Rust Engineer

Software development is becoming a collaboration between developers and AI systems.

Most AI developer tools operate on prompts and static snapshots of code. But real software development happens inside large, evolving codebases that change continuously through edits, refactors, discussions, and collaboration.

We are building AI systems that operate inside that environment.

Zed today is a code editor built from scratch in Rust with GPU acceleration and real-time multiplayer collaboration. Every keystroke and edit can be shared instantly between collaborators, creating a shared workspace where developers and increasingly AI systems can work together.

The codebase spans nearly one million lines of Rust, covering editor state management, language tooling, rendering infrastructure, distributed collaboration systems, and the AI and agent capabilities built around the editor.

We’re also building DeltaDB, a system designed to capture the operational history of software development.

What you'll work on

Rust engineers at Zed work across the editor and the systems that make it possible.

• Evolving the core systems that power editing, navigation, and large codebases

• Improving Zed’s real-time collaboration infrastructure built on CRDTs

• Designing editor data structures and indexes that update incrementally as code changes

• Designing data structures and memory layouts that keep editor operations fast under large projects and continuous edits

• Identifying and eliminating performance regressions across rendering, input handling, and editor state

• Extending Zed across macOS, Linux, and Windows

Performance and correctness are continuous concerns. Engineers regularly measure, profile, and improve the editor while maintaining strong testing discipline.

Engineers who thrive at Zed

• Systems thinkers comfortable working close to the machine

• Engineers who reason from latency, memory, and system constraints

• Developers who care about clean design, performance, and strong tests

• Collaborative engineers who enjoy pair programming and exploring systems together

Engineers are encouraged to explore the system deeply and propose improvements that make the editor faster, simpler, and more reliable.

Requirements

• Strong proficiency in Rust

• Experience building production systems software

• Deep understanding of algorithms, data structures, and systems design

• Strong debugging skills across complex systems

• Interest in developer tools or programming environments

• Comfort incorporating AI tools into your development workflow

Preferred experience

• Editors, compilers, language servers, or developer tools

• Real-time collaborative systems

• GPU or rendering systems

• Performance-sensitive software

• Cross-platform desktop development

About Zed

Zed is open source and built in public by the team behind Atom and Tree-sitter.

The editor is written in Rust with GPU acceleration for every frame. When you type or move the cursor, pixels respond instantly. That responsiveness keeps you in flow.

Zed is multiplayer by default, allowing developers to work together in the same codebase in real time. Much of our work happens through pair programming, with engineers collaborating directly inside the editor.

We ship improvements weekly and work closely with a community that cares deeply about the craft of developer tools.

Join us in revolutionizing the development experience. Your expertise could drive Zed's next game-changing feature!

Location: Remote (American or European time zones)