Platform Software Engineer

As a Platform Software Engineer at our company, your key responsibilities will include designing and developing foundational software and automation systems that support extreme-performance workloads. You’ll write infrastructure logic from scratch for environments without internet access, build automation frameworks for deployment, and create internal tools for data analysis and security hardening. Moreover, you’ll need to ensure that your code meets strict security standards, as the projects you work on will have significant implications on critical operations.

A Platform Software Engineer at our company will benefit immensely from proficiency in programming languages such as Go, Rust, Python, C++, and Bash. These languages are central to our tech stack, and your ability to navigate them will allow you to develop robust and secure software solutions for our complex environments.

In your role as a Platform Software Engineer, you will work with a diverse range of environments and tools, including Kubernetes, Nomad, Docker, and Terraform, alongside programming languages. Your focus will also be on Linux platforms, particularly hardened systems and containerized runtimes, and you will often engage with air-gapped systems that demand strict security measures.

To qualify for the Platform Software Engineer position, you should have a solid understanding of software engineering principles, experience in security-centric development environments, and a proven track record of building reliable systems. Familiarity with deployment strategies, CI/CD flows, and a passion for creating software that must function under critical conditions are also essential qualities we’re looking for.

The ideal Platform Software Engineer at our company is someone who enjoys tackling challenging engineering problems and possesses a deep understanding of systems-level programming. You should be someone who reads RFCs for pleasure, can diagnose kernel issues, and is passionate about creating systems designed for high-performance and reliability. A collaborative attitude and the ability to contribute innovative solutions in a security-focused atmosphere are key traits.

When answering this question, focus on outlining the project's goals, the challenges you faced due to the lack of connectivity, and the strategies you implemented to overcome these hurdles. Highlight your specific role, the technologies you used, and how your solutions ensured reliability in a critical environment.

In your response, emphasize your methodology for designing infrastructure logic. Discuss the importance of understanding system requirements, selecting appropriate technologies, and writing modular, maintainable code. Mention any frameworks or tools you're familiar with that streamline this process.

Be specific about the automation tools you've employed, such as Terraform, Ansible, or Kubernetes. Describe how you've utilized these tools to enhance deployment efficiency, reduce errors, and ensure compliance with security requirements, offering examples of your contribution to successful project outcomes.

Talk about your approach to incorporating security into every aspect of the software development lifecycle. Mention security practices like code reviews, automated vulnerability scanning, and testing against established security benchmarks. Provide examples of how you've implemented these practices in past projects.

Discuss your familiarity with Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) tools, the importance of security checks within these workflows, and how you ensure compliance with security standards. Offer concrete examples of how you've successfully integrated security practices into CI/CD pipelines in previous roles.

Explain the importance of telemetry in monitoring system health, performance, and security in distributed systems. Discuss how you use telemetry data to inform development decisions, optimize performance, and preemptively identify issues before they escalate into significant problems.

Describe a specific instance where you encountered a complex bug, the steps you took to diagnose the problem, and how you ultimately resolved it. Focus on your troubleshooting methods and any tools or techniques that helped you identify and address the issue.

Mention resources you use to stay updated, such as industry blogs, conferences, online courses, and communities. Discuss how you apply what you've learned in your projects, emphasizing a commitment to continual growth and adapting to new technologies.

Talk about different strategies you apply for performance optimization, such as profiling and monitoring tools, code refactoring, or leveraging asynchronous processing. Offer examples from your past experiences to illustrate your effectiveness in optimizing system performance under critical conditions.

Emphasize the critical role of documentation in ensuring maintainability, knowledge transfer, and regulatory compliance. Discuss how having comprehensive and clear documentation can enhance collaboration among team members, assist in onboarding new engineers, and facilitate smoother transitions during project modifications.