At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and operate high-performance systems that shape the future of the Internet.
- Company: Join Cloudflare, a mission-driven tech company dedicated to building a better Internet.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, take-what-you-need vacation, and meaningful technical challenges.
- Other info: Diverse perspectives are valued; excellent career growth opportunities await.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the Internet while working with cutting-edge technologies.
- Qualifications: Solid programming experience in Rust, C, or similar; passion for learning and problem-solving.
The predicted salary is between 46000 - 67000 £ per year.
About Us
At Cloudflare, we are on a mission to help build a better Internet. Today the company runs one of the world’s largest networks that powers millions of websites and other Internet properties for customers ranging from individual bloggers to SMBs to Fortune 500 companies. Cloudflare protects and accelerates any Internet application online without adding hardware, installing software, or changing a line of code. Internet properties powered by Cloudflare all have web traffic routed through its intelligent global network, which gets smarter with every request. As a result, they see significant improvement in performance and a decrease in spam and other attacks.
Location: London, Lisbon, or Austin - (Hybrid)
Join the team helping shape the future of the Internet. We’re building high-performance systems that handle a quarter of the Internet’s traffic. Our work influences open standards (like QUIC, MASQUE, and ECH), involves close collaboration with the IETF, and pushes the boundaries of what's possible in networking and security. You don’t need to be an HTTP or cryptography expert to join — we’re looking for excellent engineers who love tough problems, want to learn deeply, and are excited to contribute to one of the most technically demanding areas of infrastructure.
What you’ll do
- Build and operate systems that terminate HTTP and TLS at Internet scale
- Migrate core infrastructure from NGINX to a next-gen Rust-based proxy
- Measure and improve protocol performance across real-world traffic
- Contribute to open source and industry standards
- Learn from and work alongside some of the leading engineers in this space
You might be a good fit if you:
- Have solid systems programming experience (Rust, C, or similar)
- Thrive in complex technical domains and enjoy learning new things
- Care about building reliable, secure, and performant software
- Are motivated by impact — technical, operational, and on the Internet itself
- Come from a background that’s underrepresented in tech — we value diverse perspectives
Perks include:
- Flexible work hours
- Take-what-you-need vacation
- RSUs
- ESPP
- Meaningful technical challenges every day
Compensation
Compensation may be adjusted depending on work location. For Portugal based hires: Estimated annual salary is between €54,000 - €75,000. This role is eligible to participate in Cloudflare’s equity plan.
Health & Welfare Benefits
- Medical/Rx Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Commuter Spending Accounts
- Fertility & Family Forming Benefits
- On-demand mental health support and Employee Assistance Program
- Global Travel Medical Insurance
- Short and Long Term Disability Insurance
- 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
- Employee Stock Participation Plan
Time Off
Flexible paid time off covering vacation and sick leave. Leave programs, including parental, pregnancy health, medical, and bereavement leave.
What Makes Cloudflare Special?
We’re not just a highly ambitious, large-scale technology company. We’re a highly ambitious, large-scale technology company with a soul. Fundamental to our mission to help build a better Internet is protecting the free and open Internet.
Please note that applicants who progress to the offer stage of the interview process may be asked to attend an in-person interview within one of the Cloudflare Offices or Cloudflare Hubs. More details about this will be available at that stage of the interview process.
This position may require access to information protected under U.S. export control laws, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations. Please note that any offer of employment may be conditioned on your authorization to receive software or technology controlled under these U.S. export laws without sponsorship for an export license.
Cloudflare is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity for all people and place great value in both diversity and inclusiveness. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to their, or any other person's, perceived or actual race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, or any other basis protected by law.
Cloudflare provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.
Systems Engineer, Network Protocols & Distributed Systems employer: Cloudflare
Cloudflare is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration among talented engineers. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, you will have access to cutting-edge technologies and the opportunity to contribute to a globally impactful distributed database system, all while enjoying the benefits of a supportive and inclusive environment in a fast-paced industry.
