Why This Job is Featured on The SaaS Jobs
This Software Engineer, Networking (Edge) role sits in a part of SaaS infrastructure that directly shapes product reliability: the global network layer that carries customer traffic. Tailscale operates a hosted service alongside open-source clients, so the work spans both service delivery and the underlying dataplane, with real-world constraints around latency, availability, and security. The focus on Funnel and DERP relay infrastructure signals a company building and operating its own connectivity primitives rather than relying solely on third-party platforms.
For a SaaS career, this is a strong pathway into operating distributed systems at the boundary between product engineering and SRE. Experience here tends to translate across modern SaaS businesses that run multi-region services, need robust observability, and handle complex customer environments. The role also provides exposure to the feedback loop between production incidents, architecture decisions, and iterative improvements, which is central to mature SaaS operations.
This position is best suited to engineers who enjoy deep problem-solving in networking and are comfortable owning systems in production, including troubleshooting escalations. It will appeal to those who like collaborating across product and engineering while still spending meaningful time in code, particularly in Go and systems-oriented work. A self-directed, asynchronous working style aligns with the fully distributed setup described.
The section above is editorial commentary from The SaaS Jobs, provided to help SaaS professionals understand the role in a broader industry context.
Job Description
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:
- Utilize extensive network engineering knowledge coupled with software development and SRE/DevOps proficiency to design, construct, and oversee Tailscale’s global Funnel and DERP relay infrastructure.
- Promote operational excellence and automation to guarantee the scalability, high availability, and performance of hosted services.
- Offer architectural guidance and troubleshoot escalated networking problems for customers to address intricate connectivity issues.
- Partner with internal engineering and product groups to advance hosted services and clients, ensuring updates provide broad value to our customer base.
- Support network connectivity capabilities and features by contributing to the open-source client code and developing the Tailscale product dataplane.
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, construct, evaluate, and provide documentation for networking features, connectivity solutions, and the open-source client-code network dataplane.
- Enhance and iterate on product capabilities, specifically focusing on Funnel and DERP relay infrastructures and their associated network protocols.
- Investigate and rectify complex, escalated network difficulties encountered across diverse technical environments.
- Maintain accountability for Tailscale's live services by integrating observability, engaging in incident management, and managing technical support escalations.
- Evaluate and boost the performance, reliability, and scaling capabilities of our networking resources and systems.
- Apply a security-centric approach to every stage of development, from initial design to final implementation of networking components.
What We Are Looking For
- Proven track record in networking software development and troubleshooting
- Expertise in core networking principles such as VPNs, NAT traversal, routing, and IP addressing
- Experience with distributed systems, maintaining global-scale services, and applying SRE & DevOps methodologies
- Most of the systems are developed in the Go programming language. Experience with Go is highly desired.
- Strong interpersonal skills for exchanging constructive feedback and the autonomy to work solo
- Adaptability to thrive within a fast-paced startup environment
- Superior communication abilities, both in writing and speaking
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.
US Pay Range
$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!
- Remote first company—most of our teams work fully remotely. 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). Some roles require in-office collaboration depending on team needs, which will be clearly noted in the job description.
- Connect with other Tailscalars IRL. Attend our annual company retreat, participate in team off-sites, and collaborate in person with teammates across Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. We support intentional in-person connection through team travel and distributed collaboration.
- 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!
- 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.
Tailscale is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive hiring process. If you require an accommodation at any stage of the recruitment process or related to any aspect of this role, please contact your recruiter.
Our hiring process uses AI-assisted tools to help screen and assess candidates. All hiring decisions are made by people.
Please be aware that legitimate emails from Tailscale's talent team will only originate from @tailscale.com, @greenhouse.io, and @interviews.modernloop.io email addresses. For more information about protecting yourself from impersonators and scams, please visit https://tailscale.com/scam-awareness.
