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Staff Software Engineer, Backend

Harness is a high-growth company that is disrupting the software delivery market. Our mission is to enable the 30 million software developers in the world to deliver code to their users reliably, efficiently, securely and quickly, increasing customers’ pace of innovation while improving the developer experience. We offer solutions for every step of the software delivery lifecycle to build, test, secure, deploy and manage reliability, feature flags and cloud costs. The Harness Software Delivery Platform includes modules for CI, CD, Cloud Cost Management, Feature Flags, Service Reliability Management, Security Testing Orchestration, Chaos Engineering, Software Engineering Insights and continues to expand at an incredibly fast pace.
 
Harness is led by technologist and entrepreneur Jyoti Bansal, who founded AppDynamics and sold it to Cisco for $3.7B. We’re backed with $425M in venture financing from top-tier VC and strategic firms, including J.P. Morgan, Capital One Ventures, Citi Ventures, ServiceNow, Splunk Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Adage Capital Partners, Balyasny Asset Management, Gaingels, Harmonic Growth Partners, Menlo Ventures, IVP, Unusual Ventures, GV (formerly Google Ventures), Alkeon Capital, Battery Ventures, Sorenson Capital, Thomvest Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank.

Position Summary

This is a unique opportunity to be a hands-on engineer at a high-growth startup with huge potential. In this role, you’ll play a key part in driving the architecture, design, and development of a core product area that directly impacts customer experience. You’ll co-lead the Cloud Cost Management module end to end—owning everything from product architecture and APIs to SDKs and performance at scale.

About the role

  • Lead cross-functional engineering projects and provide technical expertise across the product lifecycle, including design, implementation, and feature delivery
  • Set and communicate team priorities that support the broader organization's goals. Align strategy, processes, and decision-making across teams.
  • Develop the long-term technical vision and roadmap within, and often beyond, the scope of your teams. Evolve the roadmap to meet anticipated future requirements and infrastructure needs.
  • Review code developed by other engineers and provide feedback to ensure best practices (e.g., style guidelines, checking code in, accuracy, testability, and efficiency).
  • Collaborate with leadership and key stakeholders on a regular basis.

About you

  • Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent professional experience 
  • 7+ years of experience developing highly scalable, distributed applications, products and services  in Java or similar languages
  • Deep understanding of how distributed resilient software is built and deployed
  • Solid foundation in data structures, algorithms, and software design with strong analytical and debugging skills
  • Comfort in working in short, agile, iterative development cycles
  • Entrepreneurial spirit, priding yourself on getting things done with a high level of quality
  • Strong desire to work in an unstructured, fast-moving startup environment

Work Location

Mountain View, CA - Hybrid - 3 days / week

What you will have at Harness

  • Competitive salary
  • Comprehensive healthcare benefits
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • Flexible work schedule
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
  • Flexible Time Off and Parental Leave
  • Monthly, quarterly, and annual social and team building events
  • Monthly internet reimbursement

Salary is determined by a combination of factors including location, level, relevant experience, and skills. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations.  The compensation package for this position also includes equity, and benefits. More details about our company benefits can be found at the following link: https://www.harness.io/company/careers

 

Pay transparency
$185,000$225,000 USD

Harness in the news:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex or national origin.

Note on Fraudulent Recruiting/Offers

We have become aware that there may be fraudulent recruiting attempts being made by people posing as representatives of Harness. These scams may involve fake job postings, unsolicited emails, or messages claiming to be from our recruiters or hiring managers. 

Please note, we do not ask for sensitive or financial information via chat, text, or social media, and any email communications will come from the domain @harness.io. Additionally, Harness will never ask for any payment, fee to be paid, or purchases to be made by a job applicant. All applicants are encouraged to apply directly to our open jobs via our website. Interviews are generally conducted via Zoom video conference unless the candidate requests other accommodations.

If you believe that you have been the target of an interview/offer scam by someone posing as a representative of Harness, please do not provide any personal or financial information and contact us immediately at security@harness.io. You can also find additional information about this type of scam and report any fraudulent employment offers via the Federal Trade Commission’s website (https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/job-scams), or you can contact your local law enforcement agency.

Average salary estimate

$205000 / YEARLY (est.)
min
max
$185000K
$225000K

If an employer mentions a salary or salary range on their job, we display it as an "Employer Estimate". If a job has no salary data, Rise displays an estimate if available.

