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Senior Protocol Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Proofpoint

Senior Proxy Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · Remote

$122K - $168K/yr

Senior Proxy Engineer Locations Hyderabad, A.P., India Athens, Greece Sunnyvale, CA, USA Role ... You will own the full lifecycle of our proxy platform - from protocol-level design and connection ...

Lightspark

Senior Crypto Security Engineer

Culver City, CA

$125K - $171K/yr

Lightspark is building the open payment protocol for the Internet making money move like data ... We are seeking a Senior Security Engineer with a rare combination of deep infrastructure roots ...

Emerging Threats Pro

Senior Proxy Engineer

Sunnyvale, CA · Remote

$122K - $168K/yr

Senior Proxy Engineer Locations Hyderabad, A.P., India Athens, Greece Sunnyvale, CA, USA Role ... You will own the full lifecycle of our proxy platform - from protocol-level design and connection ...

CesiumAstro

Senior Project Engineer I

Austin, TX · On-site

$98K - $127K/yr

We are seeking a highly driven Senior Project Engineer I to lead the planning and execution of test ... Oversee test execution, ensuring adherence to safety protocols, engineering specifications, and ...

CesiumAstro

Senior Project Engineer I

Austin, TX · On-site

$98K - $127K/yr

We are seeking a highly driven Senior Project Engineer I to lead the planning and execution of test ... Oversee test execution, ensuring adherence to safety protocols, engineering specifications, and ...

Stryker

Senior Systems Test Engineer

Fort Lauderdale, FL · On-site

$89K - $148K/yr

We are currently seeking a Senior Systems Test Engineer to join our team in Fort Lauderdale ... Develop, execute, and document test plans, verification protocols, engineering studies, test ...

CesiumAstro

Senior Project Engineer I

Austin, TX · On-site

$98K - $127K/yr

We are seeking a highly driven Senior Project Engineer I to lead the planning and execution of test ... Oversee test execution, ensuring adherence to safety protocols, engineering specifications, and ...

Lightspark

Senior Crypto Security Engineer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$200K - $238K/yr

We are seeking a Senior Security Engineer with a rare combination of deep infrastructure roots ... Secure Protocol Engineering: Perform deep-dive code audits and risk assessments of core protocol ...

Galaxy

Protocol Director

What You'll Do: * Lead the protocol teams * Manage the leads of the validators, Solana, and ... You should be able to hold technical ground with senior engineers on these stacks. * A track record ...

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All JobsSenior Protocol Engineer Jobs

Senior Protocol Engineer information

See salary details

$59.5K

$126.6K

$183.5K

How much do senior protocol engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior protocol engineer in the United States is $126,557.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $104,500.00 and $143,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How does a Senior Protocol Engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams during the protocol development lifecycle?

As a Senior Protocol Engineer, collaboration with cross-functional teams is essential throughout the protocol development lifecycle. You will work closely with product managers to understand requirements, coordinate with security engineers to ensure protocol robustness, and partner with frontend/backend engineers to support implementation. Regular communication, code reviews, and design discussions are common, as you’ll often serve as a technical lead, guiding architecture decisions and ensuring alignment across teams. This collaborative approach helps ensure the protocol meets both technical and business objectives while maintaining high standards for security and performance.

Is 47 too old to become an engineer?

Age is not a barrier to becoming a senior protocol engineer or any engineering role, as the industry values experience, skills, and continuous learning. Many engineers successfully transition careers or advance later in life by updating their technical knowledge and certifications. Employers often prioritize expertise and problem-solving ability over age alone.

What does a Senior Protocol Engineer do?

A Senior Protocol Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and optimizing communication protocols that enable secure and efficient data exchange over networks or within distributed systems. They work on developing new protocols or improving existing ones, often focusing on areas like blockchain, networking, or cryptography. Their role involves collaborating with cross-functional teams, troubleshooting protocol-related issues, and ensuring that protocols are robust, scalable, and secure. Additionally, they may mentor junior engineers and contribute to open-source projects or standards bodies.

What is the difference between Senior Protocol Engineer vs Network Engineer?

AspectSenior Protocol EngineerNetwork Engineer
CredentialsBachelor's in Computer Science or related, certifications like CCNP, CCIEBachelor's in Computer Science, certifications like CCNA, CCNP
Work EnvironmentDesigning, analyzing, and optimizing network protocols, often in R&D or specialized teamsManaging and maintaining network infrastructure, troubleshooting connectivity issues
Industry UsageTelecommunications, data centers, networking hardware companiesIT departments, service providers, enterprise networks

The Senior Protocol Engineer focuses on developing and optimizing network protocols, requiring deep technical expertise. In contrast, a Network Engineer manages and maintains network infrastructure, ensuring connectivity and performance. Both roles require relevant certifications and work in related environments, but their core responsibilities differ significantly.

