Staff Software Engineer, Backend

Key Responsibilities

• Own backend architecture across multiple services and team boundaries, from design through implementation
• Write production code daily and set the standard on quality, reliability, and engineering practice
• Partner with engineering leads and product managers to scope large initiatives and define what "done" actually means
• Improve scalability, performance, and reliability as the platform grows
• Identify and clear technical debt across teams, not only within your immediate scope
• Build security and observability into systems from day one rather than bolting them on later
• Build with data in mind: instrumentation, pipelines, and tooling that surface meaningful insight for organizers and the business
• Mentor engineers across levels and shape technical culture through reviews, design discussions, and direct coaching
• Participate in technical interviews and calibration

Requirements

• 8+ years of backend engineering experience, including time as a Staff, Principal, or technical lead
• Has designed and delivered systems that span multiple services or teams with clear ownership of the outcome
• Deep expertise in backend systems: APIs, data modeling, distributed systems, event-driven architecture
• Strong working knowledge of the full stack
• Proficient in technologies relevant to our stack (e.g., Java, Node.js, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, AWS or similar cloud providers)
• Has scaled platforms operationally, not just designed them on paper
• Pragmatic about technology choices and can defend tradeoffs
• Communicates technical tradeoffs clearly to engineers, product, and business leaders
• Mentors and raises the engineering bar for the people around them
• Experience at a consumer, social, or marketplace company is a plus