Senior Software Engineer, Runtime Container Platform

At Docker, we make app development easier so developers can focus on what matters. Our remote-first team spans the globe, united by a passion for innovation and great developer experiences. With over 20 million monthly users and 20 billion image pulls, Docker is the #1 tool for building, sharing, and running apps—trusted by startups and Fortune 100s alike. We’re growing fast and just getting started. Come join us for a whale of a ride!

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About the Runtime Team

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The Runtime team builds and maintains the core container runtime systems that power Docker, including the Moby Engine, containerd, and related low-level components. These systems are the foundation for Docker Desktop and much of the broader container ecosystem.

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This team works at the deepest layers of Docker’s technology stack, close to Linux, Go, container runtimes, and system internals. The work directly impacts millions of developers and countless downstream tools.

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The team is actively evolving Docker’s runtime architecture, modernizing long-standing components and building the next generation of container isolation, performance, and security capabilities, including virtualization-based approaches for new and emerging workloads.

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The Role

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As a Senior Software Engineer on the Runtime Container Platform team, you will work on the systems that actually make containers run. This role is focused on building and evolving the container runtime itself, not on orchestrating or deploying containers.

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You will collaborate with other senior engineers to design, implement, and maintain core runtime functionality, balancing stability for existing users with thoughtful evolution of Docker’s architecture.

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This role is ideal for engineers who enjoy working on foundational systems, digging into complex problems, and improving the developer experience by solving issues at the root.

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This role is 100% remote, only open to US-based folks with very strong priority and preference given to candidates located currently in the Seattle, Washington metro area.

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What You Will Do

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• Design, build, and evolve core container runtime features in Go and Linux environments
• Work on foundational systems including Docker Engine, containerd, and related runtime components
• Maintain and improve large open source codebases used across Docker products and the broader ecosystem
• Collaborate with other Docker teams to integrate runtime capabilities with products like Docker Desktop and Docker Hub
• Partner with upstream open source communities and contributors
• Make thoughtful tradeoffs between performance, security, reliability, and developer experience

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What We Are Looking For

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Requirements:

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• Strong experience building systems in Go or deep experience in another systems language with willingness to work primarily in Go
• Solid background working in Linux environments
• Hands-on experience with container runtimes or low-level container technologies such as Docker Engine, containerd, or runc
• Experience working close to the container stack, including runtime, image building, networking, isolation, or similar areas
• Comfort working in large shared codebases and collaborating closely with other engineers

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Preferred

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• Contributions to open source projects, especially CNCF or container-related projects
• Experience with virtualization technologies such as Firecracker, QEMU, VirtIO, or microVMs
• Knowledge of Linux internals including networking, kernel interfaces, or system performance
• Experience building developer tooling, CLIs, or platform infrastructure used by other teams

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Location

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This is 100% remote, but our goal is to hire talent within our growing Seattle-area presence.  Strong preference + priority given to Seattle Metro-area candidates.

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What to Expect

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First 30 Days

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• Get to know the team and how the runtime systems fit into Docker
• Start diving into the codebase
• Triage issues and contribute a small change

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First 90 Days

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• Take ownership of a meaningful area of the runtime
• Ship a larger feature or improvement
• Collaborate across teams and demo your work internally

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One Year

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• Own significant runtime components or projects
• Help shape the technical direction of Docker Engine and related systems
• Partner with other teams to deliver end-to-end runtime improvements

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If you are excited about working close to the container runtime, contributing to open source, and helping define the next evolution of Docker’s core technology, please apply!

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We use Covey as part of our hiring and / or promotional process for jobs in NYC and certain features may qualify it as an AEDT. As part of the evaluation process we provide Covey with job requirements and candidate submitted applications. We began using Covey Scout for Inbound on April 13, 2024.

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Please see the independent bias audit report covering our use of Covey here .

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Perks

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• Freedom & flexibility; fit your work around your life
• Designated quarterly Whaleness Days plus end of year Whaleness break
• Home office setup; we want you comfortable while you work
• 16 weeks of paid Parental leave
• Technology stipend equivalent to $100 net/month
• PTO plan that encourages you to take time to do the things you enjoy
• Training stipend for conferences, courses and classes
• Equity; we are a growing start-up and want all employees to have a share in the success of the company
• Docker Swag
• Medical benefits, retirement and holidays vary by country
• Remote-first culture, with offices in Seattle and Paris

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Docker embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our company will be.

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Due to the remote nature of this role, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

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