Software Engineer

About the Role

Tailscale seeks a skilled Software Engineer specializing in networking features to join their growing engineering team. You will contribute to both open-source client code and backend services focused on improving networking optimizations.

• Take ownership of product ideation through strategic decision-making, coding, testing, and documentation.
  Collaborate with UX/UI designers and Product Managers to shape feature enhancements for better connectivity.
  Note: As a fully remote early-stage company, strong motivation, adaptability in fast-paced environments, asynchronous collaboration skills, and the ability to think on your feet are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, build, test, and document core networking software components alongside a team of engineers.
  Maintain observability for running services by building tools, participating in incident response, and handling customer escalations.
  Analyze systems: Improve efficiency, scalability, and stability.
  Mindset: Apply security-first principles to all design and implementation phases.

What We Are Looking For

We seek candidates with proven experience in application-layer networking concepts (proxies, connectors, overlay routing) and deep knowledge of OS-level internals (socket programming, routing tables). You must have professional Go (Golang) experience and a solid understanding of concurrent system design.

Additionally:

• Proficiency with relational databases like PostgreSQL or MySQL.
  Excellent communication skills to explain complex technical concepts clearly.
  Collaboration: Active in giving constructive feedback and working effectively independently within a team.
  Vibe check: Startup-ready flexibility for dynamic, fast-paced environments.

Compensation & Benefits

Tailscale offers fair compensation packages including base salary ($181k–$226k USD target range), equity, and comprehensive benefits. They provide an inclusive environment with flexible hours to support work-life integration.

The Perks of Joining Tailscale:

• Remote-first culture: Work from anywhere; visit WeWork spaces or collaborate in-person at annual retreats.
  Employer-funded retirement contributions (up to 0.75% match).
  Career Growth: $1,500/year for professional development and mentorship opportunities.
  HIPPO Lifestyle Support:
  • Fund your home office setup with a company-owned laptop and internet reimbursement ($500 customization budget).
  
  Paid Parental Leave: Top-ups available (20 weeks for birthing parents, 16 weeks for others).
  Group benefits covering health, vision, dental with no waiting period.