Principal Software Engineer - SONIC & SAI

Piper Companies is seeking an Principal Software Engineer - SONIC & SAI who will design and develop high-performance-based networking platforms across a diverse system. The software engineer will be onsite 5 days a week located in Saratoga, CA.

Requirements for the Principal Software Engineer - SONIC & SAI include:

• Spearhead the development of SAI/SONiC SDKs by designing abstraction layers that align hardware capabilities with standardized APIs for efficient control plane operations.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with hardware and software engineering teams to ensure smooth integration and high-performance outcomes.
• Engage in the full software development lifecycle, contributing to planning, implementation, deployment, and ongoing support.
• Build and maintain automated testing frameworks to validate SDK functionality and control plane reliability.
  
  

Qualifications for the Principal Software Engineer - SONIC & SAI include:

• Minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience working with the SONiC network operating system with SAI.
• Skilled in developing SDKs for hardware platforms and collaborating with embedded systems teams.
• A deep expertise on the Hardware Abstraction Layer with experience in ISSU and BSP.
• Proficient in C/C and Python programming within Linux-based environments.
• Well-versed in core networking protocols such as BGP, TCP/IP, and Ethernet.
• Demonstrates a strong foundation in low-level system programming and hardware-software integration.
• Holds a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field, with extensive software development experience prior to product launch.
  
  

Compensation for the Principal Software Engineer - SONIC & SAI includes:

• Salary range: $210,000 - $290,000
• Comprehensive benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401k, PTO, holidays, and sick leave as required by law.
  
  

Keywords: Software, software engineer, SONiC, SAI, switch abstraction interface, SDK development, SDK, embedded systems, Linux, C, C , python, git, CI/CD, automated testing, control plane, data plane, TCP/IP, BGP, ethernet, network operating system, NOS, routing protocols, network stack, packet processing, BSP, hardware abstraction layer, HW abstraction layer, ISSU, UART, GPIO, 12C, PCIe, device tree, secure boot, in service software upgrades, VXLAN, EVPN, board support package, board bring up

This job is open for applications on 3/31/2026. Applications for this job will be accepted for at least 30 days from the posting date