What engineers make $500,000?

Senior Protocol Engineers and other highly experienced engineers in specialized fields such as software, hardware, or network engineering can earn $500,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced certifications, and leadership roles. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, particularly in tech companies or industries with high demand for technical expertise.

What is L1, L2, L3, and L4 engineer?

In the context of a Senior Protocol Engineer, L1, L2, L3, and L4 typically refer to different levels of technical support or engineering expertise, with L1 being entry-level support and L4 representing advanced or specialized engineering roles. These levels often indicate increasing experience, responsibility, and skill in network protocols, troubleshooting, and system design, which are essential for effective protocol development and maintenance.

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

To thrive as a Senior Protocol Engineer, you need in-depth knowledge of network protocols, distributed systems, cryptography, and strong programming skills, typically backed by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with protocol design tools, languages like Rust, Go, or C++, and experience with blockchain frameworks or RFC standards are often required. Excellent problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills help in leading teams and navigating complex technical challenges. These abilities are crucial for designing secure, efficient protocols and ensuring reliable communication within advanced technology ecosystems.

What engineers make $300,000 a year?

Senior engineers in fields such as software engineering, data engineering, and specialized roles like senior protocol engineers can earn $300,000 or more annually, especially with extensive experience, advanced skills, and working in high-demand industries or companies. Compensation often includes base salary, bonuses, and stock options, particularly in technology and finance sectors.
What cities are hiring for Senior Protocol Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Senior Protocol Engineer job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Protocol Engineer jobs? The most popular types of Protocol Engineer jobs are:
What states have the most Senior Protocol Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Senior Protocol Engineer jobs include:
Senior Protocol Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Senior Protocol Engineer job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 3% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 3% Part Time, 3% Temporary, and 10% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $126,557 per year, or $60.8 per hour.

Network Protocol / Software Engineer

SG2 Recruiting

Grand Rapids, MI • On-site

Full-time

Posted 5 days ago

Job description

SG2 Recruiting is supporting Wind RiverX in the search for a Senior Network Protocol / Software Engineer to support a classified aerospace and defense program in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This customer-facing technical leadership role combines hands-on protocol development with solution architecture, customer engagement, system integration, and deployment support. Candidates must possess an active Secret clearance, have 5+ years of network protocol and engineering experience.

What You Will Be Doing:

  • Designing, developing, and testing networking software and protocols for mission-critical aerospace and defense systems.

  • Supporting customer engagements including requirements gathering, solution architecture, implementation, testing, and deployment.

  • Developing and maintaining Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking capabilities for routers, gateways, and secure communications platforms.

  • Implementing and supporting protocols including IPv4, IPv6, ARP, ICMP, IGMP, DHCP, TCP, UDP, NTP, IPsec, and IKE.

  • Analyzing and optimizing Ethernet traffic, network performance, and protocol functionality.

  • Collaborating with engineering teams, mentoring developers, and creating technical documentation.

What You Need:

  • Active Secret security clearance.

  • 5+ years of experience developing networking protocols, networking software, or embedded networking solutions.

  • Strong knowledge of OSI Layers 2–7, with expertise in Layer 2 and Layer 3 networking.

  • Experience with network routers, gateways, Ethernet networking, and network security protocols.

  • Proficiency in C/C++ development within Linux or embedded environments.

  • Experience implementing or integrating IPv4, IPv6, and IPsec-based solutions.

  • Excellent communication skills and ability to interact directly with customers and technical stakeholders.

It's a Plus If You Have:

  • Experience supporting classified defense, aerospace, or military programs.

  • Familiarity with Neighbor Discovery (ND), VLANs, and advanced routing technologies.

  • Experience with real time operating systems (RTOS), embedded systems, or secure communications platforms.

What's In It For You:

  • Work on advanced aerospace and defense technologies supporting national security missions.

  • Influence the design and development of next-generation networking solutions.

  • Join a collaborative team focused on innovation, technical excellence, and customer success.

About the Company

Wind RiverX delivers advanced software and engineering solutions for mission-critical aerospace, defense, and intelligent edge systems, supporting some of the world's most demanding operational environments.


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