Description

We use AI to accelerate - not to replace thinking.
We design the system, steer the output, and take responsibility for what we ship.
Fast where it makes sense. Careful where it matters.

Activities

The Challenge

Imagine a system that must decide, in a fraction of a second, which ad to show to millions of users across the globe. Thousands of requests per second. Zero room for lag. One wrong pointer or a suboptimal lock, and the whole house of cards falls.

This is our Ad Server. It's written in C++, it's lean, it's mean, and it's the heart of smartclip .

Stop implementing boring features. Start architecting performance. We don't want a coder; we want a Performance Architect . Look at a profiling report and see a puzzle to be solved. Treat std::vector with respect and know exactly when to deploy a custom allocator.

Your Mission

• Fight Latency: Hunt for microseconds. Optimise the hot path of our ad-serving engine. Ensure our response times stay lightning-fast, even during peak traffic.
• Master the Distributed Chaos: Evolve our architecture on smartx to handle transnational scale. Tackle the CAP theorem in the real world, not in a textbook.
• Tame the Data: Architect how we use NoSQL to fetch complex targeting data without breaking our latency budget.
• Set the Standard: Stop following style guides - define them. Establish the C++ best practices that keep our codebase maintainable while pushing the hardware to its absolute limits.

Requirements

Your Skills

• Master C++: Understand how the compiler thinks. Leverage modern C++ and dominate memory layouts and cache hits.
• Live in Linux: Make the terminal your home. Use perf, gdb, valgrind, and strace as your primary weapons.
• Think Distributed: Build systems that live on more than one server. Understand why distributed locks are usually a trap.
• Simplify the Web: Use HTTP, JSON, and XML as the efficient wrappers they should be for your high-performance logic.

Team

• Ownership over tickets: You're trusted with real responsibility, not just tasks. No unnecessary bureaucracy, no micromanagement - we rely on you to take things forward.
• Build > Talk: We test what works - not what sounds good. Fail fast, learn faster.
• High standards, low ego: We take our work seriously, but not ourselves. Direct feedback, honest collaboration, no drama.
• Stay sharp: Hackathons, conferences, community - we invest in your growth and keep you at the cutting edge.
• And yes - the fundamentals are covered too: 30 days of vacation + Dec 24 & 31 off, Smart Fridays (4 days week possible), mobility (Germany ticket & JobRad), sports & health offerings, mental health support, corporate benefits, RTL+ access, and more.

Application Process

1. A quick intro call with Sarah (Head of Talent Acquisition @smartclip)
2. Video call with your future manager and a teammate - real talk, no script
3. Meet us in Berlin: hands-on case study, coding challenge (pair programming), or a role play - depending on the role
4. Prompt, honest feedback from Sarah - no ghosting, we promise

About the Company

About smartclip

smartclip is the adtech development unit of RTL Group - Europe's leading free-to-air broadcaster group. Our proprietary advertising technology is custom-built for the needs of European broadcasters and publishers - enabling media owners to implement smarter monetisation strategies. We are committed to delivering the most innovative ad experiences spanning in-stream, out-stream, addressable TV, connected TV, audio, and gaming - ultimately empowering brands with true cross-screen storytelling opportunities on all devices.

For more information: Please visit www.smartclip.tv and follow us on LinkedIn.