Lead Software Engineer (C++) - Ad Tech & Distributed Systems - FreeWheel

Reposted 17 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Chicago, IL, USA
Hybrid
153K-229K Annually
Expert/Leader
Digital Media • Information Technology • News + Entertainment
Come to Comcast and bring connection to life.
The Role
Lead reliability, performance, and operational excellence for large-scale ad-tech distributed systems. Design and operate monitoring, incident response, capacity planning, automation, and secure production infrastructure. Mentor engineers, influence architecture for production readiness, run on-call rotations, and drive continuous improvement of engineering operations and observability.
Summary Generated by Built In
FreeWheel, a Comcast company, provides comprehensive ad platforms for publishers, advertisers, and media buyers. Powered by premium video content, robust data, and advanced technology, we're making it easier for buyers and sellers to transact across all screens, data types, and sales channels. As a global company, we have offices in nine countries and can insert advertisements around the world.
Job Summary
We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer (C++) to join a team responsible for building and enhancing a large-scale, real-time advertising platform that operates at massive scale. This role focuses on developing high-performance backend services that process millions of concurrent requests, optimize ad delivery decisions, and maintain ultra-low latency response times across a distributed cloud infrastructure. The ideal candidate has deep expertise in C++ development, distributed systems, concurrency, and high-throughput application design. You'll work on mission-critical services that sit at the core of the advertising ecosystem, handling complex decisioning logic and real-time integrations with external demand partners and marketplaces.
Job Description
Core Responsibilities
  • Design, develop, and optimize high-performance C++ applications that power a large-scale ad serving platform.
  • Build and maintain backend systems capable of processing millions of concurrent requests with low latency and high availability.
  • Develop new platform capabilities while ensuring system stability, scalability, and performance under heavy workloads.
  • Enhance systems that process ad requests, communicate with external bidding partners, evaluate responses, and return optimized decisions in real time.
  • Design and implement resilient distributed services across multi-region cloud environments.
  • Optimize application performance for high Query Per Second (QPS) workloads and high-concurrency traffic patterns.
  • Collaborate with engineering teams to architect failover, disaster recovery, and high-availability solutions.
  • Create efficient database queries and data access layers utilizing MySQL and Aerospike.
  • Troubleshoot performance bottlenecks across application, database, and infrastructure layers.
  • Participate in architecture discussions, code reviews, and technical design initiatives.
  • Monitor and continuously improve system reliability, scalability, and operational efficiency.
Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 5+ years of professional software development experience using C++.
  • Experience building and supporting high-volume, high-concurrency distributed systems.
  • Strong understanding of multithreading, concurrency, memory management, and performance optimization.
  • Experience designing and operating low-latency, real-time applications.
  • Knowledge of cloud platforms including AWS, Azure, or GCP.
  • Experience working with relational databases, particularly MySQL.
  • Familiarity with distributed data stores such as Aerospike, Kafka, Snowflake, etc.
  • Strong understanding of scalable microservices and service-oriented architectures.
  • Experience with monitoring, troubleshooting, and performance tuning large-scale production systems.

Comcast is an EOE/Veterans/Disabled/LGBT employer.
Comcast is an equal opportunity workplace. We will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.
Skills:
C++ Programming Language; AWS OpsWorks; Python (Programming Language); Systems Design
Salary:
Illinois Pay Range: $152,828.79 - $229,243.19
Comcast intends to offer the selected candidate base pay within this range, dependent on job-related, non-discriminatory factors such as experience. The application window is 30 days from the date job is posted, unless the number of applicants requires it to close sooner or later.
Base pay is one part of the Total Rewards that Comcast provides to compensate and recognize employees for their work. Most sales positions are eligible for a Commission under the terms of an applicable plan, while most non-sales positions are eligible for a Bonus. Additionally, Comcast provides best-in-class Benefits to eligible employees. We believe that benefits should connect you to the support you need when it matters most, and should help you care for those who matter most. That's why we provide an array of options, expert guidance and always-on tools, that are personalized to meet the needs of your reality - to help support you physically, financially and emotionally through the big milestones and in your everyday life. Please visit the compensation and benefits summary on our careers site for more details.
Education
Bachelor's Degree
While possessing the stated degree is preferred, Comcast also may consider applicants who hold some combination of coursework and experience, or who have extensive related professional experience.
Relevant Work Experience
7-10 Years

