About the Job
Red Hat is seeking a Principal Software Engineer to join our global OpenShift Networking team. In this highly visible role, you will help define the future of networking for Red Hat OpenShift by designing, architecting, and delivering scalable, secure, and innovative networking solutions.
You will work as part of a distributed, global engineering organization, collaborating closely with platform, infrastructure, and upstream open source communities. This role combines deep technical leadership, hands‑on engineering, and strong collaboration across teams and customers.
What You Will Do
Architect and implement advanced networking solutions for next‑generation platforms, including Kubernetes and Red Hat OpenShift
Own and elevate quality across the networking stack through design reviews, peer code reviews, CI/CD practices, and proactive security engagement, including CVE resolution
Provide technical leadership by shaping architecture, mentoring engineers, and influencing technical direction across teams
Engage deeply with upstream communities, leading and contributing to projects such as Kubernetes, OVN-Kubernetes, Multus, and Open Virtual Networking (OVN)
Collaborate across Red Hat engineering teams to deliver cohesive platform networking solutions
Apply deep networking expertise to help customers and partners solve complex, real‑world problems with pragmatic and innovative solutions
Represent Red Hat networking expertise with customers, partners, and open source communities as a trusted technical authority
What You Will Bring
Proactively utilize AI-assisted development tools (e.g., Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, Cursor) for code generation, auto-completion, and intelligent suggestions to accelerate development cycles and enhance code quality.
Deep expertise in computer networking, including strong knowledge of switching and routing protocols
Experience with cloud technologies, software‑defined networking (SDN), and network functions virtualization (NFV)
Proficiency in one or more programming languages such as Go, Python, C, or C++
Strong understanding of open source development models and community‑driven software
Proven ability to design new architectures, evaluate trade‑offs, and influence technical strategy
A proactive mindset with a passion for solving hard problems and delivering high‑quality solutions
Ability to thrive in a highly collaborative, distributed, and diverse environment
Strong written and verbal communication skills in English
The following are considered a plus:
Hands‑on experience with Kubernetes, Red Hat OpenShift, or container networking technologies
Knowledge of Linux networking internals and tooling
Experience developing for public cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud (GCE), or Microsoft Azure
Comfort presenting technical topics to customers, partners, and senior stakeholders
Prior open source contributions, or experience as a maintainer or core contributor
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Pay Transparency
Red Hat determines compensation based on several factors including but not limited to job location, experience, applicable skills and training, external market value, and internal pay equity. Annual salary is one component of Red Hat’s compensation package. This position may also be eligible for bonus, commission, and/or equity. For positions with Remote-US locations, the actual salary range for the position may differ based on location but will be commensurate with job duties and relevant work experience.
About Red Hat
Red Hat is the world’s leading provider of enterprise open source software solutions, using a community-powered approach to deliver high-performing Linux, cloud, container, and Kubernetes technologies. Spread across 40+ countries, our associates work flexibly across work environments, from in-office, to office-flex, to fully remote, depending on the requirements of their role. Red Hatters are encouraged to bring their best ideas, no matter their title or tenure. We're a leader in open source because of our open and inclusive environment. We hire creative, passionate people ready to contribute their ideas, help solve complex problems, and make an impact.
Benefits
● Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
● Flexible Spending Account - healthcare and dependent care
● Health Savings Account - high deductible medical plan
● Retirement 401(k) with employer match
● Paid time off and holidays
● Paid parental leave plans for all new parents
● Leave benefits including disability, paid family medical leave, and paid military leave
● Additional benefits including employee stock purchase plan, family planning reimbursement, tuition reimbursement, transportation expense account, employee assistance program, and more!
Note: These benefits are only applicable to full time, permanent associates at Red Hat located in the United States.
Inclusion at Red Hat
Red Hat’s culture is built on the open source principles of transparency, collaboration, and inclusion, where the best ideas can come from anywhere and anyone. When this is realized, it empowers people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences to come together to share ideas, challenge the status quo, and drive innovation. Our aspiration is that everyone experiences this culture with equal opportunity and access, and that all voices are not only heard but also celebrated. We hope you will join our celebration, and we welcome and encourage applicants from all the beautiful dimensions that compose our global village.
Equal Opportunity Policy (EEO)
Red Hat is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and an affirmative action employer. We review applications for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, veteran status, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, or any other basis prohibited by law.
Red Hat does not seek or accept unsolicited resumes or CVs from recruitment agencies. We are not responsible for, and will not pay, any fees, commissions, or any other payment related to unsolicited resumes or CVs except as required in a written contract between Red Hat and the recruitment agency or party requesting payment of a fee.Red Hat supports individuals with disabilities and provides reasonable accommodations to job applicants. If you need assistance completing our online job application, email [email protected]. General inquiries, such as those regarding the status of a job application, will not receive a reply.
Red Hat Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Red Hat and has not been reviewed or approved by Red Hat.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is presented as comprehensive, spanning medical, dental, and vision along with life and disability coverage. Access to HSA/FSA options and broadly positive reception of health benefits support the view that healthcare is a core strength.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Time-off offerings are described as generous, with substantial PTO for new hires plus additional recharge days and an end-of-year shutdown for many non-critical roles. Paid volunteer time, holidays, sick days, and supportive expectations around taking time off reinforce the breadth of leave benefits.
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Strong & Reliable Incentives — The rewards package includes performance bonuses and a recurring quarterly bonus program tied to company and individual performance. Availability of ESPP participation further adds to incentive pathways beyond base pay.
Red Hat Insights
What We Do
At Red Hat, we connect an innovative community of customers, partners, and contributors to deliver an open source stack of trusted, high-performing solutions. We offer cloud, Linux, middleware, storage, and virtualization technologies, together with award-winning global customer support, consulting, and implementation services. Red Hat is a rapidly growing company supporting more than 90% of Fortune 500 companies.
Why Work With Us
Red Hatters freely exchange different viewpoints, contribute ideas, and solve problems together. Our love of collaboration, accountability, a sense of community, and a measure of autonomy combine to create a powerful force that fosters innovation and makes Red Hat a great place to work.
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