Staff Software Engineer, Web Application Services

Role overview A senior engineering role focused on the web application services layer of a major open-source email and productivity platform used by tens of millions of people worldwide. The position centers on building privacy-respecting communication tools that help users manage their digital lives while staying in control of their data. As a Staff-level engineer, this person will help shape technical direction across a globally distributed team developing transparent, community-driven software that extends well beyond a single desktop client.

Responsibilities - Lead the design, development, and operation of web application services that power email and productivity features for a large global user base - Provide technical leadership and mentorship to engineers working across desktop, mobile, paid services, and emerging product areas - Collaborate with a worldwide community of open-source contributors to ship features and resolve issues transparently - Architect scalable backend systems and APIs that support free, donation-funded offerings alongside paid and enterprise-facing products - Drive engineering quality through code reviews, technical documentation, and clear architectural guidance - Partner with product, design, and operations colleagues to translate user needs into reliable, privacy-first services

Requirements - Extensive experience as a senior or staff software engineer building and operating production web applications at scale - Strong background in backend service architecture, distributed systems, and modern web development practices - Demonstrated success leading complex technical projects and mentoring other engineers - Comfort working asynchronously across distributed teams and multiple time zones - Track record of thoughtful collaboration in open, community-influenced development environments - Commitment to user privacy, transparency, and open-source values in product engineering

Benefits and work setup - Fully remote position open to candidates based in the United States or Canada - Flexible, remote-first work environment with a small, distributed engineering organization spanning multiple countries - Generous paid parental leave (up to 26 weeks for childbearing parents and up to 12 weeks for non-childbearing parents) - Annual reimbursement for professional development, up to $3,000 per year - Choice of latest hardware and software to set up a productive home workspace - Mission-driven team working on independently governed, nonprofit-aligned products funded by user donations and paid services