C/C++ Software Developer

Introduction

Are you a C/C++ developer passionate about cutting-edge technologies in AI and observability? This is a fantastic opportunity to work with industry-leading tools like Watsonx, OpenTelemetry, and eBPF as part of the IBM Instana product team.

In this role, you’ll report directly to the Engineering Manager and contribute to the development and maintenance of core components, build new product features, and engage with relevant open-source communities. We value developers who are laser-focused on quality and execution speed, and who thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

You should have a solid understanding of modern software engineering principles and be comfortable working closely with the Product Manager, Team Lead, and fellow engineers.

If you're excited by innovation and want to make an impact—let’s talk!

Your Role And Responsibilities

We’re seeking developers with strong C/C++ skills—Rust experience is a plus—to join our team working on either:

• Tracing and profiling agents for various runtimes, or
• Time series database technologies.
  
  

Depending on the focus area, the following expertise is valuable:

• For tracing and profiling, familiarity with runtime APIs such as Java, PHP, or .NET is an asset, as is experience with eBPF and the Linux kernel.
• For the database role, general knowledge of database internals is beneficial—topics like indexing, storage strategies, scaling, and consensus algorithms are especially relevant.
  
  

A background in working with GitHub and contributing to open-source projects will support our active involvement in OpenTelemetry and eBPF communities. You’ll be expected to understand the dynamics of these communities, including their contribution models, communication channels, governance structures, and tooling. Your contributions will include feature development and bug fixes that directly support our product goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with Product Managers to plan and implement new features
• Engage directly with customers for consulting and support-related tasks
• Extend product capabilities
• Refactor and improve existing codebases with fresh ideas and approaches
• Diagnose performance issues and implement efficient solutions
• Actively contribute to open-source projects and participate in their communities
  
  

Preferred Education

Bachelor's Degree

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

• 5+ years of experience in C/C++ development; Rust experience is a strong asset
• Solid coding discipline with a focus on efficiency, readability, and maintainability
• Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Experience working in containerized environments and with runtimes such as Docker and Kubernetes
• Familiarity with Agile methodologies and iterative development practices
• Fluent in written and spoken English
  
  

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience

• Experience with GitHub and contributing to open-source projects
• Strong profiling and tracing skills using tools like pprof, JProfiler, or similar
• Familiarity with runtime profiling and tracers APIs for Java, PHP, or .NET is a plus
• Knowledge of database internals, including topics like indexing, storage strategies, scaling, and consensus algorithms