Software Engineer, Networking (Features)

Role Description

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

• Develop the Tailscale product, contributing to both open-source client code and related backend services, with an 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 features that enhance networking capabilities.

Because we’re an early-stage and fully remote company, we’re looking for a strongly motivated individual who can help move the product forward. The ability to think on your feet, collaborate with highly technical teams, and comfort working asynchronously are essential.

Qualifications

• Proven experience implementing application-layer networking concepts and distributed components, such as proxies, connectors, and overlay routing, to enable seamless connectivity.
• 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, with a solid understanding of concurrency (e.g., multithreading, race conditions, memory management, synchronization primitives) and scalability.
• Proficiency with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and writing efficient SQL queries.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical concepts clearly.
• Strong collaborative mindset—you actively give and process constructive feedback and work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
• Startup-ready flexibility, with the adaptability to pivot and thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

Requirements

• Work as part of a team of engineers to design, build, test, and document core networking software components.
• Exhibit ownership over the running services that comprise Tailscale’s product by building for observability, participating in incident response, and fielding customer support escalations.
• Analyze and improve the efficiency, scalability, and stability of networking systems and resources.
• Bring a security-first mindset to both design and implementation, ensuring robust and secure networking components.

Benefits

• An inclusive, flexible environment where you can be your authentic self.
• A competitive total compensation package, including a base salary, an equity incentive plan, and variable commission (for quota-based roles).
• Comprehensive group benefits with no waiting period, including coverage for health, vision, dental, and more for you and your family.
• Remote first company—most of our teams work fully remotely.
• Connect with other Tailscalars IRL through annual company retreats and team off-sites.
• Support for your personal and professional development with $1500 USD annually for professional development.
• Paid time off and a healthy work-life integration with a flexible, paid time off program.
• A build-your-own home office setup with a company-owned laptop, monthly home internet reimbursement, and $1000 USD to customize your workstation.
• Generous parental leave program from your first day, encouraging new parents to take advantage of parental leave top-ups for up to 26 weeks.