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L4 Software Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA (NOW HIRING)

SpaceX

Sr. Software Engineer, Starlink Network

Redmond, WA · On-site

$137K - $180K/yr

... a Senior Software Engineer for the Starlink program. In this role, you will develop reliable ... L4 layers, including DPDK, XDP/eBPF or user-space forwarding. • Experience with high-scale ...

SpaceX

Sr. Software Engineer, Starlink Network

Redmond, WA · On-site

$160K - $225K/yr

Proven expertise in IP packet processing at L3/L4 layers, including DPDK, XDP/eBPF or user-space ... Software Engineer/Level I: $160,000.00 - $225,000.00/per year Your actual level and base salary ...

SpaceX

Sr. Software Engineer, Starlink Network

Redmond, WA · On-site

$160K - $225K/yr

Proven expertise in IP packet processing at L3/L4 layers, including DPDK, XDP/eBPF or user-space ... Software Engineer/Level I: $160,000.00 - $225,000.00/per year Your actual level and base salary ...

Nvidia

Senior Software Engineer, AI Networking

Seattle, WA · On-site

$139K - $183K/yr

We are seeking an outstanding Software Engineer to join our US-based networking software team. As a ... L4 fundamentals, and performance/latency tradeoffs. * Proven low-level software expertise with ...

Microsoft

Principal Software Engineer

Redmond, WA · On-site

$151K - $202K/yr

Communicate with leadership - write the technical narratives, briefs, and reviews that align L3/L4 ... Software Engineering IC5 - The typical base pay range for this role across the U.S. is USD $142,800 ...

Confluent

Senior Software Engineer II

Seattle, WA · On-site +1

$197K - $232K/yr

About the Role: Senior Software Engineers II at Confluent take ownership of critical backend ... This is a general L4 backend role used across multiple teams. Depending on your background, you may ...

Zscaler

Principal Rust Developer

Bellevue, WA · Hybrid

This is a hybrid role based in San Jose, CA or Bellevue, WA reporting to the Sr. Director, Software ... Hands-on experience with gRPC, Protobufs, and L2-L4 networking protocols including TCP/IP, QUIC, or ...

Lucid Motors

Service Technician, Seattle

Seattle, WA · On-site

$31 - $43/hr

Built on Lucid's proprietary technology and software-defined vehicle architecture, our award ... We achieve this through deep vertical integration, with design, engineering, and production ...

Lucid Motors

Service Technician, Seattle

Seattle, WA

$31 - $43/hr

Built on Lucids proprietary technology and software-defined vehicle architecture, our award-winning ... We achieve this through deep vertical integration, with design, engineering, and production ...

All JobsL4 Software Engineer JobsL4 Software Engineer Jobs in Seattle, WA

L4 Software Engineer information

See Seattle, WA salary details

$72.3K

$167.9K

$233.9K

How much do l4 software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for l4 software engineer in Seattle, WA is $167,886.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $136,600.00 and $196,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is an L4 Software Engineer?

An L4 Software Engineer typically refers to a mid-level software engineer, often used at companies like Google and other large tech firms. L4 engineers are expected to have several years of experience and are responsible for designing, developing, testing, and maintaining software systems. They often collaborate with cross-functional teams, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to technical planning. The role requires strong coding abilities, problem-solving skills, and a solid understanding of software engineering best practices. Career progression from L4 usually leads to senior engineering roles.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior software engineers, especially those in high-demand fields like machine learning, cloud computing, or with extensive experience at major tech companies, can earn $300,000 or more annually. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, particularly in competitive markets or executive-level roles.

What is the difference between L4 Software Engineer vs L5 Software Engineer?

AspectL4 Software EngineerL5 Software Engineer
ExperienceTypically 2-4 yearsTypically 4-6 years
ResponsibilitiesContributes to projects, writes code, fixes bugsLeads small projects, mentors juniors, designs solutions
SkillsProficient coding, basic system designAdvanced coding, system architecture, leadership
CertificationsOptional, depends on companyOptional, but often preferred

In summary, an L4 Software Engineer is an early-career professional focused on coding and task completion, while an L5 Software Engineer takes on more leadership, design, and mentorship responsibilities, reflecting increased experience and skills.

What is an L5 engineer?

