Network Reliability Engineer

About Proton

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 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 here!

The Network Infrastructure Team

Proton's network infrastructure is the foundation everything else runs on — and we treat it as software. We follow the Network Reliability Engineer (NRE) model: continuous observation, rapid capacity adaptation, and relentless automation so that network capabilities are delivered as APIs, not tickets. In 2024 we executed a full brownfield DC fabric migration to a new vendor stack in pursuit of better automation and reliability. We've since invested heavily in telemetry, shipped upstream improvements to community tooling, and now operate the majority of our network infrastructure through Kubernetes controllers and internally built workflows. This is not a team that waits for vendor roadmaps. If you've wanted to build truly next-generation networking — and are comfortable doing hard things — this is the place.

Tech Stack and Tools

• Protocols: BGP, OSPF, IS-IS, EVPN VXLAN, TCP/IP
• Hardware: Nokia, Juniper (hardware-agnostic, protocol-first approach)
• Automation / Coding: Python, Go, Rust
• Infrastructure: Kubernetes (controllers), Terraform, Git, Linux
• Telemetry: gNMIc, sFlow, BMP, Prometheus, Alertmanager, Grafana

What You'll Do

• Own the reliability and performance of Proton's network infrastructure — monitor, troubleshoot, and implement protocol-level optimizations to maximize uptime across the global fleet
• Deploy and maintain network security controls — firewalls, IDS/IPS, ACLs — without relying on vendor-specific shortcuts; ensure they meet Proton's strict privacy and security standards