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Senior Software Engineer (C++), Real Time Systems
Bellevue, WA
Are you ready to revolutionize the advertising industry?
At Cognitiv, we are not just another AdTech company—we are industry trailblazers redefining media buying with our Deep Learning Advertising Platform. Since 2015, we have harnessed the power of cutting-edge deep learning technology and data science to transform how brands connect with their customers. Our mission? To bring intelligence to advertising and deliver unparalleled precision, relevance, and impact at scale.
With our innovative platform, advertisers enjoy unprecedented flexibility—whether it is activating Dynamic Deals through their preferred DSP, leveraging our managed service DSP, or utilizing our industry-first ContextGPT product. As a part of Cognitiv, you will be at the forefront of AI-driven advertising solutions, driving change and achieving remarkable growth in a rapidly evolving industry.
Now, we’re growing!
The Role
Cognitiv is building the next generation of AI-driven programmatic bidding. Our RTS (Real-Time Systems) team is responsible for the engine that processes tens of trillions of auction requests annually. We aren’t just moving data; we are running complex AI models and identity resolution within a strict 50ms latency budget.
We are looking for a Senior C++ Engineer who lives for deterministic performance, cache-locality, and high-throughput distributed systems. You will own the core bidding logic where every microsecond saved translates directly to revenue.
The Stack & Environment
- Core: Modern C++ (C++17/20), Asynchronous Architectures (Event Loop/Actor Models).
- Infrastructure: High-scale AWS/GCP cloud environments.
- Patterns: Lock-free programming, memory management optimization, and high-concurrency back-ends.
- Scale: Peak volumes of ~3M QPS; 100+ Billion requests daily.
What You’ll Do
- Platform Modernization: Lead the transition to a more scalable, multi-channel architecture (Web, App, CTV, Audio) using OpenRTB 2.6.
- Optimize the Identity Graph: Build and refine runtime resolution systems to improve match rates and cross-device accuracy without blowing the latency budget.
- Hard-Path Engineering: Design, implement, and safely deploy features into the "hot path" of the bidding engine.
- Root Cause Analysis: Dive deep into production bottlenecks, treating dropped bids and silent failures as critical defects.
Who You Are
- C++ Mastery: You are proficient in modern C++ and understand the cost of abstractions. (We will also talk to C/Rust experts who want to pivot).
- Low-Latency DNA: You have built systems where sub-100ms is the standard, not the goal.
- Distributed Systems Wisdom: Experience with high-volume back-end services, specifically handling concurrency and memory at scale.
- Ownership: You take initiative, see the bigger picture, and drive work end-to-end, from design through deployment and production reliability.
Bonus Points For:
- Direct experience in AdTech (RTB), Fintech (High-Frequency Trading), or Search.
- Deep knowledge of OS internals, memory-mapped files, or kernel-level tuning.
- A background in integrating AI/ML models into real-time execution paths.
Salary: $160,000 - $220,000 USD + Equity
What We Offer
Compensation is based on experience, skills, and other factors. Base salary is just one part of your total rewards at Cognitiv—you’ll also receive equity and a comprehensive benefits package.
Highlights include:
- Medical, dental & vision coverage (some plans 100% employer-paid)
- 12 weeks paid parental leave + 4 weeks WFH
- Unlimited PTO + Work-From-Anywhere August
- Career development with clear advancement paths
- Equity for all employees
- Hybrid work model & daily team lunch
- Health & wellness stipend + cell phone reimbursement
- 401(k) with employer match
- Parking (CA & WA offices) & pre-tax commuter benefits
- Employee Assistance Program
- Comprehensive onboarding (Cognitiv University)
- …and more!
What You’ll Find at Cognitiv
- Festiv – We make work fun with cross-team games, events, and creative team bonding.
- Responsiv – You’ll be close to clients and leadership, influencing real outcomes.
- Inclusiv – Diversity and individuality are celebrated across all levels.
- Inventiv – We reward curiosity and embrace bold ideas.
- Transformativ – We support your growth with training, mentorship, and flexibility.
- Collaborativ – We operate across coasts, connected by purpose and teamwork.
Cognitiv is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all.
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