Backend Engineer (VPN)

About this role

<p data-renderer-start-pos="18" data-local-id="384391c2485b"><strong data-renderer-mark="true">Join Proton and build a better internet where privacy is the default</strong></p> <p data-renderer-start-pos="88" data-local-id="70873c53c148">Proton was founded in 2014 by scientists from CERN on a simple truth: <strong data-renderer-mark="true">privacy is a fundamental human right</strong>. 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!</p> <p data-renderer-start-pos="518" data-local-id="bb6a25ba35fe">We are profitable, independent (no VC control), and selectively hire from the top ~1% of applicants. Our 700+ 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 <a class="_ymio1r31 _ypr0glyw _zcxs1o36 _mizu1v1w _1ah3dkaa _ra3xnqa1 _128mdkaa _1cvmnqa1 _4davt94y _4bfu1r31 _1hms8stv _ajmmnqa1 _vchhusvi _kqswh2mm _ect4ttxp _syaz13af _1a3b1r31 _4fpr8stv _5goinqa1 _f8pj13af _9oik1r31 _1bnxglyw _jf4cnqa1 _30l313af _1nrm1r31 _c2waglyw _1iohnqa1 _9h8h12zz _10531ra0 _1ien1ra0 _n0fx1ra0 _1vhv17z1" href="https://proton.me/community/open-source" data-renderer-mark="true" data-is-router-link="false" data-testid="link-with-safety">here</a>!</p> <div><strong>Purpose of the role:</strong> <span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></div> <div><br>The VPN team is focused on building the best and most trustworthy VPN in the world. We aim to provide the best user experience to millions of people around the world willing to take back their online privacy, while providing sophisticated technologies to bypass network restrictions in highly censored countries.</div> <div><br><strong>What you will do:</strong></div> <ul> <li>Work closely with a group of Back-End Engineers and Architects to build resilient, massively-scalable solutions for millions of people to rely on<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></li> <li>Collaborate with teams of client application developers and product management to ensure that the back-end meets critical business and reliability requirements<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></li> <li>Document back-end capabilities and their proper use so that all Proton VPN clients can implement correctly-functioning solutions</li> <li>Debug and repair vital systems such as the systems responsible for cleaning up file revisions and returning quota to users<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <div><strong>Job requirements:</strong></div> <ul> <li>Experience with PHP-based entry-points to a back-end software stack<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></li> <li>Experience building scalable solutions<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></li> <li>Experience with profiling methods and tools<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></li> <li>Experience leading a team initiative from discovery to production</li> <li>Solid understanding of SQL (MySql preferred) and data modelling</li> <li>Solid understanding of Redis or other caching technologies</li> <li>Solid understanding of security best practices</li> <li>Solid understanding of HTTP/REST, including both developing and consuming Web-based APIs</li> <li>High-level understanding of cryptography concepts such as key exchange and the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <div><strong>Bonus points for:</strong> <span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></div> <ul> <li>Operational experience such as SRE or on-call, demonstrating ability to diagnose and troubleshoot complex problems for critical systems<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></li> <li>Experience with Docker or similar containerization technologies <span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></li> <li>Experience with metrics graphing/analysis toolkits such as Grafana and OpenTelemetry <span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></li> <li>Experience with Python and/or Rust<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></li> <li>Experience with OpenAPI specs or other API documentation frameworks<span class="Apple-converted-space">&nbsp;</span></li> </ul> <div>Even if you don’t meet all the requirements listed above, but feel you could still be a great fit, please still apply.</div> <p data-renderer-start-pos="968" data-local-id="553cdffa8810"><strong data-renderer-mark="true">What We Offer</strong></p> <ul> <li data-renderer-start-pos="985" data-local-id="f221d9a09974"><strong data-renderer-mark="true">Work that Matters:</strong> 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 <a class="_ymio1r31 _ypr0glyw _zcxs1o36 _mizu1v1w _1ah3dkaa _ra3xnqa1 _128mdkaa _1cvmnqa1 _4davt94y _4bfu1r31 _1hms8stv _ajmmnqa1 _vchhusvi _kqswh2mm _ect4ttxp _syaz13af _1a3b1r31 _4fpr8stv _5goinqa1 _f8pj13af _9oik1r31 _1bnxglyw _jf4cnqa1 _30l313af _1nrm1r31 _c2waglyw _1iohnqa1 _9h8h12zz _10531ra0 _1ien1ra0 _n0fx1ra0 _1vhv17z1" href="https://proton.me/about/impact" data-renderer-mark="true" data-is-router-link="false" data-testid="link-with-safety">here</a>)</li> <li data-renderer-start-pos="985" data-local-id="f221d9a09974"><strong data-renderer-mark="true">Stock Options:</strong> 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.