Let’s get started
By clicking ‘Next’, I agree to the Terms of Service
and Privacy Policy
Jobs / Job page
Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services image - Rise Careers
Job details

Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services

Hi, we're The Browser Company 👋 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 — through them we socialize with loved ones, work on our passion projects, and explore our curiosities. But on their own, they don’t actually do a whole lot, they’re kind of just there. They don’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 — it can empower and support the amazing things we do on the internet. That’s why we’re building one: a browser that can help us grow, create, and stay curious.

To accomplish this lofty task, we’re building a diverse team of people from different backgrounds and experiences. This isn’t optional, it’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 Company’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; it’s about owning the big picture—architecting systems that power our product for millions of users and shaping the strategic direction for new product services. We’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 Arc’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 we’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 Arc’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.

  • We’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

💰 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.

🧘🏻‍♀️ 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. 

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

Average salary estimate

$250000 / YEARLY (est.)
min
max
$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

Welcome to The Browser Company, where we're on a mission to revolutionize the way we use the internet! As a Staff Software Engineer for Backend Services, you'll be at the forefront of designing and developing robust backend systems that cater to millions of users engaging with our innovative browser. We’re aiming to empower our users by creating features that support an AI Assistant right within the browser. Picture yourself leading complex technical projects, influencing architectural decisions, and mentoring engineering teams—your expertise will be invaluable in shaping the future of our product. At The Browser Company, we believe in the power of diverse perspectives and encourage women, people of color, and those from historically marginalized groups to join our team. Enjoy a flexible compensation model with a generous salary range along with a comprehensive benefits package including remote work options, a flexible vacation policy, parental leave, and a $1,500 home office stipend. If you're driven by making a tangible impact within a vibrant startup culture, apply and help us create a better way to explore the web!

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

As a Staff Software Engineer at The Browser Company, you'll be responsible for architecting and developing scalable backend systems that support our innovative browser features. You will lead critical projects that influence our product strategy and ensure our systems meet the demands of millions of users.

Join Rise to see the full answer
What are the qualifications required to become a Staff Software Engineer at The Browser Company?

To qualify as a Staff Software Engineer at The Browser Company, candidates should have over 6 years of experience in large-scale backend systems and at least 3 years in a technical leadership role. Proficiency in cloud services like GCP, AWS, or Azure and a strong foundation in infrastructure-as-code tools are essential.

Join Rise to see the full answer
What is the salary range for a Staff Software Engineer at The Browser Company?

The annual salary range for a Staff Software Engineer at The Browser Company is set between $225,000 and $275,000 USD. The exact offer may vary based on your experience and performance during interviews.

Join Rise to see the full answer
How does The Browser Company support diversity and inclusion?

The Browser Company is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. We actively encourage applications from women, people of color, and individuals from historically marginalized groups to ensure our team has a variety of perspectives to draw from.

Join Rise to see the full answer
What benefits does The Browser Company offer to its employees?

At The Browser Company, you can expect a comprehensive benefits package including full medical, dental, and vision coverage, a flexible vacation policy, a 401k plan, and generous parental leave, among other perks tailored to support a healthy work-life balance.

Join Rise to see the full answer
Is remote work an option for the Staff Software Engineer position at The Browser Company?

Yes, The Browser Company has a remote-friendly working environment. While we have core hours from 11 AM to 2 PM Eastern Time, we value flexibility and encourage team members to balance personal and professional responsibilities.

Join Rise to see the full answer
What kind of projects will I work on as a Staff Software Engineer at The Browser Company?

As a Staff Software Engineer at The Browser Company, you'll lead projects that design backend systems for core product needs such as AI inference and data syncing. You'll play a key role in enhancing the performance, resilience, and scalability of our backend services.

Join Rise to see the full answer
Common Interview Questions for Staff Software Engineer, Backend Services
What experience do you have with backend system architecture?

When answering this question, you should discuss specific projects where you designed or contributed to backend architectures. Highlight the scale of these systems and any challenges you faced—this shows your problem-solving skills.

Join Rise to see the full answer
How do you approach cross-team collaboration?

Explain your strategies for fostering effective communication and collaboration across teams. Use examples of past experiences where you successfully navigated challenges in cross-team projects and how it led to more innovative solutions.

Join Rise to see the full answer
Can you describe a high-impact project you led?

Be ready to share details about a significant project you were responsible for. Discuss your role, the technologies you used, and the outcomes or impact it had on the organization, showcasing your leadership and technical skills.

Join Rise to see the full answer
What tools do you use for monitoring backend services?

Discuss tools like Datadog or Prometheus that you have utilized for observability and monitoring. Explain your process for identifying issues and how you use tools to enhance performance and reliability.

Join Rise to see the full answer
How do you ensure the scalability and resilience of your backend systems?

Share your approach to system design, such as load testing, failover strategies, and redundancy. Discuss any frameworks or patterns, like microservices or serverless architecture, that you have implemented to enhance these aspects.

Join Rise to see the full answer
What programming languages are you most proficient in?

Mention the programming languages you excel in, specifically those relevant to backend development such as Go, TypeScript, or Java. Share examples of projects where these languages played a crucial role.

Join Rise to see the full answer
How do you stay current with new technologies and practices?

Discuss your methods for continuous learning, including any blogs, podcasts, or online courses you follow. Mention attendance at conferences or meet-ups that help you stay informed about industry trends and innovations.

Join Rise to see the full answer
What experience do you have with cloud platforms like GCP or AWS?

Talk about specific projects where you utilized these platforms for application deployment and managing cloud infrastructure. Mention your familiarity with infrastructure-as-code practices and how they improve deployment efficiency.

Join Rise to see the full answer
How do you mentor and guide less experienced engineers?

Provide examples of mentoring experiences, focusing on how you support these engineers in their professional development. Discuss any specific tools or methodologies you apply in mentoring sessions.

Join Rise to see the full answer
How do you handle technical disagreements within a team?

Share your approach to resolving conflicts, emphasizing open communication and consensus-building. Discuss how you work towards aligning team goals and the impact of diverse opinions on project outcomes.

Join Rise to see the full answer
Similar Jobs
Photo of the Rise User
Posted 8 days ago
Photo of the Rise User
Prelude Remote No location specified
Posted 9 days ago
Photo of the Rise User
Posted 4 days ago
Mission Driven
Rise from Within
Growth & Learning
Dare to be Different
Passion for Exploration
Rapid Growth
Social Impact Driven
Inclusive & Diverse
Posted 11 days ago
Photo of the Rise User
Zowie Remote Remote – Poland
Posted 5 days ago

The web browser is one of the most important tools we use — not just on our computers, but in our lives. The world has changed in the past 15 years, but our web browsers look and behave pretty much th...e same. We think it’s time to push the web b...

18 jobs
MATCH
VIEW MATCH
FUNDING
SENIORITY LEVEL REQUIREMENT
TEAM SIZE
EMPLOYMENT TYPE
Full-time, remote
DATE POSTED
November 26, 2024

Subscribe to Rise newsletter

Risa star 🔮 Hi, I'm Risa! Your AI
Career Copilot
Want to see a list of jobs tailored to
you, just ask me below!