Software Engineer, Networking

Tailscale; United States; Remote; USD 163,000 - 226,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote-first

Equity incentive plan

Health, vision, dental benefits

Retirement plan with employer matching

Professional development funds

Paid time off

Job summary

Tailscale is seeking a seasoned Software Engineer to join the Dataplane Engineering Team. You will design, build, test, and document core client-side networking software with a security-focused mindset.

You will optimize performance across platforms and assist customer success with critical network escalations while engaging with the open-source community. The role offers a remote-first environment with strong compensation, equity, and benefits, reflecting the company’s distributed,

Qualifications

• Significant experience with networking software and diagnosing networking issues.
• Strong grasp of routing, VPNs, IP management, and NAT traversal.
• Experience with large-scale distributed systems is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in Go or other low-level languages and concurrent programming.
• Ability to work independently and communicate effectively in a startup environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, test, and document core networking client software.
• Advance features by integrating industry protocols with Tailcache's designs.
• Apply security-focused thinking to architecture and code.
• Analyze and optimize performance, reliability, and scale across platforms.
• Provide expert support during network escalations for customer success.
• Engage with open-source communities and contribute to related projects.

Skills

Networking software

Go

Distributed systems

Performance optimization

Linux networking

Job description

About Tailscale

Tailscale is making safe connection effortless by delivering software that makes it easy to securely interconnect people and their devices, no matter where they are. From hobbyists to multinational corporations, teams of every size use Tailscale each day to protect their networks, share access to internal tools, and more. We're building a future for the Internet that's easy, sensible, and safe, like it used to be. Founded in 2019 and fully distributed, we're backed by Accel, CRV, Insight, Heavybit, and Uncork Capital.

About the Role

We’re seeking a skilled and diligent full-time Software Engineer to join our growing team. You will work as part of the Dataplane Engineering Team to:

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, test, and document core Tailscale’s client-side networking software.
• Advance product features by building upon or merging established industry network protocols with Tailscale's specific designs and frameworks.
• Adopt a security-centric approach to both architecture and coding to guarantee the resilience and safety of networking modules.
• Evaluate and optimize the performance, reliability, and scale of our software across a wide array of technical platforms and hardware.
• Provide expert consultation and support the customer success teams with critical network escalations within key customer environments.
• Engage actively with the open-source community and contribute to relevant projects.

What We Are Looking For

• Significant experience with networking software and diagnosing networking issues
• Possess a comprehensive grasp of networking engineering, such as routing, VPNs, IP address management, and NAT traversal.
• Proficiency in Go or other low-level languages (e.g. C/C++, Rust), including a strong grasp of concurrent programming and techniques for optimizing performance.
• Experience with large scale distributed systems is highly desirable
• Knowledge of low-level OS network stacks is highly desirable
• Ability to give and process constructive feedback, as well as work independently
• Flexibility to adjust to the dynamic nature of a startup
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

US Pay Range

$163,000 - $226,000 USD

Frequently cited statistics show that people who identify with historically marginalized groups are likely to apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage you to help us break that statistic!

What We Offer

• An inclusive, flexible environment where you can be your authentic self. We recognize the impact of diverse voices and backgrounds on the growth of our people, product, and company. And that flexibility in how and when you work empowers our team to integrate work and life.
• A competitive total compensation package. This includes a base salary, an equity incentive plan and variable commission (for quota-based roles).
• Comprehensive group benefits with no waiting period. Take advantage of coverage for health, vision, dental, and more for you and your family!
• Remote first company—most of our teams work fully remotely. Enjoy a change of scenery wherever you can get wifi, participate in virtual and in-person social events, and leverage our corporate co-working program to visit WeWork (or other similar spaces near you). Some roles require in-office collaboration depending on team needs, which will be clearly noted in the job description.
• Employer-funded retirement contributions. Tailscale will match your retirement contributions dollar-for-dollar, up to a maximum annual employer contribution equal to 0.75% of your eligible compensation.
• Connect with other Tailscalars IRL. Attend our annual company retreat, participate in team off-sites, and collaborate in person with teammates across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Singapore. We support intentional in-person connection through team travel and distributed collaboration.
• Support for your personal and professional development. Grow your career thoughtfully with $1500 USD annually for professional development, or take advantage of mentorship, coaching, and internal promotion opportunities.
• Paid time off and a healthy work-life integration. Our flexible, paid time off program supports you for any situation life throws your way, whether moving homes or travelling the world!
• A build-your-own home office setup. You choose your own company-owned laptop (Mac or PC), receive a monthly home internet reimbursement, and $500 USD to customize your workstation to make it your own.
• Paid parental leave program. We care about your life outside of work and encourage new parents to take advantage of parental leave top-ups (20 weeks for birthing parents, 16 weeks for non-birthing parents).
• Tailscale is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive hiring process. If you require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process or related to any aspect of this role, please contact your recruiter.