Software Engineer - Kubernetes Networking

The Kubernetes Network team at Datadog is responsible for designing, building, and maintaining the networking infrastructure that underpins our global multi-cloud Kubernetes environment. We manage networking at a very large scale, ensuring security, performance, and reliability across several cloud providers.

We are looking for someone with a deep experience in Kubernetes networking drivers. The ideal candidate has experience with Cilium. However, we are also open to candidates with a strong desire to learn and contribute to the Cilium project, while tailoring it to meet Datadog's specific needs. Prior experience with other CNI plugins (such as Calico or Flannel) and/or eBPF would also be beneficial.

You will collaborate with engineering teams across Datadog to enhance and extend Kubernetes networking, optimize performance at scale, push the boundaries of cloud networking capabilities and add new features to expand the user experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and maintain Kubernetes networking infrastructure across multi-cloud environments.
• Enhance and optimize Cilium to meet Datadog’s requirements, while contributing upstream to the project.
• Collaborate with engineering teams to troubleshoot and improve network performance, observability, and security.
• Act as a subject matter expert on Kubernetes networking and mentor other engineers on best practices.
• Work with eBPF-based networking solutions and drive innovation in container networking.
• Partner with Cloud Service Providers to improve and influence their Kubernetes networking solutions.
  
  

Requirements

• Strong software engineering background (Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience).
• 4 years of experience working with Kubernetes networking and CNI plugins.
• Hands-on experience with Cilium (or similar eBPF-based networking solutions).
• Proficiency in at least one programming language (Go, Python, etc.).
• Familiarity with Linux networking internals and performance tuning.
• Knowledge of network security, service mesh, and observability within Kubernetes.
• Hands-on experience with network policy enforcement.
  
  

Bonus points

• Broad generalist expertise in Kubernetes, including workload orchestration, security, observability and performance tuning.
• Experience as a technical leader, mentoring engineers and driving architectural decisions.
• Experience operating large-scale Kubernetes clusters in a multi-cloud environment.
• Experience contributing upstream to Cilium or other open-source Kubernetes networking projects.
• Deep understanding of the Linux network stack,eBPF and similar technologies.
  
  

Datadog offers a competitive salary and equity package, and may include variable compensation. Actual compensation is based on factors such as the candidate's skills, qualifications, and experience. In addition, Datadog offers a wide range of best in class, comprehensive and inclusive employee benefits for this role including healthcare, dental, parental planning, and mental health benefits, a 401(k) plan and match, paid time off, fitness reimbursements, and a discounted employee stock purchase plan.

The reasonably estimated yearly salary for this role at Datadog is:

$130,000—$300,000 USD

About Datadog:

Datadog (NASDAQ: DDOG) is a global SaaS business, delivering a rare combination of growth and profitability. We are on a mission to break down silos and solve complexity in the cloud age by enabling digital transformation, cloud migration, and infrastructure monitoring of our customers’ entire technology stacks. Built by engineers, for engineers, Datadog is used by organizations of all sizes across a wide range of industries. Together, we champion professional development, diversity of thought, innovation, and work excellence to empower continuous growth. Join the pack and become part of a collaborative, pragmatic, and thoughtful people-first community where we solve tough problems, take smart risks, and celebrate one another. Learn more about #DatadogLife on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Datadog Learning Center.

Equal Opportunity at Datadog:

Datadog is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and is proud to offer equal employment opportunity to everyone regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, veteran status, and more. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. Here are our Candidate Legal Notices for your reference.

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Any information you submit to Datadog as part of your application will be processed in accordance with Datadog’s Applicant and Candidate Privacy Notice.