About Forward Networks
What is Forward Networks?
Forward Networks is transforming how the world's most complex networks are managed and secured. Founded in 2013 by four Stanford Ph.D.s, the company built the industry's first network digital twin — a mathematically precise model of the production network that gives IT teams unmatched visibility, verification and agility across every major cloud and vendor environment. Its flagship platform, Forward Enterprise, helps engineers visualize their network, understand how it behaves, see how it has evolved and plan changes with confidence. The company's mission is "Transforming networks to be more reliable, agile, and secure." Forward Networks' customers include global leaders such as Goldman Sachs, PayPal, S&P Global, IBM and Dell, alongside fast-growing enterprises and government agencies, and the company is backed by world-class investors including Andreessen Horowitz, Goldman Sachs, MSD Partners and Threshold Ventures.
Where will I work?
Forward Networks is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, and operates a flexible hybrid model. Many roles are Bay Area-based with an in-office cadence — for example, the Infrastructure Engineer role asks you to "work from the office in Santa Clara at least two days a week," while other roles describe a "Flexible hybrid work environment based out of Santa Clara, CA." The company is global: engineering teams collaborate "across our US and India offices" (including Bengaluru), and customer-facing roles span the US, UK, Japan and Australia. Some positions are open to remote candidates, and field roles such as Regional Sales Directors are territory-based across the US.
What is the Forward Networks team like?
Forward Networks describes itself as offering "a people-centric, innovative culture where brilliant minds are shaping the future of network reliability, security, and AI-ready operations." It's an agile, growth-stage company with, in its own words, "plenty of opportunities to grow, as a company and as individuals." The culture is "people-first, mission-driven, and creative," and the organization is notably flat, with transparent access to founders and the executive team. People who join "tend to stay, grow, and contribute over the long term," with a voluntary attrition rate the company says is "significantly lower than industry standards." Teams are deeply technical, spanning software engineering, data science, infrastructure, customer success engineering and sales engineering.
Work-Life Balance
Forward Networks is recognized as a 2025 Fortune Best Workplace in Technology and a Fortune Best Workplace in the Bay Area, honors awarded by Fortune and Great Place to Work and "based on employee feedback." On Great Place to Work's certified-company profile, 96% of employees say it is a great place to work, and 99% agree "I am able to take time off from work when I think it's necessary." That flexibility is built into the company's time-off philosophy: "Vacations, holidays, family days. With no tracked time off, you can go as long as it's okay with your manager."
Perks and Benefits
Forward Networks offers a competitive package centered on ownership and well-being. Every team member receives "a compensation package with competitive pay and equity, so we can grow together," and many roles include bonus or stock on top of base pay. For health, the company provides "top-grade insurance, with medical, dental, and vision benefits for you and your family." Time off is generous and flexible, with an untracked vacation policy covering "Vacations, holidays, family days." As an agile, growing company, Forward Networks emphasizes room to develop, with "plenty of opportunities to grow, as a company and as individuals."