Senior Software Engineer, Cloud Gaming - Video Algorithms (L5)

Netflix is one of the world's leading entertainment services, with over 300 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, films and games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can play, pause and resume watching as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, and can change their plans at any time.

The Challenge:
 

At Netflix, we are passionate about delivering the best visual quality experience to our members, no matter what, where and how, they watch, interact or play. We care about video quality, not only on our video-on-demand (VoD) and LIVE products, but also on our Cloud Gaming platform, where we  bring a new kind of joy to our millions of members worldwide. We are looking for a Senior Software Engineer with media expertise who is adept at working with encoder hardware and software, and is skilled at maximizing hardware performance through firmware, software and architecture innovations. 

The Role:

As a Senior Software Engineer in Video Algorithms working on Cloud Gaming:

• You will be responsible for designing, prototyping and implementing encoding algorithms and software workflows that power Netflix cloud games.

• You will find innovative solutions for cost-efficient use of hardware and network resources through intelligent designs that tradeoff between render quality, encoding quality, latency and network conditions.  

• You will ideate and prototype high-risk-high-reward solutions that address concerns that are unique to the Netflix approach to cloud gaming.

• You will work with external vendors and guide their future development in the area of low-latency encoding in directions that are mutually beneficial.

• You will work on exciting video encoding, rendering and transmission problems while knowing that you are making Netflix games smoother, crisper and more engaging for millions of people worldwide.
   

About You:

You are a Senior Software Engineer who:

• thrives in a fast-paced environment 

• works effectively with cross functional teams 

• constantly seeks to improve yourself and the team

• has excellent software development skills and a successful track record in Real-time Video Encoding or adjacent fields such as Computer Graphics, Networks & Transport or Video Quality with contributions to products

• has the ability to see areas for improvements in existing systems, and is capable of conceiving and executing solutions for such improvements iteratively

• is excited to apply your expertise to a product that touches millions of lives everyday

Minimum qualifications:

• 5+ years experience in multimedia software development for real-time systems, with excellent debugging and problem solving skills.

• BS in Computer Science/Electrical Engineering or equivalent. MS or PhD a plus.

• Shown proficiency in C++, C, Go, or object-oriented programming.

• Solid understanding of video compression and processing, including codec standards such as H.264/AVC,  HEVC and AV1.

• Solid understanding of real-time image and signal processing

Bonus points:

• Experience with cloud gaming 

• Experience with software performance optimization on constrained hardware

• Experience with hardware video encoders and SoCs

• Involvement in open-source multimedia projects (such as ffmpeg, x264, avisynth, webm)

• Experience with image and video quality assessment

Our compensation structure consists solely of an annual salary; we do not have bonuses. You choose each year how much of your compensation you want in salary versus stock options. To determine your personal top of market compensation, we rely on market indicators and consider your specific job family, background, skills, and experience to determine your compensation in the market range. The range for this role is $170,000 - $720,000.

Netflix provides comprehensive benefits including Health Plans, Mental Health support, a 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match, Stock Option Program, Disability Programs, Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts, Family-forming benefits, and Life and Serious Injury Benefits. We also offer paid leave of absence programs.  Full-time hourly employees accrue 35 days annually for paid time off to be used for vacation, holidays, and sick paid time off. Full-time salaried employees are immediately entitled to flexible time off. See more details about our Benefits here.

Netflix is a unique culture and environment.  Learn more here.

Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates. If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.

Job is open for no less than 7 days and will be removed when the position is filled.