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Senior/Lead Software Engineer, Packet Forwarding
Posted by Arista Networks on 22 September 2026, 18 days ago. Still on their SmartRecruiters board when we checked 33 min ago.
Read out of the posting
LevelNot stated
Experience askedNot stated
EmploymentNot stated
LocationNashua, NH, United States
RemoteNot stated
Visa sponsorshipNot stated
SalaryNot published, and most postings do not
Posted2026-09-22
Found viasmartrecruiters, direct from their system
We saw it 18 days after it went up.
The posting, as the company wrote it
Employment: Full-time
Experience level: Mid-Senior Level
Job Description
Who You'll Work With
Arista Networks is looking for world-class Senior/Lead  Packet   Forwarding  Engine (PFE)  Software  Engineers.
As a Senior/Lead PFE  Software  Engineer, you will collaborate and work with customers, product management and engineers to design and build novel  packet   forwarding  features in  EOS  that help networks run effectively and efficiently. You will need to understand the  packet   forwarding  architecture in depth and figure out how to apply it optimally to solve customer problems. You will design the  packet   forwarding  flow, design data structures and algorithms to render the  packet   forwarding  state used by the  forwarding  engine for efficiency and scale, and tie it all together with the higher layers. 
In this role, you will get to confront complex, multi-dimensional problems such as
“Upgrade  software  on a  switch  with no more than a few milliseconds of downtime”
“Render a  routing  table with >1M routes into the  forwarding  path on a  router  with a hundred   forwarding  chips”
 that are open ended, challenging, fun and require strong problem solving skills.
Arista  Software  Engineering roles demand a strong and broad  software  engineering background. While the primary focus area for this role is  packet   forwarding , the role will cover all aspects of  software  development spanning the addition of new features, debugging problems and fine tuning code for scalability and performance. You will own your projects from definition to deployment and customer interactions, and you will be responsible for the quality of everything you deliver.
Arista  Software  Engineering prides itself on a supportive and growth oriented culture. Over time, as your interests change, coupled with evolving business needs you will have the opportunity to  switch  from  packet   forwarding  to other areas, if you like.
What You’ll Do
Interface with customers and product management to define  packet   forwarding  features and solutions.
Architect, design and manage the development of these features.
Develop and maintain features using C,  C++  and  Python , review and contribute to functional and design specifications. Build automated tests and test infrastructure to test the features.
Provide technical leadership across features, projects and tools.
Work with Customer Support Engineers and customers to analyze, mitigate and fix problems in customer networks.
Work with the System  Test  Engineers to analyze problems found in their tests and provide fixes for those problems.
Mentor new and junior engineers to bring them up to speed in Arista's  software  development environment.
Qualifications
BS Computer Science/Electrical Engineering/Computer Engineering + 8 years experience, or MS Computer Science/Electrical Engineering/Computer Engineering + 6 years experience, or Ph.D. in Computer Science/Electrical Engineering/Computer Engineering + 3 years experience, or equivalent work experience
Expert knowledge of C or  C++  and  Python .
Knowledge of UNIX or Linux
Understanding of IP networking and/or distributed  systems
Experience working with  packet   forwarding  chips and pipelines is a plus
Applied understanding of  software  engineering principles
Strong problem solving and  software  troubleshooting skills
Ability to design a solution and implement features independently.
Ability to work in small teams.
#LI-SZ1
Additional Information
Arista Networks is an equal opportunity employer.  Arista makes all hiring and employment-related decisions in a non-discriminatory manner without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or any other factor determined to be unlawful under applicable federal, state, or law law.  All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Company Description
Arista Networks is an industry leader in data-driven, client-to-cloud networking for large data center, campus and routing environments. What sets us apart is our relentless pursuit of innovation. We leverage the latest advancements in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and software-defined networking to provide our clients with a competitive edge in an increasingly interconnected world. Our solutions are designed to not only meet the current demands of the digital landscape but to also anticipate and adapt to future challenges.
At Arista we value the diversity of thought and perspectives that each employee brings to the table. We  believe that fostering an inclusive environment, where individuals from various backgrounds and experiences feel welcome, is essential for driving creativity and innovation.
Our commitment to excellence has earned us several prestigious awards, such as Best Engineering Team, Best Company for Diversity, Compensation, and Work-Life Balance. At Arista, we take pride in our track record of success and strive to maintain the highest standards of quality and performance in everything we do.
Also open at Arista Networks
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