Who We Are

At Chainguard, we’re not just securing the software supply chain, we’re setting the new standard for how it’s done. Founded by open source and cloud-native trailblazers, our team is trusted by Fortune 500s and ambitious startups alike to deliver innovation with security built in. If you geek out over containers, open source, or simply want to work on tech that truly matters, you’re in the right place.

The Role: Contract Engineer

Roll up your sleeves. This is where open source meets real impact. As a Contract Engineer, you’ll join a fast-moving delivery team shaping the future of secure infrastructure. You’ll get hands-on with Wolfi and Chainguard Images, working with an all-star cast of engineers and security experts who want to build (and break things) right alongside you. This is a 3 month contract role, with the potential to extend to 6 months.

What You’ll Do

Package With Purpose: Build and refine Melange packages (APK) for Wolfi and our repos. We care about security, quality, size and repeatability.
Build Secure Images: Produce container images for public and private consumption. We like to build images with a full suite of tests.
Automate All The Things: Design and implement robust, automated tests to ensure images deploy and run like a dream.
Tame the Backlog Beast: Prioritize and tackle a rapid-fire queue of requests, shipping images that power critical infrastructure.
Champion Quality: Apply and evolve our production standards. Detailed checks, zero surprises, and gold-star releases are the norm, not the exception.

What We’re Looking For

Linux is your playground (1–2 years hands-on experience)
You speak packaging fluently (APK, RPM, DEB, Snap, Flatpak etc.)
Container images: you’ve built them, debugged them, and probably lost sleep over them
Practical experience with Kubernetes, Helm, and Terraform
Programming chops in at least one language, bonus points for Go, Python, or Shell
Fierce debugging and problem-solving skills, thriving independently or with a team
Obsession with quality, process, and sweating the details (in a fun way, promise)

Bonus Points If

You’re an active open source contributor or leader
You have experience with vulnerability management and remediation

Why You’ll Love Chainguard

Collaborate with passionate, ego-free folks who care deeply about secure, meaningful software
shipped in the open.
Be empowered, autonomy and trust are written into our DNA
Flexible, remote-first work. Results matter more than hours
Join a team where building, learning, and not taking ourselves too seriously is the daily vibe

Explore Our Work

Curious about how we “walk the walk”? Check out technical deep-dives, live demos, and more at edu.chainguard.dev and chainguard.dev.

Ready to roll up your sleeves, build what the world relies on, and have some fun? Join us and secure the supply chain, one image at a time.

Hourly Rate: $30.00 | ₹2,575 | €25.57

Base Salary Range

$30 - $40USD

About Us

Chainguard is the secure foundation for software development and deployment. By providing guarded open source software, built from source and updated continuously, Chainguard helps organizations eliminate threats in their software supply chains.

Founded by the industry's leading experts on open source software, security and cloud native development, Chainguard has built the largest library of open source software that is secure by default.

Chainguard’s mission is to be the safe source for open source.

We live and breathe our company values:

We are customer obsessed - We focus on delivering solutions to our customers that create value and make their lives better.

We have a bias for intentional action - We prioritize, plan, try things, and fail fast.

We don’t take ourselves too seriously (but we do serious work) - We are solving an important problem which takes focus, but we also like to enjoy the journey.

We trust each other and assume good intentions - We’re transparent with decisions to empower team members to make well informed decisions.

A few of the benefits we offer:

Flexible & Remote-First Culture: Work remotely with team meetup opportunities, bi-annual destination summits, and a $400 monthly stipend for coworking spaces, phone and internet costs.
Our Approach to Equity: Receive stock options upon hire and promotion. Plus, you can participate in secondary offerings and have 10 years to exercise your options (yes, you read that correctly: 10 years!).
100% Covered Health Insurance: We cover 100% of your health, vision and dental insurance premiums for you and your dependents. Nothing comes out of your paycheck.
∞ Flexible Time Off: Take the time you need – to do our best work, we need to recharge and reset.
18 Weeks Paid Parental Leave: We offer 18 weeks for birthing parents and 12 weeks for non-birthing parents, with the option to use it all at once or throughout your child's first year.
For a full list of our benefits and rewards, click here.

If your experience is close but doesn’t fulfill all requirements, please apply. We’re building the best team in technology and are focused on hiring “Chainguardians'' with unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.

Chainguard is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, reproductive health decisions, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, genetic information, political views or activity, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.

By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Chainguard will process your personal data in accordance with Chainguard’s Privacy Policy.

©2025 Chainguard. All Rights Reserved.