Software Engineer 5 - Streaming Algorithms

Netflix

full-time

Posted: August 12, 2025

Number of Vacancies: 1

Job Description

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.If you are interested in working with the team that builds Netflix’s record-breaking live streaming technologies, read on to learn more! Over 108 million people tuned in for the fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, and over 65 million people watched the NFL games live on Christmas Day. At Netflix, our live events create cultural moments, and we have very exciting Live events lined up for the next few years. To support Netflix’s vision for Live, the streaming algorithms team is looking for new members to improve our system so that we can support more concurrent live streams with even better quality. The streaming algorithms team is responsible for the quality of Netflix playback across Live and VoD. We design adaptive streaming algorithms in Netflix players and optimize system performance across different components on the streaming path. This team influences ⅓ of the Internet traffic, shapes the Netflix playback experience, and brings studio-quality audio to Stranger Things. Our focus now is to make our Live streaming system more scalable with better quality and lower latency. For this particular role, we are looking for someone who has experience in Live video playback and joint optimization across Client, CDN, and Encoding Technologies. Who We AreWe obsess over great playback experiences. We want playback to start immediately, at great quality, and we never want playback to stop unexpectedly. To provide the best possible streaming experience, we design algorithms that adapt audio and video qualities to ever-changing network conditions, encoding profiles, UI features, and device capabilities. Our team comes from diverse backgrounds, has a balanced gender ratio, and has a wide range of expertise in computer networking, video streaming, data analysis, embedded systems, and software engineering. Beyond the subscription-based video-on-demand service, we help Netflix expand into Live Streaming and Advertisements. We work highly cross-functionally and jointly develop our algorithms with Netflix CDN, Encoding Technologies, Data Science & Engineering, Consumer Insights, and UI Engineering. Who You AreWe are looking for a senior engineer to help us further improve the scalability of our streaming system and the streaming quality of experience (QoE) on TV and Web devices. In this role, you would be responsible for improving Netflix’s streaming experience for Live and VoD and developing tools that help innovate streaming algorithms for millions of devices. You will also help evolve the system architecture across the entire streaming path and conduct controlled experiments in the field to validate improvements.It’s an exciting time to join this team! The business is expanding, the science is new, and we’re making big progress at a rapid pace.More about you:Comfortable developing software in JavaScript and/or C++ on TV and WebComfortable with algorithm-focused software developmentProven ability to design tools to improve software performanceProven ability to communicate complex technical issues cross-functionallyBias to action and take strategic approaches to solve technical problemsExperience in Live streaming players or algorithm developmentExperience in video playback development on TV/Web is requiredNice to have skills:Experience in statistics and data analysisExperience with audio or videoKnowledge of streaming protocolsKnowledge of data engineeringKnowledge of encoding technologyExperience with shipping software on behalf of a major brand at scaleExperience in video playback development on Android would be a big plusWhat you will do:Improve Netflix Live adaptive streaming designs on TV and WebDesign tools and systems to facilitate adaptive streaming algorithm designs and improve the playback experience Design metrics that capture the viewer’s experience as well as the system's performanceRun controlled experiments on millions of streaming sessions to validate improvementsWork cross-functionally with Netflix CDN, Encoding Technologies, Data Science & Engineering, Consumer Insights, and UI EngineeringTo Learn MoreRead about the Netflix culture, which values freedom and responsibility, enabling us to do our best work.Watch the video to learn how Netflix streaming works and how we design adaptive streaming algorithms.Read the tech blog to learn more about how Live works at Netflix.Watch the video to learn how we improve the experimentation methodology with Bayesian Optimization.Read this paper to learn how we make Netflix traffic friendlier on the Internet while improving the quality of experience. Read the tech blog to learn how we launch the high-quality audio experience at Netflix.At Netflix, we carefully consider a wide range of compensation factors to determine your personal top of market. We rely on market indicators to determine compensation and consider your specific job, skills, and experience to get it right. These considerations can cause your compensation to vary and will also be dependent on your location. The overall market range for roles in this area of Netflix is typically $100,000 - $720,000. This market range is based on total compensation (vs. only base salary), which is in line with our compensation philosophy. 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.

Locations

  • Los Gatos, California, United States of America

Salary

100,000 - 720,000 USD / yearly

Estimated Salary Rangehigh confidence

350,000 - 550,000 USD / yearly

Source: ai estimated

* This is an estimated range based on market data and may vary based on experience and qualifications.

Skills Required

  • developing software in JavaScript and/or C++ on TV and Webintermediate
  • algorithm-focused software developmentintermediate
  • design tools to improve software performanceintermediate
  • communicate complex technical issues cross-functionallyintermediate
  • Live streaming players or algorithm developmentintermediate
  • video playback development on TV/Webintermediate
  • statistics and data analysisintermediate
  • audio or videointermediate
  • streaming protocolsintermediate
  • data engineeringintermediate
  • encoding technologyintermediate
  • shipping software on behalf of a major brand at scaleintermediate
  • video playback development on Androidintermediate

Required Qualifications

  • Comfortable developing software in JavaScript and/or C++ on TV and Web (experience)
  • Comfortable with algorithm-focused software development (experience)
  • Proven ability to design tools to improve software performance (experience)
  • Proven ability to communicate complex technical issues cross-functionally (experience)
  • Bias to action and take strategic approaches to solve technical problems (experience)
  • Experience in Live streaming players or algorithm development (experience)
  • Experience in video playback development on TV/Web is required (experience)

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience in statistics and data analysis (experience)
  • Experience with audio or video (experience)
  • Knowledge of streaming protocols (experience)
  • Knowledge of data engineering (experience)
  • Knowledge of encoding technology (experience)
  • Experience with shipping software on behalf of a major brand at scale (experience)
  • Experience in video playback development on Android would be a big plus (experience)

Responsibilities

  • Improve Netflix Live adaptive streaming designs on TV and Web
  • Design tools and systems to facilitate adaptive streaming algorithm designs and improve the playback experience
  • Design metrics that capture the viewer’s experience as well as the system's performance
  • Run controlled experiments on millions of streaming sessions to validate improvements
  • Work cross-functionally with Netflix CDN, Encoding Technologies, Data Science & Engineering, Consumer Insights, and UI Engineering

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Documents

Application Instructions

https://explore.jobs.netflix.net/careers/job/790304709246?microsite=netflix.com

Tags & Categories

EngineeringStreaming