Software Engineer, Network Infrastructure

About the role

Render is actively constructing a modern cloud platform tailored for developers who are building AI-native, full-stack, multi-service applications. The primary mission is to eliminate the unnecessary tradeoff between the raw power of hyperscalers and the simplicity offered by developer-friendly platforms. This role grants the opportunity to ship features rapidly, scale systems reliably, and allow teams to concentrate on their product rather than infrastructure complexities. The hired individual will directly influence how developers around the world launch, scale, and manage their applications from the MVP stage all the way to millions of users.

Key facts

What you'll do

You will own and maintain Render's core network infrastructure that spans multiple data centers and cloud providers, shaping its evolution as the company scales rapidly. You will design and build customer-facing networking capabilities that provide users with flexibility in service connectivity, communication methods, and traffic routing logic. You will investigate intricate networking issues across the entire stack, ranging from the kernel and data plane up to distributed systems and edge networking components. You will drive performance and reliability improvements through systematic profiling, analysis, and tuning of network pathways. You will partner with engineers across the company to construct a platform that remains stable, predictable, and secure under all conditions. You will participate in our on-call rotation, helping to continuously improve detection, response, and learning mechanisms for infrastructure incidents. You will advance networking for Render's next-generation compute platforms, ensuring the stack supports future AI-native workloads. You will contribute to scaling and evolving traffic routing and load balancing systems to handle increasing global demand. You will extend Kubernetes and Linux networking components to support large-scale, zero-downtime operations and upgrades. You will leverage open source and industry-standard technologies, modifying core components to meet strict reliability, performance, and scaling demands.

Requirements

You must possess at least 6 years of hands-on experience building and operating large-scale networking or infrastructure systems in production environments. You must have deep, practical experience with Kubernetes networking internals, including kube-proxy, CNI plugins, and service routing mechanisms. You must demonstrate strong experience with Linux networking internals, such as routing, netfilter/iptables/nftables, and conntrack, within live production systems. You must have a proven track record of building and operating traffic routing systems, including load balancers, ingress controllers, and proxies, at significant scale. You must have extensive experience in designing, debugging, and operating distributed systems that handle real-world traffic loads. You must be comfortable working with network hardware and software-defined networking concepts in a cloud environment. You must have a history of collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams to resolve complex technical challenges. You must be able to communicate technical concepts clearly and document systems design decisions for long-term maintainability. You must be located within the United States to comply with regulatory and operational requirements.

Nice to have

Prior experience contributing to open source networking projects or core infrastructure components is highly valued. Familiarity with service meshes and their networking implications is considered a strong advantage for this role. Experience with high-performance packet processing or DPDK-based systems is preferred if you have worked on edge networking use cases. Knowledge of security and compliance frameworks relevant to cloud infrastructure is beneficial for maintaining our strict security posture. Experience with multi-cloud environments and hybrid cloud architectures is appreciated given our diverse deployment strategy.

Practical notes

This role requires full-time commitment and is not eligible for part-time or contract arrangements. The position is fully remote but requires adherence to United States working laws and tax regulations. No travel is required for this position, and candidates do not need to relocate. There are no specific visa sponsorship details provided in this listing, and interested candidates should review Render's policies directly if immigration support is required. The application process is ongoing, and interested candidates are encouraged to submit their materials promptly to be considered for immediate opportunities.

Compensation

Render offers competitive compensation packages, though specific figures are not published in this public listing. Detailed compensation information, including equity and benefits, is discussed during the interview process with our recruitment team.

About the team

You will be joining a diverse and talented team that values craft, velocity, and user experience above all else. The team is distributed across multiple time zones and relies on asynchronous communication to maintain productivity. Engineers are encouraged to propose improvements to the codebase and infrastructure without waiting for permission. The culture emphasizes radical candor, continuous feedback, and mutual trust. You will work alongside engineers who are passionate about empowering developers and simplifying cloud infrastructure.

Impact and ownership

By joining Render at this early stage, you will have the unique opportunity to design systems that shape the future of developer infrastructure. Your decisions will directly impact millions of developers globally and influence the long-term architecture of the platform. You will be responsible for critical components that ensure security, performance, and reliability at scale. The work you do here will be visible to a large user base and will contribute to the company's rapid growth trajectory. This is a rare chance to leave a lasting mark on a platform that supports the next generation of software startups.

Application expectations

The interview process at Render is unique to each role and focuses on practical, real-world scenarios. Candidates can expect technical discussions that dive deep into networking protocols, system design, and operational best practices. We value the candidate experience as much as the customer experience, so interviews will be conducted professionally and respectfully. Hiring teams will assess both technical competence and cultural alignment with Render's values. You should come prepared to engage in thoughtful debate and collaborative problem-solving. Our goal is to create an environment where mutual trust leads to the best outcomes for both customers and teammates.

Diversity and inclusion

Render is committed to building a diverse workforce and encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds. The company understands that not all successful candidates will meet every requirement listed, and accommodations can often be made. Members of underrepresented groups in the tech community are especially encouraged to apply. The hiring team evaluates candidates based on potential, skills, and cultural contribution rather than strict adherence to traditional checkboxes.

Next steps

If you are excited about shaping the future of the intelligent cloud and empowering developers everywhere, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application through the official Render careers page for immediate consideration. Ensure your materials highlight relevant experience with large-scale networking, distributed systems, and infrastructure reliability. The Render team looks forward to reviewing your application and potentially welcoming you to the network infrastructure team.