At a Glance
- Tasks: Package software for Nix and manage NixOS infrastructure.
- Company: Join Helsing, a defence AI company dedicated to protecting democracies.
- Benefits: Competitive pay, stock options, relocation support, and social allowances.
- Other info: Inclusive culture that values diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in tech while working on ethical AI solutions.
- Qualifications: Deep knowledge of GNU/Linux and NixOS; experience with Rust is a plus.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Helsing is a defence AI company. Our mission is to protect our democracies. We aim to achieve technological leadership, so that open societies can continue to make sovereign decisions and control their ethical standards. As democracies, we believe we have a special responsibility to be thoughtful about the development and deployment of powerful technologies like AI. We take this responsibility seriously. We are an ambitious and committed team of engineers, AI specialists and customer‑facing programme managers. We are looking for mission‑driven people to join our European teams – and apply their skills to solve the most complex and impactful problems. We embrace an open and transparent culture that welcomes healthy debates on the use of technology in defence, its benefits, and its ethical implications.
The role In this position, your responsibilities are widely spread - you will take care of packaging software for Nix, set up Nix development environments, configure and administer our backend NixOS infrastructure, and upstream fixes and software back to Nixpkgs.
Key Skills
- Have deep knowledge of GNU/Linux and the surrounding ecosystem.
- Excellent knowledge of and experience with NixOS, either in a FOSS context or in a professional context.
- Hands‑on experience with configuring and administering NixOS servers, in a professional or in a volunteer or homelabbing context.
- Knowledge of network protocols, in particular the Internet protocol stack (e.g. IP, TCP, UDP, TLS, Wireguard).
- Experience with Rust development.
- Experience rolling out and using metrics tooling (e.g., Prometheus, Grafana, ELK).
- Familiarity with SQL and streaming database systems.
- Knowledge of application‑layer security engineering, such as OIDC or system sandboxing.
Nice to Have
- Experience with CppNix, Lix or DetNix development.
- Knowledge of macOS system development and the macOS ecosystem.
- Experience with mitigating supply‑chain security issues.
- Knowledge of container‑based and cloud‑native application architectures (e.g., Docker, Azure, AWS).
- Experience packaging Rust and NodeJS software with Nix.
What we offer
- A focus on outcomes, not time‑tracking
- Competitive compensation and stock options
- Relocation support
- Social and education allowances
- Regular company events and all‑hands to bring together employees as one team across Europe
- A hands‑on onboarding program (affectionately labelled "Infraduction"), in which you will be building tooling and applications to be used across the company. This is your opportunity to learn our tech stack, explore the company, and learn how we get things done – all whilst working with other engineering teams from day one
Helsing is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability or gender identity.
Site Reliability Engineer - Nix/NixOS employer: Helsing
Helsing is an exceptional employer that champions a culture of transparency and inclusivity, making it an ideal workplace for mission-driven individuals. With competitive compensation, relocation support, and a strong focus on employee growth through hands-on onboarding and regular team events, we empower our engineers to tackle complex challenges in defence AI while fostering a collaborative environment across Europe.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Site Reliability Engineer - Nix/NixOS
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Helsing or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Helsing.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Helsing.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Helsing that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Site Reliability Engineer - Nix/NixOS
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Helsing.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Helsing and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Helsing
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Helsing uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