What You Should Know About Staff Software Engineer, Backend, Harness

As a Staff Software Engineer, Backend at Harness, you'll step into a role that offers exciting opportunities in a high-growth company redefining the software delivery landscape. Located in Mountain View, California, you will have the chance to work closely with a talented team driving innovation while ensuring that 30 million developers can deliver code quickly and securely. Your primary focus will be to lead the Cloud Cost Management module, impacting customer experience directly. This hands-on position allows you to own everything from product architecture to APIs and performance at scale. Harness, founded by technologist Jyoti Bansal, is rapidly expanding its robust suite of solutions that streamline the entire software delivery lifecycle—from CI/CD to security testing and chaos engineering. In this collaborative environment, you'll tackle cross-functional engineering challenges, set priorities aligned with the company's goals, and work on evolving the technical vision for the future. With a passion for driving quality and efficiency, your background in developing scalable applications will empower you to provide insights and feedback on code to ensure best practices are maintained. Harness values an entrepreneurial spirit and offers a flexible work environment, competitive salary, and a comprehensive benefits package. Join us in creating a remarkable experience for developers around the globe!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Staff Software Engineer, Backend Role at Harness
What are the main responsibilities of the Staff Software Engineer, Backend at Harness?

The Staff Software Engineer, Backend at Harness is responsible for leading the Cloud Cost Management module's architecture, design, and product development. This includes overseeing cross-functional engineering projects, establishing team priorities, and collaborating with leadership for strategic alignment. You will also review code for quality and ensure best practices within the engineering team.

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What qualifications do I need to apply for the Staff Software Engineer, Backend position at Harness?

To apply for the Staff Software Engineer, Backend position at Harness, candidates should possess a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent experience, along with 7+ years of experience in building scalable, distributed applications using Java or similar languages. Strong analytical skills, a deep understanding of software architecture, and a comfort with agile development processes are also essential.

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Can you describe the work culture at Harness for a Staff Software Engineer, Backend?

Harness fosters a flexible and dynamic work culture that encourages innovation and collaboration among its team members. As a Staff Software Engineer, Backend, you will thrive in a startup atmosphere that values agility, open communication, and the pursuit of high-quality outcomes while driving forward the company’s mission to enhance the software delivery experience.

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What type of projects will a Staff Software Engineer, Backend be working on at Harness?

A Staff Software Engineer, Backend at Harness will primarily focus on leading the Cloud Cost Management module, impacting the customer experience. This includes working on product architecture, performance at scale, and developing long-term technical roadmaps. You will engage with various stakeholders throughout the product lifecycle, contributing to the evolution of the software delivery platform.

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What are the growth opportunities for Staff Software Engineers at Harness?

Harness provides substantial growth opportunities for Staff Software Engineers through hands-on involvement in innovative projects, leadership in cross-functional teams, and the freedom to develop technical visions that shape the future of the software delivery platform. As the company expands, there are ample chances to advance in roles and take on more significant responsibilities.

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Common Interview Questions for Staff Software Engineer, Backend
Can you describe a challenging project you've worked on as a backend engineer?

When discussing a challenging project, focus on how you identified the problem, the steps you took to solve it, and the impact on the team or product. Highlight your technical skills, teamwork, and the results generated under your leadership to show your value as a Staff Software Engineer.

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How do you ensure code quality in your engineering team?

Explain your approach to code reviews, encouraging best practices, and any tools you use for automated testing or quality control. Emphasize the importance of collaboration and peer feedback in maintaining high standards within a development team.

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What strategies do you use for managing projects in an agile environment?

Share your understanding of agile methodologies and discuss specific strategies you employ, such as sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives, to ensure progress and adaptability. Detail how you align project goals with team priorities for maximum effectiveness.

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How do you stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and trends in software engineering?

Discuss your commitment to continuous learning through online courses, tech meetups, and following industry leaders. Mention how you apply new technologies in your work and encourage team knowledge-sharing sessions.

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Can you explain the role of APIs in your previous projects?

Provide examples of how you've designed, implemented, and integrated APIs in your past projects. Highlight the importance of APIs in building scalable systems and how they enhance functionality and user experience.

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What is your experience with cloud-based solutions for software delivery?

Discuss your familiarity with cloud infrastructure and services, such as AWS or Azure, and how you have implemented these solutions in previous roles. Emphasize any specific projects that benefited from cloud deployment and the efficiencies gained.

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Describe a time you led a cross-functional engineering project.

Share your experience coordinating with different teams, outlining the project objectives, and managing communication. Highlight the results achieved and how your leadership influenced team dynamics and project success.

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What debugging techniques do you find most effective in distributed systems?

Detail the debugging tools and methods you prefer for distributed systems, including log analysis and performance monitoring. Share specific examples of issues you've resolved and the techniques that led to successful outcomes.

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How do you prioritize work when dealing with multiple projects?

Discuss your method for prioritizing tasks, such as assessing project impact, deadlines, and resource allocation. Showcase your ability to communicate with stakeholders to align expectations and manage project timelines.

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What is your process for developing a technical roadmap for your team?

Explain how you gather input from team members and leadership to create a comprehensive technical roadmap. Discuss how you evaluate future requirements and infrastructure needs to continuously evolve the roadmap as projects progress.

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Harness serves as the missing link between how we spend and what we believe in.

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Full-time, hybrid
DATE POSTED
April 8, 2025

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