Principal Software Engineer – Rust Systems

Progress

Principal Software Engineer – Rust Systems Engineer at Progress Software, focusing on integrating Rust into legacy database systems. Collaborate with engineering teams to improve software performance and stability.

Posted 6/10/2026full-timeBurlington • Massachusetts • 🇺🇸 United StatesLead💰 $170,000 - $189,000 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

LinuxRust

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Integrate Rust (Cargo-based workflows) into the existing CMK (custom Make) build system so Rust shared libraries (.so/.dll) compile, link, and ship alongside 200+ C subsystems across Linux x86_64 and Windows 64-bit
Design and standardize Rust ↔ C FFI architecture, including: Extern "C" boundary design, Auto-generated C headers (via cbindgen), Error-handling conventions, Memory ownership and lifetime rules
Establish Rust as a first-class, supportable language within the core database engine
Design and deliver production-grade Rust shared libraries that replace legacy C implementations, including: Compression: A Rust-based zstd-backed compression library, JSON Parsing: A memory-safe, multi-threaded Rust JSON parser, Avro Serialization: A foundational Avro encode/decode layer
Own benchmarking, validation, and parity testing to ensure Rust replacements meet or exceed legacy performance and stability
Architect and lead a Rust-based platform systems layer replacing System V IPC with modern, cross-platform primitives (mmap, POSIX shared memory, futex-style synchronization)

Requirements

What you’ll need

Overall 10+ years of Software Engineering Experience
Must have 5+ years of production Rust in systems-level software — database engines, OS components, embedded systems, network infrastructure, or similar
Strong C/C++ background — ability to read, understand, and interface with 10,000+ files of C code daily; you need to think fluently in both languages
FFI expertise — production experience with Rust ↔ C interop: extern "C", cbindgen/bindgen, unsafe boundary design, and memory-ownership protocols across language boundaries
Shipped shared libraries — experience building .so/.dll Rust libraries consumed by C/C++ callers in production environments
Build system integration — experience integrating Cargo with non-Cargo build systems (Make, CMake, Bazel, or custom frameworks)
Multi-platform development — Linux x86_64 and Windows 64-bit at minimum
Experience implementing software using OS fundamentals: file-system and storage management, memory management, virtual memory, process synchronization, and multithreading
Strong problem analysis and solving skills; works independently and meets tight deadlines
Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
Mentorship / tech-lead experience — you will be training a team, not just writing code
A degree in Computer Science or equivalent foundational experience covering data structures, algorithms, operating systems, and database fundamentals

Benefits

Comp & perks

Medical, dental, vision, life & disability, and financial benefits (including 401(k) retirement savings plan)
Tuition Reimbursement program
Additional voluntary benefits including crucial illness/hospital indemnity, identity theft protection, auto & home insurance, legal, and pet insurance
Competitive salary, bonus, and best-in-class Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP) with a 27-month lookback
Flexible paid vacation time, paid day off for your birthday, and company holidays
A variety of leave plans, including Parental Leave
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and an employee well-being program focusing on physical, mental, and financial health

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

RustCC++FFIcbindgenmemory managementmultithreadingshared librariesCargoOS fundamentals

Soft Skills

problem analysisproblem solvingindependencemeeting deadlinesverbal communicationwritten communicationmentorshiptechnical leadership

Certifications

degree in Computer Science