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Backend Engineer (VPN)

On-site in Geneva +2·Added yesterday

Proton

17 open roles

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Overview

Job details

€53,000 - €104,000 a year
Gross, as stated in the ad.
About €3,110 - €5,510 a month after tax.
Permanent contract
Per the ad.
Blue Card threshold
Indicative — the ad doesn’t promise sponsorship.

Requirements

Work in English
English is required, per the ad.
Work on-site in Geneva / Barcelona / Vilnius
No relocation package mentioned.

Pay & benefits

What you'll get

Work that Matters: millions of people trust Proton with their privacy. We answer only to our users - not advertisers, not investors with conflicting agendas, not governments. The work you do here is real, and the impact is measurable. (here)
Stock Options: at Proton, we all have the opportunity to be owners of the company. From day one, you have a real stake in what we're building. When Proton wins, you win.
Technology: you'll get the right hardware and the right software you need to do your best work.
Learning & Development: we invest in your growth because sharp people make us better. Proton is one of the fastest ways to accelerate your career because you'll be thrown into real challenges, with real ownership, from day one.
Employee Benefits: your wellbeing isn't an afterthought. We offer strong health coverage, solid retirement options, generous leave, and wellness support so you can bring your best self to work every day
In-Person Collaboration: Amazing things happen when passionate, smart, and purposeful people get together in the same room. With offices across Geneva, Zürich, Barcelona, London and more, you'll spend most of your time collaborating face-to-face with people who genuinely care about what they're building
Food: Lunch and snacks are on us every day in our offices so you can focus on the work and not on what's for lunch.
Transport: getting to the office shouldn't cost you. We cover public transport, bike allowances, or parking, whichever works for you.
Flexible Working: you own your schedule. Set hours that work for you and your team - because outcomes matter more than when the clock says you started.
Barcelona: 53,000 - 104,000 EUR gross annually
Other locations: Compensation will be discussed during the interview process
Final compensation will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, skills, and previous experience.

Requirements

What we're looking for

Experience with PHP-based entry-points to a back-end software stack
Experience building scalable solutions
Experience with profiling methods and tools
Experience leading a team initiative from discovery to production
Solid understanding of SQL (MySql preferred) and data modelling
Solid understanding of Redis or other caching technologies
Solid understanding of security best practices
Solid understanding of HTTP/REST, including both developing and consuming Web-based APIs
High-level understanding of cryptography concepts such as key exchange and the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption

Nice to have

Operational experience such as SRE or on-call, demonstrating ability to diagnose and troubleshoot complex problems for critical systems
Experience with Docker or similar containerization technologies
Experience with metrics graphing/analysis toolkits such as Grafana and OpenTelemetry
Experience with Python and/or Rust
Experience with OpenAPI specs or other API documentation frameworks

Even if you don't meet all the requirements listed above, but feel you could still be a great fit, please still apply.

The role

The VPN team is focused on building the best and most trustworthy VPN in the world. We aim to provide the best user experience to millions of people around the world willing to take back their online privacy, while providing sophisticated technologies to bypass network restrictions in highly censored countries.

What you'll do

What you will do

Work closely with a group of Back-End Engineers and Architects to build resilient, massively-scalable solutions for millions of people to rely on
Collaborate with teams of client application developers and product management to ensure that the back-end meets critical business and reliability requirements
Document back-end capabilities and their proper use so that all Proton VPN clients can implement correctly-functioning solutions
Debug and repair vital systems such as the systems responsible for cleaning up file revisions and returning quota to users

About Proton

Proton is a privacy-focused technology company known for its encrypted email service Proton Mail, along with Proton VPN, Proton Drive, Proton Calendar, and Proton Pass. Founded by scientists who met at CERN, the company is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and operates as a non-profit foundation structure, with a mission to build an internet that respects privacy. Proton has grown to serve over 100 million users worldwide, making it a significant player in the privacy tech industry.

In Spain, Proton has established a growing engineering and product presence, particularly in Barcelona, where it hires for roles such as Senior Android and iOS engineers, engineering managers, and test automation engineers. The company's work culture emphasizes privacy, security, and open-source values, and it is known for its remote-friendly policies and international team. For international professionals, Proton offers the opportunity to work on products used by millions, with a strong focus on user privacy and a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

Industry: Privacy Tech
Founded: 2014
Employees: 500–1,000
Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
In Spain: Barcelona
Website: proton.me

Good to know if you are moving

Proton has a strong international presence with offices in Geneva, Zurich, and Barcelona, offering opportunities for relocation within Europe.
The company is known for its mission-driven culture, focusing on privacy and security, which can be appealing for professionals passionate about these values.
Proton offers competitive salaries and benefits, including flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional growth.
The Barcelona office is a hub for engineering and product roles, making it a great location for tech professionals looking to work in a vibrant city.
Proton's products are used by over 100 million people, providing a large-scale impact for employees working on their products.

In their own words

About the company & team

Join Proton and build a better internet where privacy is the default

Proton was founded in 2014 by scientists from CERN on a simple truth: privacy is a fundamental human right. Since then, we've built the world's largest encrypted email service (Proton Mail) and expanded into Proton VPN, Proton Drive, Proton Pass, and Proton Calendar-tools used by millions globally to protect their freedom, fight censorship, and keep their data safe. In some situations, Proton has literally helped save lives!

We are profitable, independent (no VC control), and selectively hire from the top ~1% of applicants. Our 700+ team members across 50+ countries come from leading organizations and elite academic backgrounds. We move fast, keep hierarchy light, and prioritize impact over optics. If you want to do meaningful work with exceptionally high-caliber people, this is it. Join us and do work you can truly be proud of. Check our open-source projects here!

Additional information

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, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, age, sexual orientation, physical ability, or socio-economic background, feel valued and empowered. We strive to create equal opportunities, promote open dialogue, and support continuous learning to ensure every voice is heard and respected.

If you need any extra support or reasonable adjustments during the hiring process, please let your talent partner know.

When you apply for a position, refer a candidate, or are considered for a role at Proton Technologies AG (Proton, we, us, or our), your information is stored in Greenhouse, in accordance with their Service Privacy Policy. This information is used to evaluate your suitability for the posted position. We also retain this information for consideration for future roles that you may apply for or that we believe may align with your background and skills.

If we no longer have a legitimate business need to process your information, we will either delete or anonymize it. Should you have any inquiries about how we use or manage your information, or if you wish to access, correct, or delete your data, please contact our privacy team at careers@proton.ch.

Proton does not accept unsolicited resumes from any sources other than directly from candidates. We will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from an unsolicited offer, even if the candidate is subsequently hired by Proton.

To learn more about our privacy policy, please visit our privacy policy page.

All open roles at Proton