Staff Software Engineer, Backend

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Staff Software Engineer, Backend based in Canada.

This is a high-impact engineering role focused on building the backend infrastructure that enables AI applications and modern software products to connect with external services.

You will design and scale APIs, services, databases, and core platform systems while maintaining a strong focus on performance, reliability, and developer experience.

As a Staff-level engineer, you will have significant ownership over technical direction, product decisions, and the evolution of critical systems.

You will work closely with developer customers to understand integration challenges and translate their needs into scalable product solutions.

The role also offers the opportunity to contribute to open-source projects and influence engineering practices across the broader developer community.

You will operate in a highly autonomous, remote-first environment where engineers play a direct role in shaping both product strategy and execution.

This opportunity is ideal for a seasoned backend engineer who combines deep technical expertise with product thinking, strong ownership, and genuine empathy for developers.

Accountabilities

• Design, build, and scale backend systems, APIs, services, and infrastructure supporting a developer-focused integration platform.
• Develop high-quality developer interfaces, including APIs, SDKs, user interfaces, and runtime components that deliver an exceptional developer experience.
• Own critical backend systems throughout their lifecycle, from ideation and technical design through implementation, deployment, and continuous improvement.
• Optimize backend services for performance, scalability, reliability, and high-traffic production environments.
• Work directly with developer customers to understand integration challenges, troubleshoot technical issues, and turn feedback into product improvements.
• Influence the technical roadmap and broader product strategy by taking ownership of key architectural and engineering decisions.
• Contribute to and maintain open-source projects, engage with the developer community, and uphold high standards across the codebase.
• Collaborate closely with engineers and cross-functional stakeholders to define specifications, unblock technical challenges, and deliver impactful solutions.
• Take ownership during incidents, help improve system resilience, and contribute to a culture of pragmatic, reliable engineering.
• Drive technical excellence while balancing long-term architecture with practical delivery in a fast-moving startup environment.

Requirements

• 10+ years of backend software engineering experience for a Staff-level profile, with demonstrated success designing and scaling high-traffic production systems.
• Deep expertise in backend engineering, developer infrastructure, APIs, databases, distributed systems, and performance-critical applications.
• Strong experience with Node.js and modern backend development technologies.
• Demonstrated ability to design scalable, reliable services and make sound architectural decisions across complex systems.
• Strong understanding of developer experience and a genuine interest in building tools, APIs, and infrastructure that developers enjoy using.
• Experience working directly with customers or developer communities and translating technical feedback into product improvements.
• Strong product mindset, with the ability to balance engineering quality, customer needs, business priorities, and delivery speed.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with highly technical stakeholders in a distributed environment.
• High level of autonomy, initiative, and ownership, with the ability to make progress despite ambiguity and limited existing processes.
• Pragmatic, positive, and low-ego approach to engineering, with a willingness to step in during incidents and help unblock teammates.
• Experience working in a startup or similarly fast-paced environment where engineers have significant influence over product direction is highly valued.
• Based in North America, LATAM, or Europe, with the ability to work effectively in a remote-first organization.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation: $140,000-$220,000 annually, depending on location, experience, and overall fit.
• Equity participation.
• Top-tier compensation philosophy for a seed-stage technology company.
• Fully remote work across eligible locations in North America, LATAM, and Europe.
• Significant ownership and autonomy over technical decisions and product direction.
• Opportunity to work on developer infrastructure at the intersection of APIs, integrations, and AI applications.
• Direct collaboration with customers and influence over the product roadmap.
• Opportunity to contribute to open-source software and engage with the developer community.
• High-impact role within a small, experienced, and highly technical engineering organization.
• Environment that values pragmatism, low-ego collaboration, developer empathy, and continuous improvement.
• Opportunity to help shape the future of integrations and infrastructure for AI-powered applications.