Do you have a passion for making systems run as efficiently as possible?
Does it bother you when they don't?
Join our Compute division's Platform Engineering Team!
Our Linux Performance team is a specialized group that looks to improve the performance and efficiency of Akamai's Intelligent Platform, both virtualized and bare metal. It is part of our larger Linux Engineering team, which provides the Linux kernel and operating system innovation for the Akamai global distributed network composed of 300,000+ servers deployed in 1000+ networks and 100+ countries.
Shape the future of performance at Akamai
This role offers a chance to greatly influence Akamai's business, making it highly fulfilling. Ideal candidates embrace complex problems, love learning, and excel in solving difficult issues. Success requires exceptional system design, programming, debugging expertise, dedication to code quality, and self-direction. A drive to deliver results efficiently and accurately is essential for this position.
As a Principal Software Engineer, you will be responsible for:
- Analyzing system performance, identify problems, design, develop, and implement solutions
- Designing and implementing scalable, high-quality software solutions to meet complex technical requirements and business needs.
- Creating tools to quickly detect system performance issues without delays or inefficiencies.
- Training other Akamai team members to recognize performance problems effectively.
- Collaborating with teams across the organization to implement proposed solutions effectively and efficiently.
Do what you love
To be successful in this role you will:
- Have 10 years of relevant experience and a Bachelor's degree or equivalent
- Have extensive programming experience in C, as well experience in Python, Bash, or Perl
- Possess a deep understanding of the Linux kernel and computer system architectures
- Have experience with virtualization technologies (Qemu, KVM) and hardware offload technologies (VDPA, DPDK, SR-IOV)
- Have experience with performance analysis tools like Linux perf, bcc tools, BPF, etc
- Have experience with concurrent programming, data structures, algorithms, complexity analysis
- Have a proficiency with network protocols, including IP, IPv6, TCP, UDP
Build your career at Akamai
Our ability to shape digital life today relies on developing exceptional people like you. The kind that can turn impossible into possible. We’re doing everything we can to make Akamai a great place to work. A place where you can learn, grow and have a meaningful impact.
With our company moving so fast, it’s important that you’re able to build new skills, explore new roles, and try out different opportunities. There are so many different ways to build your career at Akamai, and we want to support you as much as possible. We have all kinds of development opportunities available, from programs such as GROW and Mentoring, to internal events like the APEX Expo and tools such as Linkedin Learning, all to help you expand your knowledge and experience here.
Learn more
Not sure if this job is the right match for you or want to learn more about the job before you apply? Schedule a 15-minute exploratory call with the Recruiter and they would be happy to share more details.
Skills Required
- 10 years of relevant experience
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent
- Excellent understanding of MySQL internals and performance
- Deep understanding of the Linux kernel and computer system architectures
- Experience with virtualization technologies (QEMU, KVM)
- Experience with hardware offload technologies (vDPA, DPDK, SR-IOV)
- Experience with performance analysis tools (Linux perf, bcc tools, BPF)
- Experience with concurrent programming, data structures, algorithms, and complexity analysis
- Proficiency with network protocols including IP, IPv6, TCP, UDP
- Strong system design, programming, and debugging skills with dedication to code quality
Akamai Technologies Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Akamai Technologies and has not been reviewed or approved by Akamai Technologies.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Unlimited PTO in the U.S., wellness days, paid volunteering time, and the FlexBase model contribute to broad time‑off flexibility. These practices are described as supporting strong work‑life balance.
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Parental & Family Support — Generous paid parental leaves, paid family care leave, subsidized backup childcare, and inclusive family‑building benefits via Carrot form a comprehensive family support suite. Coverage spans fertility support through caregiving resources.
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Retirement Support — A 401(k) with a substantial company match and immediate vesting, plus Roth and Mega Backdoor Roth options, underpin long‑term savings. These features provide reliable long‑term savings opportunities.
Akamai Technologies Insights
What We Do
At Akamai, we make life better for billions of people, billions of times a day. Every moment, billions of people, all over the world, are using the internet to shop, play games, look after finances, learn remotely, share videos, connect across the world, and so much more. These life-shaping digital experiences wouldn’t be possible without Akamai. We power and protect life online. It’s an extraordinary mission, and our global teams achieve it by solving the toughest challenges, and turning the impossible into the possible. With the world’s most distributed compute platform — from cloud to edge — we make it easy for businesses to develop and run applications, while we keep experiences closer to users and threats farther away. That’s why innovative companies worldwide choose Akamai to build, deliver, and secure their digital experiences. Thanks to our world’s most distributed platform for cloud computing, security, and content delivery. Akamai keeps applications and experiences closer and threats farther away. Devoted, determined problem-solvers who share a passion for technology, we’re always pushing ground-breaking ideas and driving innovation. Do you want to power and protect life online, by solving the toughest challenges with us? Be part of an amazing team!
Why Work With Us
Our people are devoted, determined problem-solvers who share a passion for technology. We find solutions through persistence, and push ground-breaking ideas forward with urgency and courage. This creates an environment where we harness creative energy and drive innovation. We are inclusive and diverse, and we love to collaborate across the world.
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