[Remote] Staff Software Engineer (VMs) at Chainguard

United States

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Not SpecifiedCompensation

Senior (5 to 8 years), Expert & Leadership (9+ years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

Technology, Cloud Computing, CybersecurityIndustries

Requirements

8+ years of professional experience working on and building Linux operating systems
Proven experience working on upstream open source technologies
Proven experience building and packaging Linux software (APK, RPM, DEB or similar)
Proven experience working with at least one major cloud provider (e.g. GCP, AWS, Azure) and cloud-specific integrations or agents
Proven experience working on bootable containers and/or micro VM technologies
Experience building, configuring or tuning the Linux kernel
Experience working across kernel and user space and related technologies (systemd, SELinux, AppArmor, etc)
Experience with bootloaders and Secure Boot
Experience working with configuration management tools (e.g. Ansible, Puppet, etc) or first-boot configuration management agents (cloud-init, Ignition, etc)
Proficiency in at least one programming language (Go preferred), with strong scripting and automation skills
Strong debugging and problem-solving skills at both the package, containers and virtual machine levels
Strong communication skills, proficiency in English, ability to work autonomously in a remote-first environment, take initiative, and seek help proactively when necessary
Passion for quality, security, and attention to detail
Experience with compliance frameworks (CIS, STIG) a strong plus
Experience with FIPS is a strong plus
Experience with Kubernetes and managed container/Kubernetes services (EKS, ECS, GKE, AKS) is a strong plus
Experience with VMWare vSphere and ESXi is a strong plus

Responsibilities

Design, implement and optimize Linux operating systems features
Collaborate in the creation of developer tools
Collaborate in the design, implementation, optimization or maintenance of secure, automated build and test systems in cloud environments
Improve quality and reliability by continuously refine testing, debugging and release processes
Collaborate with product and engineering leadership to set technical direction, drive roadmap execution, and establish process excellence
Mentor, review, and enable other engineers by sharing systems knowledge, debugging strategies, and "meta" tooling insights
Partner with internal teams (OS, Delivery, Sustaining) to ensure our product and services meet critical SLAs and SLOs

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

LinuxOpen SourceAPKRPMDEBGCPAWSAzureBootable ContainersMicro VMLinux KernelsystemdSELinuxAppArmorBootloadersSecure Boot

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the base salary range for this Staff Software Engineer position?

The base salary range is $170,000 - $213,000 USD.

Is this a remote position?

Yes, the role is in a remote-first environment, requiring the ability to work autonomously.

What are the key required skills and experience for this role?

Candidates need 8+ years of experience building Linux operating systems, proven upstream open source work, experience packaging Linux software (APK, RPM, DEB), cloud provider integrations, bootable containers or micro VMs, Linux kernel work, and proficiency in Go (preferred) with strong scripting skills.

What is the company culture like at Chainguard?

The culture is remote-first, collaborative across teams like OS, Delivery, and Sustaining, with emphasis on mentoring engineers, sharing knowledge, and focusing on quality, security, and attention to detail.

What makes a strong candidate for this Staff Software Engineer role?

A strong candidate has 8+ years of Linux OS experience, upstream open source contributions, cloud and kernel expertise, plus experiences like compliance frameworks (CIS, STIG), FIPS, Kubernetes, or VMWare as strong pluses, along with strong communication and autonomous working skills.

Chainguard

Supply chain risk management and audits

About Chainguard

Chainguard specializes in managing risks in supply chains, particularly for businesses that rely on software. They conduct audits to identify risks and provide detailed reports with recommendations for improvement. Their unique offering includes a curated base container image distro, which helps businesses transition to secure software environments. Chainguard also provides supply chain observability services, allowing companies to track their software's origins and dependencies.

Kirkland, WashingtonHeadquarters

2021Year Founded

$249MTotal Funding

SERIES_CCompany Stage

Data & Analytics, CybersecurityIndustries

201-500Employees

Benefits

Equity/stock options

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Remote Work Options

Home Office Stipend

Health Insurance

Wellness Program

Risks

Increased competition from other cybersecurity startups in the Seattle area.

Potential overvaluation risk with Chainguard's rapid valuation increase to $1.12 billion.

Rapid product expansion may lead to execution challenges for Chainguard.

Differentiation

Chainguard Images have 97.6% fewer vulnerabilities than industry alternatives.

The company offers a curated base container image distro for secure software supply chains.

Chainguard provides detailed audits and reports for supply chain risk management.

Upsides

Chainguard raised $140 million in Series C funding, boosting its growth potential.

Increased demand for secure container images aligns with Chainguard's core offerings.

Rising adoption of AI frameworks supports Chainguard's new CPU/GPU containers.

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