Principal Software Engineering - Rust Systems Engineer

We are Progress (Nasdaq: PRGS) - the trusted provider of software that enables our customers to develop, deploy and manage responsible, AI-powered applications and experiences with agility and ease.

We're proud to have a diverse, global team where we value the individual and enrich our culture by considering varied perspectives because we believe people power progress. Join us as Principal Rust Engineer - Language Runtime and help us do what we do best: propelling business forward.  This will be a hybrid role so working between your home office and our Burlington, MA headquarters.

We are building a production language runtime in Rust - compiler, virtual machine, wire protocol client, and application server. You will join as a long-term technical owner of this system, working alongside experienced platform architects and a second FTE Rust engineer.

In this role, you will:

Runtime & VM

• Implement and optimize an async register-based virtual machine with cooperative scheduling and built-in function dispatch.
• Translate language semantics from a reference C implementation into idiomatic, correct Rust.

Compiler

• Extend a multi-stage compiler pipeline (lexer, parser, AST, IR, codegen).
• Deliver new language features end-to-end with conformance and property-based tests.

Protocol & Data Layer

• Extend a binary wire protocol implementation reverse-engineered from C source.
• Own TLS, authentication, and connection pooling.

Async & Networking

• Maintain a Tokio-based async runtime handling thousands of concurrent requests with shared state and admission control.
• Contribute to HTTP, WebSocket, and gRPC server layers.

Engineering & Build

• Manage a large multi-crate Cargo workspace - dependency hygiene, CI performance, and release engineering.

Team Enablement

• Mentor senior engineers (20+ years platform experience) adopting Rust - teaching-oriented code reviews, pair programming, and progressive ownership handoff.
• Document architecture decisions and maintain design docs as first-class deliverables.

Your background:

• Overall 10+ years of Software Engineering Experience
• 5+ years production Rust in systems software (runtimes, compilers, databases, or networking).
• Compiler or language runtime experience - at least one of: parser, AST/IR, bytecode compiler, VM, or interpreter.
• Async Rust at scale - Tokio, shared-state concurrency, cancellation safety.
• Large multi-crate workspace fluency.
• Ability to read large C codebases and derive correct Rust implementations.
• Mentorship mindset - patience, clear communication, progressive handoff.
• Long-term ownership orientation - multi-year commitment.
• Excellent written and verbal English.
• CS degree or equivalent (data structures, algorithms, OS, compilers)

Additionally, it would be beneficial if you have:

• VM design - opcode dispatch, cooperative scheduling, register allocation.
• Binary protocol reverse-engineering and zero-copy parsing.
• Property-based testing (proptest, quickcheck).
• Concurrent data structures - DashMap, Moka, lock-free patterns.
• Axum / Tower / WebSocket server experience.
• Developer tooling protocols (LSP, DAP).
• Observability - tracing, OpenTelemetry, Prometheus.
• Database connectivity - pooling, transactions, schema resolution.
• Experience onboarding engineering teams into Rust.
• AI-assisted development tools (Copilot, Claude).

Base Salary Range: $170,000 - $189,000

This position is also eligible to participate in our performance-based annual corporate bonus plan. Final base compensation is determined by a number of factors, including but not limited to job-related skills, education, demonstrable experience, and allowance for future and continued salary growth. We also offer a robust benefits package, with details below.

If this sounds like you and fits your experience and career goals, we'd be happy to chat.

What we offer in return is the opportunity to experience a great company culture with wonderful colleagues to learn from and collaborate with and also to enjoy:

• Medical, dental, vision, life & disability, and financial benefits (including 401(k) retirement savings plan. Tuition Reimbursement program. Additional voluntary benefits including crucial illness/hospital indemnity, identity theft protection, auto & home insurance, legal, and pet insurance.
• Competitive salary, bonus, and best-in-class Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP) with a 27-month lookback
• Flexible paid vacation time, paid day off for your birthday, and company holidays. A variety of leave plans, including Parental Leave.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and an employee well-being program focusing on physical, mental, and financial health.

Apply Now!

#LI-hybrid

Together, We Make Progress

Progress is an inclusive workplace where opportunities to succeed are available to everyone. As a multicultural company serving a global community, we encourage a wide range of points of view and celebrate our diverse backgrounds. Our unique combination of perspectives inspires innovation, connects us to our customers and positively affects our communities. It is only by working together and learning from each other that we make Progress. Join us!