Backend Engineer

Remote (United States)

About Tailscale 

Tailscale is building the new Internet 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.

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 engineering team to:

  • Develop the Tailscale product, contributing to both open source client code and related backend services
  • Take ownership of the entire product lifecycle, from writing code to product ideation and strategic decision-making
  • Work closely with UX/UI designers and product managers to shape features

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 software components
  • Develop product features in areas that include our control plane, our relay infrastructure, and our identity integrations 
  • 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 efficiency, scalability, and stability of various system resources
  • Bring a security-first mindset to both design and implementation

What We Are Looking For

  • Experience with distributed systems
  • Experience with one or more SQL databases
  • Familiarity with authentication/authorization protocols and frameworks such as OAuth2, OIDC, SSO, and SAML
  • Familiarity with networks (IP addressing, routing, etc.)
  • Most of the non-front-end portions of the system are developed in the Go programming language
  • Experience with Go is a plus
  • 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. We use San Francisco market data to establish our pay ranges.

US Pay Ranges

$163,000 - $226,000 USD

Frequently cited statistics show that people who identify with historically marginalized groups are likely to apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage you to help us break that statistic!

What We Offer

  • An inclusive, flexible environment where you can be your authentic self. We recognize the impact of diverse voices and backgrounds on the growth of our people, product, and company. And that flexibility in how and when you work empowers our team to integrate work and life.
  • A competitive total compensation package. This includes a base salary, an equity incentive plan and variable commission (for quota-based roles).
  • Comprehensive group benefits with no waiting period. Take advantage of coverage for health, vision, dental, and more for you and your family!
  • All-remote with the opportunity to work from anywhere—enjoy a change of scenery wherever you can get wifi, participate in virtual and in-person social events, and leverage our corporate co-working program to visit WeWork (or other similar spaces near you). 
  • Connect with other Tailscalars IRL. Attend our annual company retreat, participate in team/department off-sites, or use your individual travel budget to meet up with team members in Canada, the US, or the UK. 
  • Support for your personal and professional development. Grow your career thoughtfully with $1500 USD annually for professional development, or take advantage of mentorship, coaching, and internal promotion opportunities. 
  • Paid time off and a healthy work-life integration. Our flexible, paid time off program supports you for any situation life throws your way, whether moving homes or travelling the world! We encourage all Tailscalars to take 4-6 weeks of vacation annually. 
  • A build-your-own home office setup. You choose your own company-owned laptop (Mac or PC), receive a monthly home internet reimbursement, and $1000 USD to customize your workstation to make it your own. 
  • Generous parental leave program from your first day. We care about your life outside of work and encourage new parents to take advantage of parental leave top-ups for up to 26 weeks. 

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