Software Engineer, Networking

Tailscale

Software Engineer developing Tailscale's networking features with open-source contributions in a remote setting. Collaborating with design and product teams to enhance networking capabilities.

Posted 6/17/2026full-timeRemote • 🇨🇦 CanadaMid-LevelSenior💰 CA$218,420 - CA$302,840 per yearWebsite

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

Distributed SystemsGoMySQLPostgresSQL

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

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.
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.

Requirements

What you’ll need

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.

Benefits

Comp & perks

An inclusive, flexible environment where you can be your authentic self.
A competitive total compensation package.
Comprehensive group benefits with no waiting period.
Remote first company—most of our teams work fully remotely.
Connect with other Tailscalars IRL.
Support for your personal and professional development.
Paid time off and a healthy work-life integration.
A build-your-own home office setup.
Generous parental leave program from your first day.

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills & Tools

Gosocket programmingrouting tablespacket filteringdistributed systemsconcurrencymultithreadingmemory managementsynchronization primitivesSQL

Soft Skills

written communicationverbal communicationcollaborationconstructive feedbackindependenceadaptabilityflexibilityownershipstrategic decision-makingcustomer support