Question
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Software Engineer I

5/6/2026

Develop and maintain the operating system for layer 1 networking products to support new functions and correct errors. Collaborate with the software team on design practices, code reviews, and root cause analysis.

Salary

86000 - 94500 USD

Working Hours

40 hours/week

Company Size

11-50 employees

Language

English

Visa Sponsorship

No

About The Company
Optical Transport Pioneers by Nature — Partners by Choice. XKL is dedicated to creating a more equitable and better-connected world. Our team has been at the leading edge of network innovation for 30+ years, and we put that expertise to work for you — collaboratively. Optical networking is all we do, enabling you to do it better than anyone else. Helping businesses of all sizes, XKL expands and reimagines networks innovatively with built-to-order yet cost-effective DWDM solutions. XKL’s Layer 1 optical networking solutions deliver the capabilities and reliability required to meet even the most challenging network demands. XKL is privately owned by Len Bosack, the co-founder of Cisco Systems. Len, whose early work on multi-protocol routers at Stanford University paved the way for the modern internet, received the 2009 IEEE Computer Society's Computer Entrepreneur Award for pioneering and commercializing routing technology. He started XKL with a unique vision in mind: to further advance a mission to create reliable, easy-to-use, customer-focused data communication solutions accessible to all.
About the Role

Description

  

Software Engineer I

Redmond, WA

Description

At XKL, we set ourselves an aggressive mission: to identify problems in emerging network infrastructure even before these obstacles become evident to the Internet community. With this forward-looking approach, we help provide the solutions necessary for the future growth and development of the communications industry.  We push the limits of technology, tools, components, and test the unproven. XKL's layer 1 optical networking products utilize cutting-edge DWDM technology in a compact footprint to help customers maximize their bandwidth, while minimizing their precious rack space, power and cooling. 

XKL is privately-owned by Leonard Bosack, the co-founder of Cisco Systems. He is a pioneer in the field of computer networking, having developed the multi-protocol router while working at Stanford University in the 1980s. His work laid the foundation for the modern internet and paved the way for the creation of Cisco Systems, which has become one of the world's leading technology companies. He started XKL to further advance his mission of providing reliable, easy to use, customer-focused data communication solutions.

We are currently seeking to expand our software team in Redmond WA. The Software Engineer I will work to develop the capabilities of the XKL layer 1 networking products operating system to support new products and to maintain and improve existing system functions. This role will collaborate with other team members on software development, to ensure consistency and adherence of design practices and begin to contribute as a subject matter expert in a specialized technical domain. 

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Participate in software development plans, including scoping, scheduling, and implementation.

• In partnership with SW team, develop software in C on new and existing systems to provide new functions and to correct errors

• Perform general debugging

• Analyze software requirements; translate them into design specifications and participate in implementation reviews with peers

• Adhere to established coding and architectural standards

• Participate in code reviews of team members’ work

• Assist with the development of test scenarios and root cause analyses (replicate, debug)

• Develop personal expertise in one or more areas of the product’s technical domain and provide subject matter expertise to the software team

• Participate in thought partnership with fellow software developers

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or a related field

• Experience working with C and/or C++

• Intermediate skill with engineering tools (IDEs, diagramming, compilation, build, testing)

• Knowledge of operating systems

• Communicate technical matters clearly and succinctly, both written and verbal

• Ability to write clean, well-documented, testable code utilizing code requirements

• Proficiency to conduct research into software-related issues and products

• Experience with Git and Gitlab (or similar revision control system)

• Able to work both independently and in a team, collaborating with other developers

• Ability to understand hardware and architecture

• Prior experience programming in assembly language

NICE TO HAVES

• Versed in at least one scripting language

• Linux skills

• Ability to write unit test 

• Knowledge of network and routing protocols

• Experience with the C/UNIX development environment, libraries and tool sets

• Knowledge of multi-threaded programming concepts

• Experience with software that programs hardware devices (Firmware)

XKL'S PERKS 

We recognize and value our employees and strive to create a healthy and supportive environment for our team. Here are some of the "perks" we provide to ensure our company can thrive:

· Competitive compensation with salary range of $86,000 – $94,500, commensurate with experience

  • Company sponsored Medical, Dental, Vision,  FSA/HSA, LTD & Life insurance plans for employees and dependents
  • Competitive PTO package offered, plus 10 paid holidays
  • Retirement 401k plan
  • Receive mentorship and collaborate with leaders who helped shape the telecommunications industry 

XKL, LLC provides equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other basis protected by state or federal law.

Key Skills
CC++GitGitlabAssembly LanguageOperating SystemsDebuggingSoftware DesignUnit TestingLinuxFirmwareMulti-threaded ProgrammingNetwork ProtocolsRouting ProtocolsC/UNIX DevelopmentHardware Architecture
Categories
SoftwareTechnologyEngineering
Benefits
Medical InsuranceDental InsuranceVision InsuranceFSA/HSALTDLife InsurancePaid Time OffPaid Holidays401k Retirement PlanMentorship
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