Backend Engineer II (AI)

TL;DR

Backend Engineer II (AI): Developing and optimizing server-side logic, database architectures, and API integrations for a global developer skills platform with an accent on scalability and high-impact product features. Focus on designing robust backend systems, integrating AI-powered development workflows, and optimizing database performance at scale.

Location: Hybrid in Santa Clara, CA

Company

A platform trusted by over 2,500 companies to identify and invest in technical talent based on skills rather than pedigree.

What you will do

• Design and maintain efficient, reusable backend code to support new product features and enhancements.
• Develop and integrate RESTful or GraphQL APIs to serve frontend applications and external clients.
• Optimize SQL and NoSQL database schemas to ensure data integrity and query performance at scale.
• Collaborate with frontend developers and product managers to translate requirements into technical solutions.
• Troubleshoot production bottlenecks and drive performance optimizations across the application stack.
• Write comprehensive unit and integration tests to ensure system stability and code quality.

Requirements

• 2+ years of experience in server-side software development.
• Proficiency in at least one modern backend language such as Python, Ruby, Go, Java, or Node.js.
• Deep understanding of API design principles (REST, GraphQL) and web standards.
• Strong experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and familiarity with NoSQL stores.
• Knowledge of distributed systems, caching (Redis/Memcached), and asynchronous messaging (Kafka/RabbitMQ).
• Must be based in or able to work hybrid in Santa Clara, CA.

Nice to have

• Experience working on high-traffic, customer-facing web applications.
• Strong grasp of system design concepts and architectural patterns like Microservices and DDD.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and serverless technologies.
• Experience optimizing legacy codebases for maintainability.

Culture & Benefits

• Environment that deeply values high standards, urgency, and ownership of work from design to deployment.
• Strong emphasis on AI fluency, encouraging the use of AI-powered coding assistants in daily workflows.
• Culture focused on direct impact and solving real user problems.
• Equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer.