Staff Software Engineer- Network Systems - Federal

Company Description
It all started in sunny San Diego, California in 2004 when a visionary engineer, Fred Luddy, saw the potential to transform how we work. Fast forward to today - ServiceNow stands as a global market leader, bringing innovative AI-enhanced technology to over 8,100 customers, including 85% of the Fortune 500®. Our intelligent cloud-based platform seamlessly connects people, systems, and processes to empower organizations to find smarter, faster, and better ways to work. But this is just the beginning of our journey. Join us as we pursue our purpose to make the world work better for everyone.
Job Description
Please Note:This position will include supporting our US Public Sector customers.
This position requires passing a ServiceNow background screening, USFedPASS (US Federal Personnel Authorization Screening Standards). This includes a credit check, criminal/misdemeanor check and taking a drug test. Any employment is contingent upon passing the screening. Due to Federal requirements, only US citizens, US naturalized citizens or US Permanent Residents, holding a green card, will be considered.
We are currently seeking a Software Engineer to join our Network Services team.
ServiceNow's infrastructure teams operate on a principle of doing things better and smarter than they were done before. To that end, automating network tasks and using tooling to monitor and manage the network is top priority.
The Network Services team is part of our Global Cloud Engineering organization. Global Cloud Engineering architects, builds and operates the network infrastructure that runs our SaaS platform. It is built on the principles of stability, security, ability to scale, high performance, and cost effectiveness.
You will be part of a team that defines and executes innovative ways to deploy, operate and monitor networking systems at scale. In addition to tools, software development and testing, your work will involve interacting with other members of the infrastructure organization, the ServiceNow development teams, and working with network hardware vendors on implementing new hardware and software features.
This position requires an understanding of networking protocols, combined with software tools development expertise. You should have experience designing, developing, and testing software for network automation and have strong track record of success.
What you get to do in this role:

• Design and deploying networks based on business and technical requirements.
• Partner with project and program managers to meet overall timelines and resolution of issues.
• Operate and troubleshoot networks to identify and resolve issues quickly.
• Take a lead role in the engagement and mitigation of outage causing events or issues.
• Validate problem descriptions and perform detailed problem diagnosis; track and update problems in trouble-ticketing system.
• Perform non-critical investigations into functionality that is not working as desired.
• Engage deeply in the sustainment function to proactively analyze network parameters such as capacity and availability to ensure issues are fixed before they cause an outage.
• Review, consult and prepare for planned change introduction to production environment.
• Participate in rotating "on call" schedule with other members of the team including weekends.
• Partner with teams to plan and execute software code upgrades and device maintenance.
• Partner with the Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) team to provide mentorship and input on operational process improvements.
• Provide feedback to infrastructure architects on design issues or improvements and input into the design process for new initiatives.

Qualifications
To be successful in this role you have:

• Experience in leveraging or critically thinking about how to integrate AI into work processes, decision-making, or problem-solving. This may include using AI-powered tools, automating workflows, analyzing AI-driven insights, or exploring AI's potential impact on the function or industry
• 6+ years of progressive software development experience with a focus on network systems and technology
• Proficiency in at least two programming languages (e.g., Python, Go, Java, JavaScript), coupled with a strong understanding of software design patterns, data structures, algorithms, and testing methodologies
• Expert-level experience with CI/CD and Infrastructure as Code tools such as GitLab CI, GitHub Actions, Jenkins, Terraform (including multi-region provisioning), and Ansible for configuration management
• Solid networking foundation including TCP/IP (IPv4/IPv6), DNS, HTTP/HTTPS, routing protocols (BGP, OSPF), Layer 4/Layer 7, and network security concepts (firewalls, VPNs, TLS/SSL, certificate management, traffic routing)
• Extensive experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, or GCP), including expertise in compute, storage, networking services, cost management, and multi-environment strategies
• Hands-on experience with container technologies (Docker, Podman) and Kubernetes orchestration platforms
• Knowledge of load balancing technologies, including F5, Envoy, NGINX+, and Cilium, as well as Envoy service mesh technologies and the xDS control plane architecture
• Experience with infrastructure monitoring, metrics collection, and observability platforms (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, Splunk)
• Knowledge of network security tools including nftables, iptables, and firewall management
• Demonstrated experience with large-scale infrastructure migrations
• Ability to critically assess and integrate AI into work processes, decision-making, or problem-solving
• Bachelor or Master's degree in Computer Science or related field strongly preferred GCS-23

GCS-23
For positions in California (outside of the Bay Area), we offer a base pay of $147,300 - $257,800 plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensation and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the base pay shown is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies and work location. We also offer health plans, including flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, matching donations, a flexible time away plan and family leave programs (subject to eligibility requirements). Compensation is based on the geographic location in which the role is located, and is subject to change based on work location. For individuals who will be working in the Bay Area, there is a pay enhancement for positions located in that geographical area; please contact your recruiter for additional information.
Additional Information
Work Personas
We approach our distributed world of work with flexibility and trust. Work personas (flexible, remote, or required in office) are categories that are assigned to ServiceNow employees depending on the nature of their work. Learn more here .
Equal Opportunity Employer
ServiceNow is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or nationality, ancestry, age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, veteran status, or any other category protected by law. In addition, all qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with legal requirements.
Accommodations
We strive to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are unable to use this online application and need an alternative method to apply, please contact [email protected] for assistance.
Export Control Regulations
For positions requiring access to controlled technology subject to export control regulations, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), ServiceNow may be required to obtain export control approval from government authorities for certain individuals. All employment is contingent upon ServiceNow obtaining any export license or other approval that may be required by relevant export control authorities.
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