Senior Desktop Engineer (Inbox)

Join Proton and build a better internet where privacy is the default. At Proton, we believe that privacy is a fundamental human right and the cornerstone of democracy. Since our inception in 2014, we have dedicated ourselves to providing free and open-source technology to millions worldwide, ensuring access to privacy, security, and freedom online. Our journey began with Proton Mail, the largest secure email service globally, and has since expanded to include Proton VPN, Proton Calendar, Proton Drive, and Proton Pass. These tools empower individuals and organizations to take control of their personal data, break away from Big Tech’s invasive practices, and defeat censorship.

The Team: Our business unit, Inbox, is a cross-functional team of about 60 engineers, product managers, designers, and data analysts driving the development of Proton Mail, the company’s flagship product, and Proton Calendar. Our mission is to create an end-to-end encrypted solution with a better user experience than any other productivity products on the market. The Inbox Desktop team is responsible for developing desktop clients of Inbox, specifically the Proton Mail Desktop App, Proton Mail Bridge, and the Export tool. We are in the process of rebuilding our client applications on a new, innovative technology stack centred around cross-platform Rust code.

Purpose of the role: As a Senior Software Engineer in the Inbox Desktop team, you will play a crucial role in driving the development of one of Proton's most vital desktop offerings, the Proton Mail Desktop App. You will be customer‑centric, a continuous learner, passionate about technology and usability, and adept at turning technical complexities into seamless user experiences. Effective teamwork, data‑driven decision making, and collaboration with Product, Design, and other teams are essential aspects of this role.

What you will do:

• Research: Assess new technologies and support cross‑team and cross‑business unit technical decision making.
• Work breakdown: Transform product specifications into technical requirements and lead your team to successful implementation.
• Product development: Ensure high‑quality user experiences within our product portfolio by implementing, deploying, and maintaining existing and new features.
• Scalability: Enhance software development lifecycle, tools, and processes to improve developer experience and ensure our solutions are scalable.
• Coding: Write clear, concise, and testable code to maintain and elevate the quality of our codebase.
• Project management: Manage the scoping, planning, and execution of new features, technical initiatives, and greenfield projects.
• Mentoring: Foster a culture of learning, creativity, and accountability through mentorship and team development, and model quality assurance and performance optimization.

Job requirements:

• Experience: Significant, relevant professional software development experience with Rust, or with a very strong background in modern C++ and reasonably complex Rust pet projects.
• Desktop software development: Experience developing high quality, fast, Windows and Linux cross‑platform desktop applications.
• Familiarity with different native and cross‑platform desktop UI frameworks (e.g. Avalonia UI, Qt, Electron, etc.).
• Experience working both on user interface and on business logic.
• Product mindset: A product mindset focusing on outstanding user experience in a successful business environment.
• Engineering leadership: Ability to make architectural decisions and contribute to strategic planning and product directions.
• Collaborative Skills: Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, excellent written communication skills, and experience working in a distributed team.
• Problem‑solving: Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot customer issues remotely while protecting our user’s privacy.
• Security focus: Understanding of secure coding practices and a commitment to maintaining high levels of security and privacy.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree: In Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a related field.

Bonus Points For:

• Experience with macOS or mobile cross‑platform development.
• Familiarity with using unidirectional data‑flow (a.k.a. Elm‑like) frameworks.
• Experience with Grafana, Metabase or other monitoring platforms.
• Experience in B2B, preferably in online privacy and/or productivity contexts.

What We Offer:

• Office First: Collaboration is easier and more effective in person. We have offices in various locations and you can also enjoy working from home up to 30% of the time.
• Technology: We provide all the devices and software you need to excel in your role.
• Food: Lunch and snacks are provided by Proton every day at our offices.
• Transport: We support our employees with transport costs through subsidising public transport, bike allowances, or parking spaces based on your office location.
• Stock Options: You get stock options when you join us.
• Flexible Working: You can define your own working hours as long as it works with team meetings.
• Learning and Development: We are committed to your professional growth.
• Employee Benefits: Comprehensive health insurance plans, competitive retirement savings options, generous vacation and leave policies, and wellness programs.

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion: At Proton, we believe diversity drives innovation and strengthens our mission to provide privacy as a default for all. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all individuals feel valued and empowered.