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Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services

Hi, we're The Browser Company šŸ‘‹ and we're building a better way to use the internet.

Browsers are unique in that they are one of the only pieces of software that you share with your parents as well as your kids. Which makes sense, they're our doorway to the most important things ā€” through them we socialize with loved ones, work on our passion projects, and explore our curiosities. But on their own, they donā€™t actually do a whole lot, theyā€™re kind of just there. They donā€™t help us organize our messy lives or make it easier to compose our ideas. We believe that the browser could do so much more ā€” it can empower and support the amazing things we do on the internet. Thatā€™s why weā€™re building one: a browser that can help us grow, create, and stay curious.

To accomplish this lofty task, weā€™re building a diverse team of people from different backgrounds and experiences. This isnā€™t optional, itā€™s crucial to our mission, as we need a wide range of perspectives to challenge our assumptions and shape our browser through a bold, creative lens. With that in mind, we especially encourage women, people of color, and others from historically marginalized groups to apply.

About The Role

As The Browser Companyā€™s first Backend Services Engineer, you will play a pivotal role in driving the architecture and scaling of our backend systems. This isn't just about solving day-to-day challenges; itā€™s about owning the big pictureā€”architecting systems that power our product for millions of users and shaping the strategic direction for new product services. Weā€™re building our next product, one that will maximize the potential of an AI Assistant in the browser layer. Your work will be critical to building and scaling the backend services that power these features for millions of Members.

Overall you will...

  • Lead the design, development, and optimization of scalable, robust backend systems that are critical to Arcā€™s success.

  • Own large-scale, high-impact technical projects that cut across multiple teams and directly influence our product and company strategy.

  • Serve as a technical leader and mentor, providing guidance and oversight to engineering teams on complex technical issues, architectural decisions, and best practices.

  • Influence and contribute to critical architectural decisions, ensuring weā€™re always building with the future in mind.

  • Drive cross-functional collaboration with product, security, and engineering teams to define technical vision and ensure the backend infrastructure evolves to support Arcā€™s growth and product innovation.

Examples of projects you might lead:

  • Design application backends, APIs, protocols, data structures, and assess system design

  • Design and implement backend systems to support core product needs such as AI inference (eg. via self-hosting LLMs), proxying to other services, and data syncing across devices.

  • Support multiple clouds and LLM providers for improved availability

  • Design highly performant, resilient, and scalable systems that provide a high quality experience for users on desktop and mobile platforms worldwide.

  • Implement effective observability and monitoring for our backend services

  • Identify opportunities to iterate on our infrastructure to improve efficiency, developer productivity, or reduce costs

Qualifications

  • 3+ years of experience in a technical leadership role, 6+ years of experience working on large-scale backend systems.

  • Demonstrated ability to lead high-impact, cross-team projects and influence architectural decisions at a company-wide level.

  • A strategic mindset, with the ability to see the bigger picture and align technical decisions with business goals.

  • Experience working with GCP, AWS, or Azure, with significant expertise in at least one of these, including proficiency in infrastructure-as-code practices and tools (e.g., Terraform).

  • Experience setting up monitoring and observability for cloud infrastructure, e.g. with datadog, and using these tools to deliver improvements.

  • Proficiency in a programming language like TypeScript, Go, Java, Swift, etc.

  • You're passionate about building tools and systems that make other engineers more productive and strive to make them elegant and maintainable.

  • Weā€™re primarily focused on hiring in North American time zones and require that folks have 4+ hours of overlap time with team members in Eastern Time Zone.

Compensation and Benefits

šŸ’° With our flexible compensation model, employees have the ability to choose the cash-to-equity ratio that best suits their individual needs. Every offer we extend includes three options: a salary-optimized offer, an equity-optimized offer, and a balanced offer.

The annual salary range for this role is $225,000-275,000 USD. The actual salary range offered will vary based on experience level and interview performance.

šŸ§˜šŸ»ā€ā™€ļø In addition to a competitive salary and equity package, we provide every employee with the following benefits:

  • comprehensive benefits package with employee medical, dental, and vision - we cover 100% of premiums for employees, and up to 95% for dependents

  • 401k plan

  • flexible vacation policy - on average, our team members take between 15-20 vacation days plus federal holidays (holidays vary by location)

  • remote-friendly working environment - our core working hours are 11 AM-2 PM Eastern Time, Monday-Friday

  • 12 weeks of paid parental leave

  • $1,500 USD home office stipend

  • Employees based in the US also receive additional services like free annual memberships to One Medical (where available), Talkspace, Teladoc, and HealthAdvocate

The Browser Company is a well-funded, ambitious startup of about 85 people (and growing!) who are passionate about building great products. We are a remote-first, distributed team, with the option to work in office in New York. We strongly support diversity and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply.Ā 

šŸš™ To read more about what we value as a company, check out Notes on Roadtrips on our blog.

