Software Engineer, Networking (Features) - Tailscale

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 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.

Key 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.

What We Are Looking For

• 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.

What We Offer

• An inclusive, flexible environment: We recognize the impact of diverse voices and backgrounds. Flexibility in how and when you work empowers our team to integrate work and life.
• Competitive compensation: This includes a base salary of $181,000—$226,000 USD, an equity incentive plan, and comprehensive benefits.
• Comprehensive group benefits: Coverage for health, vision, dental, and more for you and your family with no waiting period.
• Remote-first culture: Most of our teams work fully remotely. Enjoy a corporate co-working program to visit WeWork or other similar spaces near you.
• Employer-funded retirement contributions: Tailscale matches retirement contributions dollar-for-dollar, up to a maximum annual employer contribution equal to 0.75% of your eligible compensation.
• In-person connections: Attend our annual company retreat, participate in team off-sites, and collaborate in person with teammates.
• Professional development: Grow your career with $1,500 USD annually for professional development, alongside mentorship and coaching.
• Paid time off: A flexible, paid time off program to support work-life integration.
• Home office setup: Choose your own company-owned laptop (Mac or PC), receive a monthly home internet reimbursement, and $500 USD to customize your workstation.
• Paid parental leave: Parental leave top-ups (20 weeks for birthing parents, 16 weeks for non-birthing parents).