Remote Staff Software Engineer – Low-Level Networking Agent

Description:

• ZeroTier is a leader in next-generation connectivity and cybersecurity, providing secure, peer-to-peer virtual networks for millions of users and businesses.
• The company is seeking a skilled Software Engineer to build, extend, and maintain the ZeroTier client, which is a lightweight virtual networking engine.
• This role involves networking, distributed systems, and systems-level engineering, focusing on secure, reliable, and high-performance connectivity.
• Responsibilities include contributing to the client’s networking stack, peer discovery, session management, and data-path performance.
• The position requires strong knowledge of network protocols, OS internals, and low-level optimization.
• The engineer will work closely with platform, infrastructure, and security teams to evolve a cross-platform codebase that runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, mobile, and embedded environments.
• The work will shape how devices join virtual networks, discover peers, establish encrypted sessions, and communicate efficiently under real-world network conditions.
• Key tasks include participating in design and implementation strategies, developing communication primitives, implementing secure tunneling and NAT traversal techniques, optimizing data paths, profiling network performance, building cross-platform abstractions, writing clean code, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Requirements:

• Candidates must have senior-level experience in network engineering or systems programming.
• Strong proficiency in C, C++, or Rust for low-level development is required.
• A deep understanding of networking and protocols, including the OSI Model, IPv4/IPv6, IP routing, and Ethernet is essential.
• Knowledge of internet routing, IPAM, firewalls, NAT, and multipath is necessary.
• Familiarity with NAT traversal techniques such as STUN, TURN, ICE, and hole punching is required.
• Candidates should have experience with encryption standards and secure session establishment.
• Experience with Linux and/or Windows networking internals and socket programming is needed.
• Familiarity with overlay networks, VPN tunneling, mesh networking, or SD-WAN is preferred.
• Solid debugging and performance profiling skills using tools like tcpdump, Wireshark, perf, and strace are important.
• The ability to write technical documentation and communicate effectively with team members is required.
• Experience in a startup or fast-paced environment is a strong plus.

Benefits:

• Employees will be part of a team that is dedicated to solving complex technical challenges in high-performance decentralized networking.
• The company offers a mission-driven environment focused on making peer-to-peer networking simple, secure, and intuitive.
• ZeroTier provides opportunities to work on enterprise-grade software-defined networking solutions for a variety of applications.
• The role allows for collaboration with top professionals in the field, enhancing personal and professional growth.
• The company values diversity and considers applicants without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation.