Sr. Software Engineer, Network Reliability, Americas

As a Sr. Software Engineer, Network Reliability at Category Labs, your primary responsibilities will include scaling and supporting a global network of baremetal servers, productionizing blockchain software for geo-diverse nodes, diving into complex network issues to enhance uptime, and identifying operational pain points to develop automated tools for improvement. You will act as a bridge between node operators and core developers to define best practices, and you'll participate in on-call rotations for production support, ensuring the network remains operational and optimized.

To qualify for the Sr. Software Engineer, Network Reliability position at Category Labs, candidates should have significant experience with network protocols like TCP/IP and UDP, expertise in Linux systems, and a strong background in building automation for infrastructure and testing. Proficiency in container technologies such as Docker, Kubernetes, and Terraform is highly valued, as is scripting experience in a backend programming language like Python, Go, or C++. Familiarity with baremetal nodes and best practices in observability and security will also be beneficial.

At Category Labs, a Sr. Software Engineer, Network Reliability utilizes a technology stack that includes Linux operating systems, networking protocols such as TCP/IP and UDP, and container orchestration tools like Docker and Kubernetes. Familiarity with automation frameworks like Terraform and Ansible, as well as programming languages such as Python, Go, or C++, is essential. Additionally, knowledge in deploying and managing baremetal servers is crucial for ensuring reliable network performance in production environments.

Category Labs is committed to the professional growth of its Sr. Software Engineers in Network Reliability by providing a collaborative work environment, challenging projects with significant impact, and ample learning opportunities. As an early member of the team, you will contribute to shaping the company culture while working on groundbreaking technology. The company is well-capitalized, allowing access to resources that foster skill development and career advancement as the business scales.

The work culture at Category Labs for the Sr. Software Engineer, Network Reliability is highly collaborative with a focus on achieving ambitious goals. Team members enjoy a supportive atmosphere where low egos and high-quality outputs are cherished. As a growing team in the decentralized technology sector, members are encouraged to share ideas, solve challenging problems together, and contribute to a culture that prioritizes innovation, flexibility, and teamwork.

To effectively answer this question, share specific projects or scenarios where you utilized TCP/IP and UDP protocols. Discuss challenges you faced, how you resolved them, and the impact your work had on the overall network performance. Highlight your understanding of these protocols' role in communication and data transfer within decentralized technologies.

When responding to this question, provide examples of automation tools you've used, such as Terraform, Ansible, or custom scripts. Describe specific tasks you automated, the impact on efficiency and reliability, and any challenges you encountered during the implementation. Emphasize how your automation efforts contributed to a seamless network operation.

Discuss specific reliability challenges such as downtime, latency issues, or packet loss you've encountered in your previous roles. Describe the steps you took to identify and analyze the problems, the tools you used for monitoring, and the solutions you implemented. Focus on the outcomes and any lessons learned that could apply to future situations.

In your answer, discuss various strategies you've employed for securing network systems, such as implementing firewalls, monitoring tools, and access controls. Share how you have improved observability through logging, metrics, and alerts, and explain how these practices contribute to maintaining a reliable and safe network environment.

When answering this question, detail your level of expertise with Linux, emphasizing any specific distributions you've frequently used. Describe your comfort with command-line tools, scripting for deployments, and managing system resources. Mention examples of tasks you've performed using the command line that illustrate your proficiency.

In your response, highlight your experience with container technologies like Docker and Kubernetes. Discuss how you’ve utilized these tools for deploying applications and managing networks. Provide specific scenarios where container orchestration played a critical role in achieving efficiency or reliability.

Detail your systematic approach to debugging network issues, focusing on your method for identifying the root cause. Discuss the tools and techniques you rely on, such as packet sniffers or network monitoring software, and explain how you work towards solutions, including any collaborative strategies with team members.

Emphasize the importance of collaboration in a network reliability engineering team, focusing on shared knowledge, problem-solving, and the ability to leverage diverse skill sets. Talk about how you build relationships with both technical and non-technical teams to enhance communication and efficiency.

Discuss your previous roles that required on-call support responsibilities. Share your strategies for managing pressure during incidents and how you prioritize tasks. Mention any tools or procedures you implemented that helped streamline the process of resolving production issues.

In your answer, demonstrate your alignment with Category Labs' mission and values. Highlight your passion for decentralized technologies and blockchain solutions. Discuss how your skills and experiences align with the company's goals, and express your excitement about the opportunity to tackle challenging problems with a lean, talented team.