Average salary estimate

$250000 / YEARLY (est.)
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$225000K
$275000K

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 Services, The Browser Company

At The Browser Company, we're on a mission to transform the way you experience the internet, and we're looking for a Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services to help us lead this exciting journey! In this pivotal role, you'll be one of the first Backend Services Engineers on our team, shaping the architecture and scalability of our backend systems. Your expertise will enable us to tackle not just daily challenges but also the bigger picture: designing robust systems that will support an innovative AI Assistant integrated into our browser. Imagine your work powering cutting-edge features that millions of users will interact with daily! We seek someone with experience leading large-scale projects and influencing company-wide architectural decisions, so if you're someone who loves mentoring and guiding teams while ensuring weā€™re making future-driven choices, this position may be perfect for you. Your role will involve collaborative efforts with product and security teams to define a technical vision and to continuously improve our infrastructure for efficiency and cost-effectiveness. If you're passionate about building elegant, maintainable tools that empower fellow engineers, and you thrive in a diverse work environment, we canā€™t wait to meet you and kick off this transformative project together!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services Role at The Browser Company
What does a Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services do at The Browser Company?

As a Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services at The Browser Company, you'll be crucial in designing and optimizing scalable backend systems. Your work involves owning impactful technical projects, mentoring engineering teams, and influencing architectural decisions that shape our browser, enhancing the overall user experience and product strategy.

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What qualifications are required for the Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services position at The Browser Company?

To qualify for the Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services role at The Browser Company, candidates should have at least 3 years in a technical leadership role and a minimum of 6 years of experience on large-scale backend systems. A solid understanding of cloud platforms like AWS or GCP, programming skills, and experience in infrastructure-as-code practices is also highly desirable.

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What are the key responsibilities of a Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services at The Browser Company?

The primary responsibilities include leading the design and optimization of backend systems, owning large-scale projects, mentoring team members, and driving collaboration across product and engineering teams. You'll play a vital role in defining the technical direction to support innovative product features.

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How does The Browser Company support diversity for the Staff Software Engineer position?

The Browser Company is committed to building a diverse team and encourages individuals from all backgrounds, including women and people of color, to apply for the Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services position. Diversity is not just a goal but a core part of our mission to enhance creativity and innovation.

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What is the salary range for the Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services position?

For the Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services at The Browser Company, the salary range is between $225,000 and $275,000 USD. The final offer is determined based on experience and interview performance, with a flexible compensation model that allows candidates to choose their cash-to-equity ratio.

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What benefits does The Browser Company offer to its Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services?

The Browser Company offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes 100% premium coverage for employee medical, dental, and vision, a 401k plan, generous vacation days averaging 15-20, remote-friendly work options, and a home office stipend, among many others.

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How does the role of Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services contribute to product innovation at The Browser Company?

In the role of Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services, you will directly influence product innovation by designing backend systems that support new features like AI integration. Your architectural decisions will ensure our platforms are efficient, resilient, and capable of evolving alongside user needs.

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Common Interview Questions for Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services
Can you describe your experience with large-scale backend systems relevant to the Staff Software Engineer role?

In answering this question, highlight specific projects where you've designed, developed, and optimized backend systems for large-scale applications. Discuss technologies and methodologies you used, focusing on outcomes that demonstrate your ability to manage complexity and scale.

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What strategies have you employed to lead cross-functional teams in technical projects?

Share specific examples of projects where you have successfully led teams across various functions. Focus on your communication strategies, how you aligned team goals with company objectives, and any tools or methods that facilitated collaboration.

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How do you approach architectural decision-making for backend systems?

When answering this question, discuss your framework for evaluating architectural options, such as considering scalability, performance, and maintainability. Provide examples of past decisions youā€™ve made and how they have impacted the product and team positively.

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What role do you think observability plays in backend systems, and how have you implemented it in previous projects?

Outline the importance of observability in managing and scaling backend systems. Describe specific tools and methods you have used to implement observability in your projects, showcasing the benefits you've observed, such as detecting issues proactively and enhancing performance.

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Can you share a challenging situation you've faced in technical leadership and how you overcame it?

In your response, describe a specific challenge you encountered, the impact it had on your team or project, and the steps you took to resolve it. Highlight your leadership skills and any learning outcomes that contributed to future success.

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Which programming languages do you prefer for backend development and why?

Explain your preferred languages, such as TypeScript, Go, or Java, and the reasons for your preferences, including factors like community support, performance, or particular project requirements. Discuss any frameworks or tools you favor within those languages.

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How do you ensure backend systems remain scalable and resilient?

Your response should detail strategies you implement, such as automated testing, load balancing, and using microservices architecture. Confirm your technical experience with scalable frameworks and your commitment to continuous improvement.

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What experiences do you have with cloud platforms like GCP, AWS, or Azure?

Discuss your familiarity with cloud platforms, specific services you have utilized, and any architectural designs you've implemented in the cloud. Highlight certifications or significant achievements that underline your expertise.

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How do you stay current with the latest backend technologies and practices?

Share your strategies for keeping up with industry trends, including attending conferences, participating in online courses, following influential tech blogs or podcasts. Mention specific areas of interest and how you apply new knowledge to your work.

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How would you handle disagreements within your engineering team regarding technical approaches?

In your answer, emphasize the importance of fostering open communication and a collaborative atmosphere. Describe how you would mediate discussions, encourage constructive feedback, and seek to find a solution that aligns with overall project goals and team dynamics.

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