Senior Systems & Reliability Engineer (VPN)

Join Proton and build a better internet where privacy is the default

Proton was founded in 2014 by scientists from CERN on a simple truth: privacy is a fundamental human right. Since then, we’ve built the world’s largest encrypted email service (Proton Mail) and expanded into Proton VPN, Proton Drive, Proton Pass, and Proton Calendar-tools used by millions globally to protect their freedom, fight censorship, and keep their data safe. In some situations, Proton has literally helped save lives!

We are profitable, independent (no VC control), and selectively hire from the top ~1% of applicants. Our 500+ team members across 50+ countries come from leading organizations and elite academic backgrounds. We move fast, keep hierarchy light, and prioritize impact over optics. If you want to do meaningful work with exceptionally high-caliber people, this is it. Join us and do work you can truly be proud of. Check our open-source projects here!

Purpose of the role:  

At ProtonVPN, we're on a mission to provide secure, private internet access to everyone-even in the most restrictive environments. Our infrastructure spans thousands of servers worldwide, operating on a distributed architecture that connects our suite of applications across platforms.

As a Systems and Reliability Engineer on the VPN Infrastructure team, among several areas, you'll be at the forefront of our battle against censorship regimes worldwide. You'll help design, implement, and maintain the robust systems that keep our users connected when they need privacy and security most.

What you will do:

• Infrastructure Management: Oversee and optimize our rapidly expanding global network of thousands of servers
• Automation & Reliability: Design and implement automation systems that ensure 99.95%+ uptime across our infrastructure
• Problem Solving: Serve as an active member of the on-call rotation, troubleshooting complex technical challenges across different network environments and censorship scenarios
• Monitoring Excellence: Develop and enhance sophisticated monitoring and alerting systems that provide real-time visibility into our global infrastructure
• Technical Implementation: Engineer solutions to improve connectivity, stability, performance, scalability, security, and resilience-particularly in adversarial network environments

Job requirements:

• Linux Expertise: Knowledge of Debian/Linux operating system internals, including NFtables, networking stack, and kernel tuning
• Infrastructure as Code: Experience with orchestration and automation using Ansible or similar tools
• Programming Skills: Python proficiency for developing automation tools and operational scripts
• Observability Tools: Hands-on experience with monitoring solutions like VictoriaMetrics and Grafana dashboards
• Security Knowledge: Understanding of security principles and best practices for infrastructure

What We Value:

• Strong problem-solving abilities, especially in high-pressure situations
• Adaptability and willingness to learn new technologies as our infrastructure evolves
• Collaborative mindset for working with the VPN R&D Team and Procurement on infrastructure initiatives
• Innovative thinking to address challenges in censorship-heavy environments

Bonus points for:

• Understanding of UDP and TCP/IP protocols, including troubleshooting and optimization techniques
• Experience implementing and troubleshooting VPN protocols, particularly OpenVPN and WireGuard
• Working knowledge of cryptography concepts, including TLS certificates and public key infrastructure (PKI)
• Experience with high-availability systems and resilient architecture design
• Background in fighting network censorship or working in restricted internet environments

What We Offer:

• Work that Matters: millions of people trust Proton with their privacy. We answer only to our users - not advertisers, not investors with conflicting agendas, not governments. The work you do here is real, and the impact is measurable. (read more about our impact here)
• Stock Options: at Proton, we all have the opportunity to be owners of the company. From day one, you have a real stake in what we're building. When Proton wins, you win.
• Technology: you'll get the right hardware and the right software you need to do your best work.
• Learning & Development: we invest in your growth because sharp people make us better. Proton is one of the fastest ways to accelerate your career because you'll be thrown into real challenges, with real ownership, from day one.
• Employee Benefits: your wellbeing isn't an afterthought. We offer strong health coverage, solid retirement options, generous leave, and wellness support so you can bring your best self to work every day
• In-Person Collaboration: Amazing things happen when passionate, smart, and purposeful people get together in the same room. With offices across Geneva, Zürich, Barcelona, London and more, you'll spend most of your time collaborating face-to-face with people who genuinely care about what they're building
• Food: Lunch and snacks are on us every day in our offices so you can focus on the work and not on what's for lunch.
• Transport: getting to the office shouldn't cost you. We cover public transport, bike allowances, or parking, whichever works for you.
• Flexible Working: you own your schedule. Set hours that work for you and your team - because outcomes matter more than when the clock says you started.

Compensation:

• Barcelona: 61,000 - 116,000 EUR gross annually 
• Other locations: Compensation will be discussed during the interview process
• Final compensation will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, skills, and previous experience

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

At Proton, we believe diversity drives innovation and strengthens our mission to provide privacy as a default for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical ability, or socio-economic background, feel valued and empowered. We strive to create equal opportunities, promote open dialogue, and support continuous learning to ensure every voice is heard and respected.

If you need any extra support or reasonable adjustments during the hiring process, please let your talent partner know.

Candidate Privacy Notice

When you apply for a position, refer a candidate, or are considered for a role at Proton Technologies AG (Proton, we, us, or our), your information is stored in Greenhouse, in accordance with their Service Privacy Policy.  This information is used to evaluate your suitability for the posted position. We also retain this information for consideration for future roles that you may apply for or that we believe may align with your background and skills.

If we no longer have a legitimate business need to process your information, we will either delete or anonymize it. Should you have any inquiries about how we use or manage your information, or if you wish to access, correct, or delete your data, please contact our privacy team at [email protected].

Proton does not accept unsolicited resumes from any sources other than directly from candidates. We will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from an unsolicited offer, even if the candidate is subsequently hired by Proton.

To learn more about our privacy policy, please visit  our privacy policy page.