Job: Python Engineer (VPN Linux Client) at Proton

A better internet, where privacy is the default, is possible. Building this better internet might seem daunting or even unthinkable, but at Proton, this is what we do every day.

Proton was founded in 2014 by a group of scientists who met at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Our first product, Proton Mail, is now the world’s largest encrypted email service. Subsequent Proton products, such as Proton VPN, Proton Calendar, and Proton Drive, give our users full control over how and with whom their data is shared.

Today, Proton makes privacy universally accessible. Journalists from outlets like The Guardian and The New York Times, some of the world’s largest organizations, and people in more than 180 countries have signed up for over 70 million accounts. Our diverse and dynamic team is made up of more than 400 members representing over 40 different nationalities. While we are based in Geneva, Switzerland, we have offices in Zurich, Prague, London, Vilnius, Skopje, Taipei, and many more employees working remotely around the world.

Join one of Europe’s fastest-growing companies to help us solve challenging problems and build new products that will reach hundreds of millions of people. We want to create more than just one of the world’s most impactful tech companies; we want to create a new internet that serves the interests of all people. We need you, your voice, your ideas, and your ambition to make it happen.

Purpose of the role

ProtonVPN is composed of a distributed global infrastructure of VPN servers, and a set of clients for each major platform. You would be joining the Linux ProtonVPN Client Team, to take part in the development of the ProtonVPN Linux Desktop client for all the major Linux distributions. As a Software Engineer, with your technical expertise, your main responsibility will be to contribute to the development of new features, setting up the CI/CD or even building new testing pipelines. You will design, develop, test, deploy, maintain, and enhance software solutions.

Within the Linux Team, you will collaborate with fellow Linux developers, QA engineers, Product Manager and Customer Support to develop the Linux client.

What you will do

• Contribute to building a new Linux app
• Architect and develop solutions to ambiguous problems with significant impact.
• Ensuring that coding standards are in place and participate in E2E development, from design to production
• Facilitate alignment and clarity across the team on goals, outcomes, and timelines.
• Analyze and optimize infrastructure application code for quality, efficiency, and performance.

Job requirements

• 5+ years of experience in software development with a strong command of OOP.
• Broad Python Experience
• Experience in Linux desktop client development (in particular through the GTK+ framework, or alternatively QT)
• Applied best practices in code quality paradigms
• Experience with DevOps principles and practices (CI/CD, containers)
• Mastering source control flow through Git or other source control (code reviews, optimizing release processes...)
• Open-source Linux development, distribution, packaging and maintenance for multiple distros (e.g. on Debian or Fedora-based platforms)
• Overall, handling the entire SDLC, end to end
• Excellent communication and a strong sense of ownership.

Why should you join Proton?

• Be part of a movement - Proton is not just a product or service but a community-driven movement united by a shared vision of online freedom. Our services are open source, audited, and supported by community contributions. We give back to our community by maintaining core encryption libraries and by supporting other organizations furthering the same goals as us. Proton is free, open source, neutral, independent, and community first, while remaining financially sustainable.
• Work with smart and dedicated people - Our team is diverse, collaborative, and tight-knit with people coming from all walks of life, including many of the world’s top academic institutions and organizations, such as MIT, Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, Cambridge, and ETH.
• Join a strong brand - Our encrypted email service - Proton Mail - has grown to be a staple of online security and privacy. Proton has been featured in multiple popular television and film productions, such as Mr. Robot, Knives Out, Sounds of Metal, and more.
• Grow with us - We’re one of Europe’s fastest-growing startups, doubling in size every year. Our growth gives you limitless career and educational opportunities as well as the opportunity to work side-by-side with many world-leading experts in their fields.
• Have your voice heard - We value your opinion and encourage you to speak up and share your ideas and thoughts. At Proton, no problem is someone else’s problem. We collectively strive to do the right thing and be the undisputed best in the world at everything we do.
• Benefits – these vary by location and type of contract but expect support on your vacation, parental leave, refreshment if working from the office, learning and development opportunities, equity for shared success, flexible working hours and remote work, company events and team building activities.

 

Proton does not accept unsolicited resumes from any sources other than directly from a candidate. Proton will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited offer, even in a situation when the relevant candidate is employed by Proton.