# Staff Software Engineer - Rust and Distributed Systems

**Company:** [Fortanix](https://hotfix.jobs/companies/fortanix)
**Location:** Santa Clara, CA
**Role:** Backend Engineering
**Salary:** $200k – $250k/yr
**Experience:** 8+ years
**Skills:** Rust, Distributed Systems, Microservices, Kubernetes, AWS, GCP, microsoft azure, CI/CD, Linux, SQL, NoSQL, Caching, API Design, confidential computing, encryption
**Posted:** 2026-08-11

> The Staff Software Engineer will design, build, and own secure distributed microservices for a confidential computing platform. The role requires 8+ years of backend engineering experience, strong Rust or systems-language expertise, and hands-on knowledge of Kubernetes, cloud infrastructure, reliability, and security.

## Job Description

## Responsibilities
- Design and build distributed microservices powering a confidential computing platform across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
- Own system architecture end to end, including service design, APIs, deployment, scaling, and production reliability.
- Drive technical direction across services and ensure cohesive platform architecture.
- Lead system design and API discussions.
- Build services with a security-first mindset so they are resilient, auditable, and safe by design.
- Write high-quality, production-grade code and contribute to critical code reviews.
- Partner with engineering, product, and infrastructure teams on complex, cross-functional systems.
- Mentor engineers and raise standards for system design, code quality, and engineering rigor.
- Contribute to Runtime Encryption® technology and confidential computing services.

## Requirements
- 8+ years of software engineering experience with strong backend and distributed systems expertise.
- Experience designing and building microservices from scratch and integrating them into larger system architectures.
- Experience owning services across design, development, deployment, scaling, and operations.
- Strong understanding of distributed systems concepts, including scalability, reliability, fault tolerance, and data consistency.
- Strong Rust programming experience; C/C++, Go, or similar systems-level languages may also be considered.
- Deep understanding of service architecture, API design, and system design.
- Hands-on experience with Kubernetes, containerized environments, cloud platforms, CI/CD, production deployment pipelines, and Linux.
- Familiarity with SQL/NoSQL data storage, distributed storage, and caching.
- Strong inclination toward building secure, reliable, and maintainable systems.
- Experience with or interest in confidential computing, Trusted Execution Environments, security infrastructure, key management, encryption, secure storage, and access control.

## Nice to Have
- Experience with performance-critical systems or systems programming.
- Exposure to secure AI or privacy-preserving systems.
- Background in infrastructure or developer platforms.

## Compensation and Benefits
- Base salary: **$200,000 - $250,000 per year**.
- Additional compensation may include bonus, equity, or commissions.
- Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, retirement savings, wellness program, short- and long-term disability, holidays, and other benefits.
- Unlimited paid time off.
- 40 hours of volunteer time off per year.
- Internet stipend.
- 401(k).

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