BIND 9 Software Engineer

We are looking for a Software Engineer to work on BIND 9. In this role, you will be a core contributor to a highly impactful, open-source project that powers a critical part of the global Internet infrastructure.

BIND 9 is the most widely-used Domain Name System (DNS) server on the Internet, relied upon by operators of the DNS root system, Internet Service Providers, and global enterprises. Our team actively contributes to developing the Internet standards for DNS, and BIND 9 serves as a reference implementation of those standards. If you are passionate about building reliable software that keeps the Internet running smoothly, we would love to hear from you.

What You Will Do

• Collaborate: Partner with our team to design and build new features for BIND 9.
• Maintain Quality: Participate in constructive code reviews to help us maintain a robust codebase.
• Problem Solve: Investigate and resolve bug reports from our global community of users.
• Deliver: Assist with release engineering and project planning to ensure smooth deployments.
• Support: Participate in our on-call escalation rotation (only after an onboarding and training period).
• Shape the Future: Represent ISC and participate in community organizations like the IETF to help develop future Internet protocols.
  

What We Are Looking For

(Note: Research shows that underrepresented groups are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet exactly all requirements. If you are excited about this role and have relevant experience, even if you don't check every single box, we encourage you to apply.)

• Programming Experience: Strong skills in a procedural or object-oriented programming language (C, C++, Rust, etc.).
• C-Language Readiness: BIND 9 is written in C11/C17. You should have an understanding of modern C or a strong willingness to learn and adapt to it.
• System Familiarity: Comfort working within Unix/BSD/Linux operating systems.
• Communication: Conversational spoken and written English to collaborate with our international team.
• Self-Direction: Motivation and reliability to thrive in a remote, work-from-home environment.
• Team Spirit: A commitment to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and supportive team culture.

Valuable Additional Skills (Nice to Have)

• Experience with C development (specifically C11/C23).
• Practical experience operating BIND 9 or knowledge of the DNS protocol.
• Familiarity with Git and open-source working environments.
• Knowledge of multiprocessor programming or theoretical/practical networking.
• Experience in network programming (e.g., libuv) or cryptography (e.g., OpenSSL).
• Experience with Python.

Our Environment & Tools

You are not expected to know all of these before joining, but you will have the opportunity to work with:

Address Sanitizer, Autotools, AWS, Clang Static Analyzer, cmocka, Coverity, Debian, Docker, DNS Shotgun, Flamethrower, GDB, Git, GitLab, GnuPG, libvirt, meson, mock, Packer, perf, pytest, QEMU, respdiff, RPM, rr, ShellCheck, Sphinx-doc, Thread Sanitizer, Userspace-RCU, Wireshark

Educational Requirements

Adequate experience in a scientific or technical subject. We highly value diverse educational paths, including relevant coursework, non-traditional education, or equivalent practical experience.

Location & Work/Life Balance

• Location: Schengen Area States, European Union (+EFTA and EEA), United Kingdom, Canada.
• Truly Flexible Remote Work: Although ISC is located in the US, our staff works globally from their homes. This position is highly suitable for home working and for parents or caregivers.
• Design Your Day: With staff across many time zones, there are no rigid set hours. We expect a 40-hour work week, but you have the autonomy to design your schedule within manager parameters (e.g., establishing overlap for team meetings). We understand that life—especially with small children—can be unpredictable, and we fully support the flexibility needed to balance work and home life.
• Travel: Occasional international travel (North America and Europe) is required for company meetings or conferences. Travel to the USA will not be required.

To learn more about ISC and its critical role in the Internet community, visit https://www.isc.org.

------

Privacy Notice

The relevant ISC group hiring company manages personal data (PII) that you submit and that we collect in respect of your job application (normally Internet Systems Corporation, a Delaware company with its principal place of business in New Hampshire, USA). Job application data management and analysis are managed for us by a third-party data processor in the USA. Our HR staff and other staff members located worldwide who are involved in reviewing applicants will be provided with access to this data. We will hold this data so long as the position remains open to evaluate your candidacy, and we will retain it for a reasonable amount of time after the job closes for purposes of quality control and to enable us to contact you again if we feel another position might be of interest to you. You will have the option to request deletion of data that you submit anytime during or after your candidacy.