Smart NIC Software Engineer, Embedded at Google
Durham, NC
$147,000–$211,000from the description
Jul 22, 2026
Durham, NC
Jul 23, 2026
What this job asks for AI summary
This role sits within Google's network infrastructure group, focused on building next-generation host networking stacks and Smart NIC software. Day-to-day work involves writing C++ for Smart NICs and ML library integrations, debugging hardware and network issues, validating prototype hardware, and taking AI/ML networking features from development through to production. It suits engineers with a background in systems programming, embedded operating systems, and large-scale distributed networking.
Mid level · 2+ years · Durham-Chapel Hill, NC · Full-time
“or” means any one of them counts — you don't need all of them.
Posted 2 times — it's one opening, so apply once.
We read this from the posting text with AI. Skim the description below before ruling yourself out.
How this req sits in the market our data
Roughly 480 people in the Durham-Chapel Hill, NC area plausibly meet what this posting asks for (software developers). range 140–720
Applicant volume Moderate — A normal amount of company. The rare requirements below are what will separate a shortlisted application from the rest.
What the occupation pays Median $138,602 (middle half $131,111–$172,430). This posting is about at that midpoint.
Estimated from BLS employment for this occupation and area, per-skill prevalence across our listing corpus, and published wage benchmarks — as of Jul 28, 2026. It is a model, not a headcount.
Why we read it this way (7)
The posting lists two locations (Durham, NC and Raleigh, NC); both fall within the Durham-Chapel Hill CBSA (20500) and the Raleigh CBSA (39580) respectively. Durham is listed first and is the primary CBSA used here, but candidates may be based in either city.
The C / C++ requirement is stated as a single combined gate ('C or C++') with 2 years demanded; both are captured as must-have with each listed as the other's alternative.
The AI/ML networking and distributed systems requirements are hard gates from the Minimum Qualifications section, though they name broad capability areas rather than specific named tools — included because the JD explicitly gates on them with year counts.
Embedded operating systems carries a 1-year hard gate from Minimum Qualifications.
Smart NICs appears throughout the responsibilities and job narrative as context for the role's focus area, not as a separately gated qualification — treated as preferred.
The Master's or PhD preference is noted in Preferred Qualifications; the degree requirement is set to None because a Bachelor's or equivalent practical experience satisfies the hard gate.
Compensation is $147,000–$211,000/year plus a 15% bonus target and equity, per the posting.
Read the full posting
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