Software Engineer, Networking (Dataplane)

Job Description

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:

• Contribute to the core client connectivity features of Tailscale by applying a deep understanding of network engineering and software development.
• Evolve and enhance the Tailscale connectivity offerings between clients, subnet routers, exit nodes and other integrations with customer network infrastructure.
• Provide architectural insights and resolve escalated customer network issues to fix complex connectivity problems.
• Collaborate with product management and internal engineering to develop integrated network solutions that prioritize scalability and ease of maintenance while ensuring a superior customer experience.

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.

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

As a company, we strive to maintain fair and equitable compensation practices within our team across all roles and all levels. Tailscale's compensation package includes base salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits. The salary range displayed on each job posting represents the target range for a new hire's base salary. Individual offers may vary based on experience and skill set.