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Packet Processing Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Some experience with fast-packet processing in user space and common kernel-bypass implementations would be ideal (such as Solarflare OpenOnload/TCPDirect/ef_vi, Exablaze, InfiniBand verbs, DPDK)

You'll work on network virtualization protocols, packet processing pipelines, and availability mechanisms that must perform correctly at massive scale with sub-second latency requirements. You'll ...

Sr. Software Engineer, Starlink Network

Redmond, WA · On-site

$137K - $180K/yr

... 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 ...

You'll work on network virtualization protocols, packet processing pipelines, and availability mechanisms that must perform correctly at massive scale with sub-second latency requirements. You'll ...

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Packet Processing information

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How much do packet processing jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average hourly pay for packet processing in the United States is $21.18, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.99 and $24.04 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is the difference between Packet Processing vs Network Technician?

AspectPacket ProcessingNetwork Technician
Required CredentialsNetworking certifications (e.g., Cisco CCNA), knowledge of protocolsNetworking certifications, basic troubleshooting skills
Work EnvironmentData centers, network operations centers, enterprise networksOffice settings, client sites, network infrastructure environments
Employer & Industry UsageTelecommunications, data service providers, large enterprisesIT service providers, corporate IT departments, telecom companies

Packet Processing involves managing and analyzing data packets within networks, focusing on data flow and protocol handling. Network Technicians perform hands-on troubleshooting, installing, and maintaining network hardware and connections. While both roles require networking knowledge and certifications, Packet Processing is more specialized in data flow management, whereas Network Technicians focus on hardware and connectivity issues.

What is packet processing in networking?

Packet processing refers to the techniques and operations used to examine, modify, and forward data packets as they travel through a network. This process is essential for routing, switching, security filtering, and traffic management. Packet processing can be performed in software, hardware, or a combination of both, depending on the requirements for speed and flexibility. It is a key function in network devices such as routers, firewalls, and load balancers, ensuring that data moves efficiently and securely between devices.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Packet Processing Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Packet Processing Engineer, you need strong expertise in computer networking, knowledge of protocols (such as TCP/IP), and a background in computer science or electrical engineering. Familiarity with tools and platforms like Wireshark, DPDK, Netfilter, and programming languages such as C or Python is typically required. Analytical thinking, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for diagnosing network issues and collaborating with cross-functional teams. These abilities ensure efficient network performance, secure data transmission, and robust troubleshooting in complex networking environments.

What are some typical challenges faced by professionals working in packet processing roles?

Professionals in packet processing often encounter challenges such as maintaining low latency while handling high volumes of network traffic, ensuring security against evolving threats, and optimizing throughput in resource-constrained environments. Collaboration with network engineers and software developers is common, as solutions frequently require cross-functional input. Additionally, adapting to rapidly changing networking protocols and hardware advancements is essential for ongoing success in packet processing roles.
Infographic showing various Packet Processing job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $44,052 per year, or $21.2 per hour.
Software Development Engineer, AWS NAT Gateway

Software Development Engineer, AWS NAT Gateway

Amazon

Seattle, WA

Full-time

Posted 29 days ago


Amazon rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 6,823 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 39 rated national retailers


Job description

The AWS Networking Services & Edge organization owns the design, infrastructure and operation of AWS networking services. In other words, we're the people who keep the clouds running. We support the networking services across all AWS data centers and ensure customers have continual access to the innovation they rely on.

We work on the most challenging problems, with thousands of variables impacting the networking eco system, and we're looking for talented people who want to help.
You'll join a diverse team of software, hardware, and network engineers, security experts, operations managers, and other vital roles. You'll collaborate with people across AWS to help us deliver the highest standards for safety and security while providing seemingly infinite capacity at the lowest possible cost for our customers. And you'll experience an inclusive culture that welcomes bold ideas and empowers you to own them to completion.
The AWS NAT Gateway team is looking for a Software Development Engineer for a critical part of its service that will deliver enhanced security and visibility capabilities

This team owns the external facing NAT Gateway service (https://docs.aws.amazon.com/vpc/latest/userguide/vpc-nat-gateway.html) which is an important part of customer networking architecture. This is a balanced team of senior and junior engineers that has proven it can deliver very important features for our customers.
This engineer will work on a key part of the service, setting up the team culture, best practices, mentoring, and delivering on the product roadmap. The successful candidate will be comfortable dealing with ambiguity, be very customer-centric, and able to think big!
The ideal candidate will be passionate about the potential of cloud computing as well as about building great resilient, scalable, and high-performance distributed services

This candidate has thrived and succeeded in delivering high quality technology products/services in a rapid growth environment exhibiting abilities to prioritize well, communicate clearly and understand how to drive a high level of focus and excellence with a strong team. This person has a proven track record of building a culture centered on customer focus, efficient execution, high quality, rigorous testing, deep monitoring, and solid deployment practices. AWS in general, and this business in particular, operates on a very large scale and on critical workloads, so a passion and discipline around operational excellence is key.

