on low-level system performance and infrastructure stability.

What does a Software Development Engineer earn in California?

Median $214000 from 72 postings across 9 companies.

See salary data

Skills

Linux Kernel C Bash Python Go TCP/IP x86 ARM Virtualization Netfilter VFS Memory Management I/O Performance Tuning kernel, debugging

What you'll do

  • Troubleshoot complex system-level issues across multiple layers from kernel to application.
  • Provide OS optimizations and improvements to meet evolving business requirements.
  • Maintain existing OS-related software components.
  • Support the hardware team in delivering new platforms.
  • Perform Linux kernel debugging, development, and performance tuning.
  • Optimize network internals including TCP/IP, netfilter, and network drivers.
  • Develop system features using C, Bash, Python, or Go.

What we're looking for

  • B.S./M.S. degree with 8+ years of relevant experience.
  • Hands-on experience with Linux kernel debugging, development, and performance tuning.
  • Detailed knowledge of Linux kernel components including scheduling, VFS, memory management, and I/O.
  • Detailed knowledge of Linux network internals, TCP/IP, netfilter, and network drivers.
  • Good knowledge of processor architectures such as x86 and ARM.
  • Programming skills in C, Bash, Python, and Go.
  • Experience with virtualization, container, or cloud technologies (preferred).
  • US citizenship is required.

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