Solutions Engineer - Kubernetes

About Tailscale 

Tailscale is building the new Internet by delivering software that makes it easy to securely interconnect people and their devices, no matter where they are. From hobbyists to multinational corporations, teams of every size use Tailscale each day to protect their networks, share access to internal tools, and more. We're building a future for the Internet that's easy, sensible, and safe, like it used to be. Founded in 2019 and fully distributed, we're backed by Accel, CRV, Insight, Heavybit, and Uncork Capital.

Job Description

We are looking for a Solutions Engineer with specific expertise in Kubernetes to join our rapidly growing team. This role will focus on helping customers leverage Tailscale across Tailscale’s product portfolio, but specifically within Kubernetes environments to meet their networking and security needs. You will serve as a trusted advisor, providing technical expertise and guidance, ensuring our customers maximize the value of their Tailscale deployments.

If you’re passionate about Kubernetes, networking, and security—and want to join a fast-growing startup—we’d love to talk to you!

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the technical expert on Kubernetes deployments, assisting customers with Tailscale integration and optimization.
• Partner with the Sales team to identify new opportunities and help close deals, focusing on Kubernetes-native use cases.
• Deliver technical presentations, demonstrations, and proof-of-concepts tailored to Kubernetes environments.
• Collaborate with customers to design and implement Kubernetes-specific solutions using Tailscale, ensuring successful adoption.
• Provide feedback to Product and Engineering teams on Kubernetes-related customer needs and product enhancements.
• Develop and share best practices for Tailscale in Kubernetes, contributing to customer success guides, blogs, and documentation.
• Stay current on Kubernetes, container orchestration, and networking/security trends to provide customers with cutting-edge insights.
• Act as a liaison between customers and Tailscale's internal teams to troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues.

What We Are Looking For

• Deep experience with Kubernetes and containerized environments, including Helm, Kustomize, and related technologies.
• Hands-on experience with Kubernetes networking (e.g., CNI, service mesh, ingress/egress controllers).
• Strong Kubernetes expertise, including deploying and managing applications in Kubernetes clusters.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly explain technical concepts to diverse audiences.

It's Nice to Have

• 3+ years of experience in a technical, customer-facing role such as Solutions Engineer, Sales Engineer, or similar.
• Demonstrated success working at a startup with multiple priorities and projects.
• Knowledge of cloud-native tooling such as Prometheus, Grafana, or Fluentd.
• Familiarity with Tailscale or similar zero-trust networking products.
• Previous experience working in a fast-paced startup environment.
• Systems administration and troubleshooting experience with Linux, Mac, or Windows.
• Programming/scripting experience in Bash, Go, TypeScript, HCL, or similar languages.

As a company, we strive to maintain fair and equitable compensation practices within our team across all roles and all levels. Tailscale's compensation package includes base salary, equity, and comprehensive benefits. The salary range displayed on each job posting represents the target range for a new hire's base salary. Individual offers may vary based on experience and skill set.

For this position, our pay ranges reflect target OTE (on target earnings), inclusive of base salary and variable compensation tied to the attainment of quarterly sales targets.

Frequently cited statistics show that people who identify with historically marginalized groups are likely to apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. We encourage you to help us break that statistic!

What We Offer

• An inclusive, flexible environment where you can be your authentic self. We recognize the impact of diverse voices and backgrounds on the growth of our people, product, and company. And that flexibility in how and when you work empowers our team to integrate work and life.
• A competitive total compensation package. This includes a base salary, an equity incentive plan and variable commission (for quota-based roles).
• Comprehensive group benefits with no waiting period. Take advantage of coverage for health, vision, dental, and more for you and your family!
• All-remote with the opportunity to work from anywhere—enjoy a change of scenery wherever you can get wifi, participate in virtual and in-person social events, and leverage our corporate co-working program to visit WeWork (or other similar spaces near you). 
• Connect with other Tailscalars IRL. Attend our annual company retreat, participate in team/department off-sites, or use your individual travel budget to meet up with team members in Canada, the US, or the UK. 
• Support for your personal and professional development. Grow your career thoughtfully with $1500 USD annually for professional development, or take advantage of mentorship, coaching, and internal promotion opportunities. 
• Paid time off and a healthy work-life integration. Our flexible, paid time off program supports you for any situation life throws your way, whether moving homes or travelling the world! We encourage all Tailscalars to take 4-6 weeks of vacation annually. 
• A build-your-own home office setup. You choose your own company-owned laptop (Mac or PC), receive a monthly home internet reimbursement, and $1000 USD to customize your workstation to make it your own. 
• Generous parental leave program from your first day. We care about your life outside of work and encourage new parents to take advantage of parental leave top-ups for up to 26 weeks.