Software Engineer, Networking (Features)

Tailscale

1d•$163,000 - $226,000•Remote

About The Position

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. You will take ownership of the entire product lifecycle, from writing code to product ideation and strategic decision-making. You will 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.

Requirements

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.

Responsibilities

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

Base salary
Equity incentive plan
Comprehensive group benefits with no waiting period (health, vision, dental, and more)
Remote first company
Corporate co-working program
Annual company retreat
Team off-sites
Support for personal and professional development ($1500 USD annually)
Mentorship, coaching, and internal promotion opportunities
Flexible, paid time off program
Build-your-own home office setup (company-owned laptop, monthly home internet reimbursement, $1000 USD for customization)
Generous parental leave program (up to 26 weeks top-ups)