About the role

Software Engineer building secure networking features for Tailscale’s platform that connects people and devices. Developing Go-based distributed systems, networking components, and backend services.

Responsibilities

Develop the Tailscale product, contributing to open-source client code and related backend services, with emphasis on networking features and optimizations
Take ownership of the entire product lifecycle, from writing code to product ideation and strategic decision-making
Work with UX/UI designers and product managers to shape networking features
Design, build, test, and document core networking software components
Build observability into running services, participate in incident response, and handle customer support escalations
Analyze and improve the efficiency, scalability, and stability of networking systems and resources
Apply a security-first mindset to the design and implementation of networking components

Proven experience implementing application-layer networking concepts and distributed components, such as proxies, connectors, and overlay routing
Deep knowledge of operating system-level networking internals, including socket programming, routing tables, and packet filtering primitives
Professional experience with Go (Golang)
Experience designing and maintaining distributed systems
Solid understanding of concurrency, including multithreading, race conditions, memory management, and synchronization primitives
Understanding of scalability
Proficiency with relational databases such as PostgreSQL and MySQL
Ability to write efficient SQL queries
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly
Strong collaborative mindset and ability to work independently and as part of a team
Adaptability in a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment

Base salary, equity incentive plan, and variable commission for quota-based roles
Comprehensive health, vision, and dental benefits with no waiting period for you and your family
Flexible remote-first work environment
Virtual and in-person social events
Corporate co-working program
Employer-funded retirement contributions matching employee contributions dollar-for-dollar, up to 0.75% of eligible compensation annually
Annual company retreat and team off-sites
$1500 USD annually for professional development
Mentorship, coaching, and internal promotion opportunities
Flexible paid time off
Company-owned laptop (Mac or PC)
Monthly home internet reimbursement
$500 USD home office customization allowance
Paid parental leave top-ups: 20 weeks for birthing parents and 16 weeks for non-birthing parents