Rust Senior Software Engineer

About the Role

As a Senior Software Engineer on our A/V Client team, you'll tackle challenging performance problems, design systems that scale across diverse hardware configurations, and build the foundation that enables real-time experiences for millions of concurrent users.

Key Responsibilities:

• Build core libraries that power Discord's client experiences across desktop, browser, and mobile platforms (Rust, C++, and Typescript)
• Optimize performance end-to-end across all supported platforms
• Design and run experiments with proper success criteria and statistical rigor to validate improvements
• Debug complex issues across diverse hardware and platform configurations
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ship features that delight millions of users

Requirements:

• 4+ years building large-scale, cross-platform software (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, or game console development)
• Strong Rust or C++ skills with deep understanding of memory management, multi-threading, and low-level optimization
• Experience building performance-critical applications where milliseconds matter
• Experience designing experiments that prove (not just suggest) improvements

Bonus points:

• Experience with real-time media applications (audio/video, game streaming, etc.)
• Hands-on experience with WebRTC, SDP, SRTP, or DTLS protocols
• Familiarity with audio/video codecs (Opus, H.264, AV1, etc.) and their corresponding quality measurements (POLQA, PSNR, VMAF, etc.)
• Proficiency with CPU, GPU, and memory profiling—you can identify bottlenecks, optimize critical paths, and manage resource constraints effectively
• You have built or contributed to open source projects

_Candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area (Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma counties). For this role, the hiring manager would like folks to be in the office 1 day a week. Relocation assistance may be available. _

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $196,000 to $220,500 + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role and level. Within the range, individual pay is determined by additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include equity, or benefits.

Why Discord? 

Discord plays a uniquely important role in the future of gaming. We're a multiplatform, multigenerational and multiplayer platform that helps people deepen their friendships around games and shared interests. We believe games give us a way to have fun with our favorite people, whether listening to music together or grinding in competitive matches for diamond rank. Join us in our mission! Your future is just a click away!

**Discord is committed to inclusion and providing reasonable accommodations during the interview process. **We want you to feel set up for success, so if you are in need of reasonable accommodations, please let your recruiter know.