[Remote] Principal Software Engineer

Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. DataDirect Networks (DDN) is a global market leader in AI and high-performance data storage innovation. They are seeking a Principal Software Engineer to lead NFS architecture across distributed file systems, focusing on performance analysis and optimization for large-scale systems.ResponsibilitiesDefine and own architecture for NFS across distributed file systemsDrive performance analysis and optimization of large-scale, high-performance, scale-out file systemsArchitect performance-aware NFS design and architectureDrive optimization of performance-critical distributed file system code, primarily in C++Help drive best practices for performance measurement, profiling, benchmarking, and regression detectionLead deep-dive investigations into complex, system-wide issuesInfluence system architecture with a performance-first mindset around NFS and accompanying tradeoffs against other protocolsMentor senior and staff engineers on engineering techniques and methodologiesCollaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure goals are met across the stackRepresent NFS considerations in design reviews and long-term roadmap planningSkills15+ years of experience in NFS engineering, systems engineering, or distributed systemsDeep understanding of distributed file systems and scale-out storage architecturesExpert-level knowledge of NFS and distributed file systemsStrong proficiency in C++ with extensive experience in performance-critical codeProven expertise in performance measurement techniques, including profiling, tracing, benchmarking, and custom toolingStrong foundation in distributed systems principles, including scalability, concurrency, and fault toleranceDemonstrated experience optimizing file system or storage system code for performance at scaleExperience with high-performance, high-scale-out file systems in production environmentsExperience with kernel-level and user-space I/O stacksDeep understanding of modern storage hardware (NVMe, SSDs, RDMA, high-speed networking)Experience building or evolving performance frameworks and benchmarking infrastructureBackground in parallel programming, lock-free or low-contention designsExperience influencing architecture across multiple teams or large codebasesCompany OverviewDDN is the world’s leading AI and data intelligence company, powering the world’s most demanding AI workloads by keeping GPUs fed, efficient, and productive—at massive scale—so organizations can train, checkpoint, and infer faster with less footprint and power while achieving tremendous ROI from their AI investments. It was founded in 1998, and is headquartered in Chatsworth, California, USA, with a workforce of 1001-5000 employees. Its website is http://www.ddn.com.Company H1B SponsorshipDDN has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships, with 3 in 2026, 5 in 2025, 3 in 2024, 2 in 2023, 4 in 2022, 3 in 2021. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role.