A high level of ownership and accountability is a must.
The enhanced NATGW capabilities will allow customers to have visibility and exert control over all internet-bound activities. NAT Gateway enables customers to connect their private subnet resources to the internet while maintaining security and control. The service provides centralized security controls to avert data leak threats, offering thorough visibility into outbound traffic patterns, along with authentication and destination filtering capabilities to ensure that you don't have unauthenticated or compromised workloads in your environment trying to leak data to untrusted destinations.
With a balanced team of junior and senior engineers and a healthy operational load, this team needs your help to balance the challenges of growing the team, providing operational and technical guidance and mentoring, and delivering amazing features

It's a fun team with an exciting future -- come to work hard, play hard, and change the world!
Key job responsibilities
AWS NAT Gateway protects customer workloads from network threats by tracking egress connections. As an SDE II on the NAT Gateway team, you will build and scale core services that process billions of packets daily across AWS regions.
What You'll Do:
- Design and implement high-performance NAT Gateway services that process customer traffic at scale
- Build distributed systems that deliver sub-millisecond latency while maintaining security
- Optimize packet processing pipelines to handle increasing traffic volumes
- Collaborate with security teams to implement new threat detection capabilities
- Participate in on-call rotation to ensure service availability
What We're Looking For:
- 3+ years of professional software development experience
- Strong programming skills in Java, C++, or Rust
- Experience building distributed systems or network services
- Understanding of networking protocols (TCP/IP, TLS, HTTP)
- Bachelor's degree in computer science or equivalent experience
About the team
The AWS NAT Gateway team builds and operates the core NAT gateway services and infrastructure that protects customer workloads from network threats. The team designs high-performance distributed systems that support billions of packets daily across AWS regions, delivering sub-millisecond latency while maintaining security

Engineers on this team solve complex challenges in packet processing, threat detection, and scalability. The proxy service processes customer traffic in real-time, blocking malicious activity before it reaches applications. This team's work directly impacts AWS customers' security posture, enabling them to run workloads safely in the cloud.

The team collaborates closely with security researchers, network engineers, and service teams across AWS.


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About Amazon

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Amazon.com, Inc., commonly known as Amazon, is an American multinational technology company. It was founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994 and initially started as an online marketplace for books. Since then, Amazon has expanded its operations and become one of the largest e-commerce companies in the world. Amazon's primary business is its online retail platform, where customers can purchase a vast array of products, including electronics, clothing, books, home goods, and much more. The company offers a convenient and user-friendly shopping experience, with features such as fast shipping, customer reviews, and personalized recommendations. In addition to its e-commerce platform, Amazon has diversified its business into various other areas. One of its notable ventures is Amazon Web Services (AWS), a comprehensive cloud computing platform that provides services such as storage, compute power, and database management to individuals and businesses. AWS has become a leader in the cloud computing industry, powering many websites and applications worldwide. Amazon has also developed its own consumer electronics, including the popular Amazon Kindle e-reader, Fire tablets, Fire TV streaming devices, and the Alexa-powered Echo smart speakers. The Alexa voice assistant, integrated into these devices, allows users to interact with their devices using voice commands, perform tasks, and access information. Furthermore, Amazon has expanded into media and entertainment. It operates Prime Video, a streaming service that offers a wide range of movies, TV shows, and original content. Amazon Music provides a platform for streaming and purchasing digital music, while Audible offers audiobooks and other audio content. The company's commitment to customer satisfaction and convenience is demonstrated by its membership program, Amazon Prime. Prime members receive various benefits, including free two-day shipping, access to streaming services, exclusive deals, and more.

Industry

It services, book publishers, retail, real estate and computer and electronic product manufacturing

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

Seattle, WA, US