Senior Backend Engineer

Propeller is on a mission to take the guesswork out of moving dirt - reducing wasted fuel, time, and money. We do this through the power of maps.

Our customers use Propeller's integrated hardware and software products to capture accurate 3D versions of their worksites. With over 50,000 worksites worldwide using Propeller's smart survey technology, we empower project teams to map, measure, and manage site activity.

Propeller empowers everyone to approach, own, and solve problems creatively. We're data nerds who care about impact, honesty, and each other. We take pride in being a great place to work and are proud to be recognised as a Fast Company and BuiltIn Best Place to Work. You can learn more about us on Glassdoor.

Requirements

Your Mission:

You’ll join our backend processing team, responsible for the core processing pipeline that transforms thousands of survey datasets captured by drones and other scanning devices into finished 3D site outputs. As part of this role, you’ll own the design, development, and maintenance of our Temporal-based 3D processing pipelines, ensuring they’re reliable at scale, easy to operate, and flexible enough to support new workflows as our platform evolves.

This role offers the opportunity to work on high-impact projects spanning multiple teams, gain exposure to core parts of our system, and build a broad range of skills across infrastructure, backend engineering, and some frontend development.

You’ll bring strong backend engineering expertise, a big-picture mindset, and a collaborative approach. You’ll contribute not only through code, but also by helping the squad navigate change and continuously improve how we build, operate, and evolve our systems.

Your Responsibilities:

• Architect, implement, and optimise processing pipeline components that run hundreds of thousands of compute-heavy survey jobs each year
• Write high-quality code and review changes from within the squad and across other teams
• Support integration of new scanning devices and drones as they hit the market, bringing data from new sensors into the pipeline
• Collaborate closely with other internal teams
• Maintain internal software products for diagnostics and human-in-the-loop interventions on the processing platform
• Mentor and guide mid-level engineers within the squad

Your Skills:

• You are excited by complex problems and motivated to learn an unfamiliar domain (this is the key filter)
• You have strong backend engineering skills (ideally Node.js and/or Python); comfortable picking up new stacks where needed
• You have a big-picture mindset - you understand the underlying problems and make pragmatic architectural decisions that balance immediate needs with the long-term vision.
• You are a strong collaborator with great communication skills
• You enjoy mentoring, giving guidance, and bringing your teammates along on the journey with you

Bonus points for:

• Temporal (workflow orchestration) experience
• GIS/geospatial awareness or interest (even as a map enthusiast)
• Comfortable with AI-assisted ways of working
• Photogrammetry, 3D modelling, or GPS/ground control data exposure

Benefits

• Employee share options
• Professional development budget and leave
• The opportunity to take part in our mentorship program
• Mental health resources
• Monthly telephone and/or internet allowance
• Paid primary & secondary parental leave policies
• Hybrid work arrangements and WFH equipment provided

About Propeller

Propeller is for everyone, so come as you are. We value all types of experience, skill, and ability. If you don't think you meet all the requirements, but still think this role would be a good fit, we'd love to hear from you.

Diversity makes our team more creative, fun, and effective, so bring your whole self to the application process, and we will too!

If you're interested in what life at Propeller is like, check out our employee-owned Medium blog page!