NetBox Labs

Staff Software Backend Engineer, Tech Lead - Foundations

UK full-time Mid Salary not listed
full-time Mid level Technology & IT Curated
Sign in to apply Free account — we bring you straight back to this role.

About the role

NetBox Labs seeks a Staff Software Backend Engineer to technically lead our Foundations team. Foundations is the platform team that builds shared platform primitives that other engineering teams depend on including core services for authentication, access control, customer secrets management, and customer telemetry. This role will own the technical direction for Foundations. You will partner with the Foundations Engineering Manager, who owns people and process, while you own architecture and technical execution.

Responsibilities:

Own the architecture of the Platform Authorization Service (PAS), the system that controls access across the platform.

Set the technical direction for identity, single sign-on (SSO), access control, secrets management services and more.

Lead delivery of Foundations core services, including login, authorization, and tenancy.

Act as the primary technical decision maker for Foundations.

Lead and mentor the Foundations engineering team through daily technical work.

Partner with the Foundations Engineering Manager and Product Manager on team execution.

Drive core components through to GA (general availability) launch.

Define API contracts for platform services that others consume, including Delivery Platform and Application teams.

Work with the Foundations Product Manager to align technical plans with product priorities.

Set engineering standards for code review, testing, and documentation across the team.

Requirements:

7+ years of software development experience, including technical ownership of a platform or infrastructure area.

3+ years of experience in a B2B software startup or high-growth organization.

Direct experience with authentication and authorization systems (for example, OAuth, SSO, or role-based access control).

Experience leading engineering work without formal manager authority.

Backend programming experience in Python and Go.

Experience designing APIs consumed by other engineering teams.

Strong Linux and distributed systems fundamentals.

A track record of making technical decisions under ambiguity.

Nice to Have:

Experience with Kubernetes and container orchestration.

Experience with network management or infrastructure software (for example, NetBox).

Open-source contributions or project involvement.

Comfort with AI-enhanced tooling (for example, Copilot, ChatGPT, Cursor).

Join NetBox Labs. Help build the identity and access foundation the rest of the platform relies on.

About NetBox Labs:

NetBox Labs helps companies build and manage complex networks. We help customers accelerate network automation by delivering open, composable products and supporting the network automation community.

NetBox Labs is the commercial steward of open source NetBox, the world’s most popular network source of truth, and Orb, the next-generation open source network observability platform. Our products include NetBox Enterprise, a fully supported self-managed NetBox with advanced features, and NetBox Cloud, a secure, scalable, and reliable SaaS edition of NetBox.

NetBox powers thousands of companies, and NetBox Labs is backed by investment from Notable Capital (formerly GGV), Grafana Labs CEO Raj Dutt, Flybridge, IBM, Salesforce Ventures, and Mango Capital.

Our culture and values:

We own and solve problems with high attention to detail.

Our open source contributors, users, customers & team are all part of our community. When our community wins, we win.

We prioritize simplicity and think twice before adding complexity

Clear communication helps keep our team aligned and collaborating smoothly.

NetBox Labs is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We believe diverse teams build better software, and we welcome applicants of every race, color, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, and veteran status. If you need accommodation at any point in the process, just let us know.

Interview prep

Walk in with sharper answers.

Use this as a quick practice sheet before you speak with the employer.

Mid
Technology & IT API integration CRM Python Writing Mid level full-time

Likely questions

  1. Tell us about work you have done that is close to the Staff Software Backend Engineer, Tech Lead - Foundations role.
  2. How would you approach your first 30 days at NetBox Labs?
  3. Which of API integration, CRM and Python have you used recently, and what did it help you achieve?
  4. Describe a time you solved a problem without waiting to be told exactly what to do.
  5. How do you handle busy days, changing priorities, or pressure at work?

Prepare before the call

  • A recent example that proves your experience with API integration, CRM and Python.
  • One short story with a problem, your action, and the result.
  • Two examples that show the strengths listed on your CV.
  • A clear reason why this role and company interest you.
  • Your availability, preferred work style, and salary expectations.

Ask them

  • What would success look like in the first 90 days?
  • What are the main problems this hire should help solve?
  • How does the team give feedback and measure good work?
  • What does a normal working week look like for this role?
Practice line

I am interested in the Staff Software Backend Engineer, Tech Lead - Foundations role because I can bring practical experience in API integration, CRM and Python, learn the team quickly, and contribute to the outcomes NetBox Labs needs from this hire.

Related jobs.

More roles from this company or category.