Senior/Lead Software Engineer, Layer1
Arista NetworksRole Overview
Arista Networks is hiring a Senior/Lead Software Engineer, Layer1. This is a full-time role in Austin. Full responsibilities, required qualifications, and the apply link are listed in the description below.
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Job description
Who You’ll Work With
As a Layer1 software engineer, you will get to work on software that manages the physical layer, where packets meet the outside world. Stable and reliable physical connectivity is critical for any network and that is your challenge. You will get to write control software that brings to life everything from the ubiquitous 1GBASE-T connectors to 400G long reach optics that provide fiber connectivity across continents. Your software will need to work across a wide variety of forwarding engines, connectors and interface chips called gearboxes, which allow our hardware platforms to support diverse physical connectivity options within a product family. You will build instrumentation and telemetry tools that track physical link health parameters reported by the Layer1 components and enable operators to monitor and troubleshoot their links effectively. You will also work closely with our Optics teams to define standards for new media and bring them to market.
Arista Software Engineering roles demand a strong and broad software engineering background. While the primary focus area for this role is Layer1 software, 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 Layer1 to other areas, if you like.
What You’ll Do
- Interface with customers, product management and hardware engineers to come up with innovative new Layer1 features.
- 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.
- Work with hardware and manufacturing teams to bring new Layer1 components like Phys and Transceivers to market.
- Collaborate with hardware engineers to design optimal software control interfaces for managing Layer1 components.
- 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.
- 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
- Knowledge of digital communication technologies like modulation and signal encoding schemes is a plus.
- Understanding of IP networking and/or distributed systems is a plus
- Experience working with low level hardware components 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-SP1
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.
About Arista Networks
Arista Networks
arista.com
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for the Senior/Lead Software Engineer, Layer1 position at Arista Networks?
Use the Apply button above to submit your application directly to Arista Networks. Most applications take less than 5 minutes if your resume and contact details are ready, and you'll be routed to the employer's official application system to finish.
Where is the Senior/Lead Software Engineer, Layer1 position at Arista Networks located?
This position is based in Austin. Arista Networks has not indicated remote or hybrid options for this role, so candidates should plan for on-site work.
What does a Senior/Lead Software Engineer, Layer1 at Arista Networks earn?
Arista Networks has not disclosed a salary range in this posting. Many employers share specifics later in the interview process; you can also ask during a recruiter screen if compensation transparency is important to you.
When was the Senior/Lead Software Engineer, Layer1 role at Arista Networks posted?
This role was posted on May 31, 2026 (40 days ago). It's still listed as actively hiring; we re-confirm openings against the source system multiple times per day and remove closed roles.
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