An L5 software engineer is a senior-level role in many tech companies, often indicating a higher level of experience, technical expertise, and leadership responsibilities than an L4 engineer. L5 engineers typically lead complex projects, mentor junior staff, and contribute to architectural decisions, often requiring advanced skills in coding, system design, and problem-solving.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an L4 Software Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an L4 Software Engineer, you need strong programming skills, a solid grasp of computer science fundamentals, and typically a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field. Experience with version control systems (like Git), cloud platforms (such as AWS or GCP), and familiarity with development frameworks and CI/CD pipelines are commonly required. Excellent problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills help you collaborate effectively and contribute to complex projects. These competencies ensure you can deliver high-quality software solutions efficiently while working within diverse engineering teams.

How much do L4 software engineers make?

L4 software engineers typically earn a base salary ranging from $120,000 to $180,000 annually, depending on the company, location, and experience. They often receive additional compensation such as bonuses, stock options, and benefits, especially in large tech firms or competitive markets.

How does an L4 Software Engineer typically collaborate with product managers and designers during a project?

As an L4 Software Engineer, you'll work closely with product managers and designers throughout the software development cycle. This collaboration often involves participating in planning meetings, providing technical feedback on proposed features, and helping to shape user stories or requirements. You'll be expected to offer insights on feasibility, suggest improvements, and ensure alignment between engineering and product goals. Regular communication and a proactive approach to problem-solving are key to ensuring successful project outcomes.

What engineer makes $500,000 a year?

A senior software engineer or specialized roles such as staff or principal engineers at large tech companies can earn $500,000 or more annually, often including bonuses, stock options, and other compensation. Achieving this level typically requires extensive experience, advanced technical skills, and leadership responsibilities within high-paying organizations.
What are popular job titles related to L4 Software Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA? For L4 Software Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching L4 Software Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA look for? The top searched job categories for L4 Software Engineer jobs in Seattle, WA are:
L4 Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various L4 Software Engineer job openings in Seattle, WA as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 92% Full Time, 4% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 89% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 7% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $167,886 per year, or $80.7 per hour.
Sr. Software Engineer, Starlink Network

Sr. Software Engineer, Starlink Network

SpaceX

Redmond, WA • On-site

$137K - $180K/yr

Full-time

Posted 16 days ago

SpaceX rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 147 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

14th of 71 rated aerospace companies

Job description

Job Summary:
SpaceX is actively developing technologies to enable human life on Mars, and they are seeking a Senior Software Engineer for the Starlink program. In this role, you will develop reliable software for their satellite-based global network, ensuring an optimal internet experience for users worldwide.
Responsibilities:
• Develop highly reliable, real-time software designed to run on the gateways, satellites, user terminals, and switches that make up our low latency, high capacity satellite-based global network.
• Participate in and lead architecture, design, and code reviews.
• Develop prototypes and manage experiments to prove out key design concepts.
• Develop tools for software development and deployment, data analysis and visualization, and test execution across multiple environments, including virtualized hardware environments, real hardware-in-the-loop simulations, and on-orbit testing.
• Deploy reliable software, test execution, and data analysis as part of a continuous integration and release system.
Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, engineering, math, or STEM discipline and 5+ years of professional experience in software development experience; OR 7+ years of professional experience in software development in lieu of a degree.
• Development experience in C, C++, or assembly.
• Must be willing to work extended hours and weekends as needed.
Preferred:
• Strong professional experience writing C, C++ or assembly in a production environment.
• Developed, debugged and deployed software that has been used in real world applications/projects.
• Knowledgeable in real-time rendering, game engine development, physics simulation, or other real-time, resource-constrained, high-performance computing.
• Experience with networking protocols (UDP, TCP/IP, etc) and distributed systems.
• Experience in security issues associated with distributed systems and internet services.
• Experience with packet forwarding engines for features like NAT, ACLs, QoS, DPI, load balancing, and DDoS mitigation.
• Proven expertise in IP packet processing at L3/L4 layers, including DPDK, XDP/eBPF or user-space forwarding.
• Experience with high-scale networking hardware (e.g., SmartNICs like Mellanox/NVIDIA BlueField, Intel IPUs) is a plus.
Company:
SpaceX develops and operates rockets, satellite networks, and AI infrastructure including launch, connectivity, and cloud services. Founded in 2002, the company is headquartered in Hawthorne, USA, with a team of 1001-5000 employees. The company is currently Late Stage.

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