Skills Required

  • 10+ years professional experience in software development/engineering
  • 5+ years experience with AWS
  • Expert-level coding, debugging, and troubleshooting across complex distributed production systems
  • Proven ability to lead and mentor engineers in automation, reliability engineering, and production problem-solving
  • Designing and operating server-side applications or services using Python, Go-Lang, or Scala
  • Developing, operating, and troubleshooting distributed systems and backend services
  • Familiarity with data processing platforms, data pipelines, and large-scale system architectures
  • Deep knowledge of Linux systems, system internals, networking, and production infrastructure
  • Extensive experience with AWS cloud architecture and services including VPC, subnets, NACLs, security groups, EC2, S3, IAM, Route 53, Lambda
  • Proficiency with infrastructure-as-code and configuration management tools and practices
  • Mastery of CI/CD and SDLC tools (Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins, Git, Ansible, Chef, Puppet)
  • Strong understanding of database technologies, SQL, performance tuning, and operational data management
  • Advanced analytical, data-driven problem-solving skills and strong communication
  • Bachelor's degree (or equivalent coursework/experience)

What the Team is Saying

Justin
Ying
Margi
James
Jackie-Jane

Comcast Compensation & Benefits Highlights

  • Healthcare Strength Company-sponsored medical, dental, and vision plans with 24/7 virtual care and mental-health resources (therapy/coaching and Calm app) are prominently offered. Feedback suggests these pillars are a standout component of the package.
  • Retirement Support A 401(k) with company match, financial coaching, and tuition reimbursement are consistently highlighted in official materials, and many roles note access to an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. These programs are positioned as meaningful parts of total rewards.
  • Parental & Family Support Paid parental leave for primary and non‑primary caregivers, fertility and family‑forming coverage, adoption/surrogacy reimbursements, and backup child/elder care are called out. Feedback suggests this breadth is a notable strength for caregivers.

Comcast Insights

Am I A Good Fit?
beta
Get Personalized Job Insights.
Our AI-powered fit analysis compares your resume with a job listing so you know if your skills & experience align.

The Company
HQ: Philadelphia, PA
115,000 Employees
Year Founded: 1963

What We Do

Welcome to Comcast. From the connectivity and platforms we provide to the content and experiences we create, we bring people together, globally. Our people think the world of our work, and that’s why our work is the best in the world.

Why Work With Us

We believe you can achieve extraordinary things when you feel connected - to the work you do and who you do it with. From the platforms we provide to millions of people, to the content and experiences we create - we bring our customers, viewers and teammates closer together across the globe.

Gallery

Gallery
Gallery
Gallery
Gallery
Gallery
Gallery

Comcast Offices

Hybrid Workspace

Employees engage in a combination of remote and on-site work.

Typical time on-site: 4 days a week
HQComcast Center
India
Los Angeles Entertainment Office
Atlanta Corporate Office
Beijing Office
Chicago Corporate Office
Denver Corporate Office
Sky Headquarters
Miami Corporate Office
Milan Office
Munich Office
NBCUniversal Headquarters
Comcast Technology Center
São Paulo Office
Singapore Regional Hub
Sunnyvale Technology Office
Sydney Office
Tokyo Office
Learn more

Similar Jobs

Comcast Logo Comcast

Senior Software Engineer

Digital Media • Information Technology • News + Entertainment
Hybrid
Chicago, IL, USA
115000 Employees
130K-194K Annually

Comcast Logo Comcast

Senior Account Executive

Digital Media • Information Technology • News + Entertainment
Hybrid
Homewood, IL, USA
115000 Employees
69K-119K Annually

Comcast Logo Comcast

Senior Account Executive

Digital Media • Information Technology • News + Entertainment
Hybrid
Champaign, IL, USA
115000 Employees
65K-115K Annually

Comcast Logo Comcast

Sr. Manager - Small & Medium Business Direct Sales, Comcast Business

Digital Media • Information Technology • News + Entertainment
Hybrid
Schaumburg, IL, USA
115000 Employees
99K-166K Annually

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account