Staff Rust SDK Engineer

About the role

We're looking for a passionate Senior / Staff Rust engineer to help build both the LiveKit Rust SDK and the high-performance Rust core modules that power our real-time client SDKs across multiple platforms. You'll be joining a small, world-class engineering team focused on pushing the boundaries of real-time communication performance, reliability, and developer experience.

In this role, you'll play a key part in shaping the Rust developer experience for LiveKit, while also building the shared systems that other SDKs (Swift, Kotlin, TypeScript, Unity, Node, Flutter, C/C++, and more) depend on. You'll have the opportunity to work across deep systems layers and developer-facing abstractions, contributing to open-source software used by teams building real-time apps worldwide.

What makes this role unique is its dual focus: you'll build a robust, idiomatic Rust SDK while also designing core modules that serve as the performance-critical foundation for LiveKit's cross-platform ecosystem. Your work will directly influence how developers integrate real-time audio, video, and data streaming into their applications — from embedded systems to large-scale production apps. As a Staff engineer, you'll help define architectural direction across SDKs and drive technical alignment across teams.

You'll thrive here if you

• obsess over crafting code that is fast, reliable, and practical for the problem
• are known as the go-to person for tackling tough technical problems
• move quickly and ship high-quality systems with strong ownership
• can clearly explain complex technical concepts to other engineers
• are a fast learner, frequently picking up new languages and tools

We love seeing how you think. If you've contributed to our ecosystem or similar low-level Rust projects, feel free to point us toward your PRs or Issues.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain the LiveKit Rust SDK and the shared Rust core modules that power LiveKit's multi-platform client ecosystem
• Lead by example — guide and mentor engineers with less Rust experience, promote shared code and engineering best practices, and foster a culture of high-quality, maintainable, and testable Rust code
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (client SDKs, agents, cloud teams, PMs) to ensure smooth integration, shared standards, and consistent developer experience
• Own the testing, CI/CD, and release processes for Rust projects, ensuring reliability and stability across environments
• Profile and optimize performance in real-time, low-latency systems to push the boundaries of what's possible in LiveKit's SDKs
• Contribute to SDK architecture and design decisions, shaping the long-term technical direction for both the Rust SDK and cross-platform SDK interoperability

Requirements

• Strong expertise in Rust with experience delivering production-quality libraries or SDKs
• Collaborative and communicative, comfortable working across multiple teams and platforms
• Experience developing SDKs or libraries for multi-platform clients (mobile, web, or embedded)
• Understanding of testing, CI/CD, and release best practices in modern Rust ecosystems

Nice to have

• You've worked with LiveKit technologies
• Experience with real-time systems, networking, and performance optimization
• Familiarity with WebRTC or related technologies

Benefits

• An opportunity to build something truly impactful to the world
• Contribute to open source alongside world-class engineers
• Competitive salary and equity package
• Health, dental, and vision benefits
• Flexible vacation policy

Pay

Compensation Range: $200K - $300K