As a Senior Software Engineer Backend at NetBird, you will play a key role in building and scaling the backend of our open-source, peer-to-peer networking platform. You'll work on high-throughput distributed systems that power secure connectivity for users and organizations around the world.
This role sits at the core of our engineering team. You'll collaborate closely with other engineers to design robust backend services, optimize data systems, and shape the reliability and scalability of NetBird's platform.
What you will doDesign, build, and scale high-throughput backend services and APIs in Go that power NetBird's globally distributed networking platform.
Own data modeling and database performance optimization — design schemas, optimize queries, and ensure our systems scale under load.
Implement observability best practices (metrics, logs, tracing) and contribute to incident response and postmortems.
Take end-to-end ownership of features: from design and implementation to deployment, monitoring, and iteration.
Collaborate with networking and platform engineers on routing, connectivity, and overall system performance.
Engage with the open-source community — debug user-reported issues, participate in GitHub discussions, and care about the quality of your work.
5+ years of professional experience building backend systems in Go or similar systems languages.
Proven experience building and operating high-scale distributed systems (e.g. high-throughput APIs, real-time platforms, or infrastructure tools).
Strong in data modeling and database performance optimization: schema design, indexing, query tuning, scaling databases under load.
Solid understanding of networking concepts (IP, routing, auth protocols like OAuth2/OIDC).
End-to-end ownership mindset: design, implement, deploy, monitor, iterate.
Thrives in high-autonomy, fast-paced environments. Comfortable working independently and proactively solving problems.
Experience in startup or scale-up environments where speed, ownership, and collaboration are key.
Experience with WireGuard, VPNs, or peer-to-peer networking technologies (STUN, TURN, ICE, NAT traversal).
Background in security-focused systems or networking products.
Experience with gRPC and REST-based APIs.
Familiarity with cloud infrastructure and Kubernetes.
Open-source contributions, especially in Go or networking/infrastructure projects.
Comprehensive compensation package including a competitive salary and equity incentives.
Exceptional growth opportunity as a part of a rapidly growing company at the forefront of the Zero Trust security revolution.
Meaningful ownership & space to build an extraordinary product.
Intense and energizing atmosphere in our Berlin office (4 days office / 1 day flexible).
An outstanding team that has the ambition and drive to build an excellent product and company.
Skills Required
- 5+ years professional experience building backend systems in Go or similar systems languages
- Proven experience building and operating high-scale distributed systems (high-throughput APIs, real-time platforms, infrastructure tools)
- Strong data modeling and database performance optimization: schema design, indexing, query tuning, scaling under load
- Solid understanding of networking concepts (IP, routing, auth protocols like OAuth2/OIDC)
- End-to-end ownership: design, implement, deploy, monitor, iterate
- Experience working independently in high-autonomy, fast-paced environments
- Experience in startup or scale-up environments
- Implement observability best practices (metrics, logs, tracing) and participate in incident response/postmortems
- Collaborate with networking and platform engineers on routing, connectivity, and system performance
- Experience with WireGuard, VPNs, or peer-to-peer networking technologies (STUN, TURN, ICE, NAT traversal)
- Background in security-focused systems or networking products
- Experience with gRPC and REST-based APIs
- Familiarity with cloud infrastructure and Kubernetes
- Open-source contributions, especially in Go or networking/infrastructure projects
What We Do
NetBird is an open-source Zero Trust network security platform built on WireGuard. It lets organizations securely connect devices, servers, cloud environments, remote users, hybrid-cloud resources, and edge systems into private networks without complex configuration or dedicated infrastructure. Its identity-based approach replaces traditional VPNs, provides granular network segmentation and centralized management, and supports self-hosting as well as cloud deployment across diverse operating systems and environments.
