Staff Backend Engineer, Core
Staff Backend Engineer leads development of core features in Django monolith, optimizes performance and scalability for user workflows like Scribe viewing/editing, and mentors team. Requires 8+ years backend experience with Python, database optimization, and engineering best practices.
About the job
About this role
We're looking for an experienced backend engineer to join our Core Engineering team. This team owns essential user experiences in Scribe — including viewing and editing Scribes, managing Pages, Embeds, Exports, and supporting key Integrations. Your work will impact how users create, share, and consume documentation.
You can expect to
- Lead development of new features in our Django monolith, focusing on the core experience of viewing and editing Scribes — including pages, embeds, exports, and related integrations
- Optimize database queries, endpoints, and caching layers to improve performance and scalability across critical user workflows
- Collaborate with product and design to deliver intuitive, reliable editing and rendering experiences at scale
- Make architectural decisions about when to extend the monolith and when to invest in service extraction for high-scale systems
- Set a high bar for engineering excellence through code reviews, mentorship, and best practices in testing, observability, and performance
You could be a great fit if
- You have 8+ years of experience building backend applications at high scale and availability
- You have extensive experience with Python
- You know how to optimize endpoint performance and database queries
- You're a strong advocate for automated testing
- You've seen and can implement engineering best practices
- You're user-centric, empathetic, and passionate about your work
Bonus
- Experience with Django (not required, but a big plus)
- Startup experience (not required, but we build and move fast!)
Our backend tech stack
- Python + Django
- PostgreSQL
- Redis
- Celery + AmazonMQ
- Infrastructure in Terraform (AWS)
Compensation
$205-$235k base + equity
Skills
Python, Django, Postgres, Redis, Celery, Amazonmq, Terraform, AWS, Django Monolith, Automated Testing
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