Software Developer VoIP (Go / Rust)

Job Description

Who We Are

Element is the startup that employs the core team behind matrix.org— the leading project for secure, open decentralised communication.

Matrix’s mission is to make messaging as open as email — allowing everyone to choose where their data is hosted, enjoy private conversations thanks to advanced encryption, and ultimately be in control of their own communication.

Matrix powers Element, our flagship messaging apps for the web, iOS & Android, along with Element Matrix Services (EMS), our SaaS platform for personal & professional use.

We build things for everyone, and we know we can’t succeed without a diverse team. Our hiring process is designed to be humane and give candidates the best chance to show us what you can do. If we ever fall down on this, please let us know.

The Role

Element is heavily investing in building out Matrix as the missing signalling layer for WebRTC: providing an open and decentralised E2EE transport for negotiating media streams and data channels. On top, we have recently extended Matrix to support scalable decentralised E2EE group voice and video calling too (MSC3401). These are the base building blocks for visionary applications such as Element Call as well as the open metaverse (aka third room).

Similar to the concept of bridges between matrix and classical messenger applications, we are also aiming for bridging real-time media applications to connect to more legacy systems, e.g., SIP / PSTN, as we are trying to work on interoperability with a unified collaboration & communication vision. The VoIP team will be responsible for designing and implementing a Matrix MSC3401 compatible backend including a generic bridging model.

Currently Element Call cannot interop with other VoIP platforms. You’d come along to help evolve the backend and add one of the first bridges to interop with, e.g., SIP / PSTN, using a modern tech stack that ensures future compatibility.

Our VoIP team ensures that there is a communication layer for an open metaverse, so this is a great chance to make a big impact on the future of communication.

Since (almost) everything we do is open source you can get a great feel for exactly what it would be like to work on the team, come and say hi!

Requirements

As part of our VoIP Team you are fascinated by real-time audio and video processing. You enjoy exciting challenges and work scientifically on cutting-edge technologies. You will be responsible for developing audio / video infrastructure components and services. Your ideas and work will improve our real-time communication platform which is used by several million users per day.

The most important thing is that you believe passionately in the mission of decentralisation of the internet. More specifically that you believe that communications should not be centralised in the hands of a small number of very large organisations and instead individuals should control their own data and choose who they share it with.

Additionally we are looking for someone who is:

• Smart, curious and enthusiastic
• Likes to ship early and often
• Likes to write tests :)
• A tireless advocate of code quality (understanding the need for trade-offs in the short term whilst keeping us honest in the long term)
• Enjoys working in an Agile / Lean development environment
• Is articulate and empathetic.

Your experience

We don’t have hard requirements, we just want to build the best possible team, but as a bonus it would be great if some of the following are true.

• Knowledge in real-time streaming of live-media (WebRTC)
• Experience in legacy VoIP protocols like SIP
• Knowledge of Linux, Docker
• Experience maintaining and / or contributing to open source projects
• Experience working in a continuous delivery environment
• Ideally you worked with Go or Rust already

If you have any questions before making an application reach out to Adam (adamt@element.io).

Benefits

People tend to stay with the company for a long time, we take this as a sign that we have a cohesive, supportive culture, that we have engaging challenging work and that people can develop their skills and careers here for the long term. We also have a family friendly environment, many of the team have small children and we look to accommodate that as best we can. Since our technology is relevant to anything that requires real-time comms, the role provides exposure to a wide range of domains from web and app dev through to VR, VoIP and IoT.

Our package generally contains:

• Private Health Insurance
• Pension
• Annual Bonus
• Share Options
• Home Office Allowance
• Coworking Space Allowance
• Annual leave (40 days including local bank holidays)
• Company Socials (virtual or in person)
• Annual Global Offsite
• Plumm Health (mental health platform)

You can find a more detailed explanation here and you might be eligible for other benefits depending on your location.

Element does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, colour, religion, age, national origin, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other reason prohibited by law in provision of employment opportunities and benefits.