Senior Backend Engineer

United States Digital Space LLC; Cheltenham; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Obsidian Security is seeking a Senior Backend Engineer to build and evolve backend systems powering its SaaS security platform. You’ll design APIs, implement multithreaded services, and collaborate with product and engineering teams to deliver high-impact features across cloud environments.

You will operate in a fast-moving, AI-forward engineering culture with emphasis on reliability, scalability, and code quality. Hybrid work options are available, with offices in Cheltenham and Manchester.

Qualifications

• 5-7 years of experience in a software engineering role.
• Proficiency in one or more modern programming languages such as Python, Go or SQL.
• Experience building backend services, APIs, and multithreaded applications.
• Familiarity with containerization and orchestration technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes.
• Strong knowledge of relational databases (e.g., Postgres).
• Experience collaborating in team environments and adapting to changing requirements.
• Understanding of software design principles and engineering best practices.
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP), object storage (S3), or event/streaming systems (Kafka, Redis).
• Familiarity with Git for version control and deployment tooling such as GitLab CI/CD.
• Desirable: system monitoring/observability tools (Grafana/Prometheus), QE practices, large-scale distributed systems, performance optimisation.
• AI skills: able to leverage AI tools and understand AI concepts to enhance development efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Build new backend processing systems that power Obsidian’s core product.
• Maintain, improve, and evolve existing systems to ensure performance, resilience, and scalability.
• Design and implement APIs and backend services, including multithreaded applications.
• Collaborate with product and engineering teams to support key product themes and deliver high-impact features.
• Apply strong software engineering practices to requirements gathering, system design, and code reviews.
• Contribute to a fast-moving, collaborative environment where adaptability and teamwork are essential.

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Git

GitLab CI/CD

PostgreSQL

Kafka

Redis

Job description

Obsidian Security is the leading SaaS security platform, trusted by global enterprises like Snowflake, T-Mobile, and Algolia. We protect 200+ organizations across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, including many of the world's largest Fortune 1000 and Global 2000 companies.

Founded in 2017 and backed by top investors like Greylock, Obsidian was built to close a critical gap: securing SaaS apps where business happens - Microsoft 365, Salesforce, and hundreds more. The company does this by offering a complete SaaS security platform to reduce risk, detect and respond to threats, and prevent breaches at the source. Obsidian was built by leaders who redefined endpoint and identity security at CrowdStrike, Okta, Cylance, and Carbon Black. Now, they're transforming how SaaS is secured.

With AI driving rapid SaaS growth and complexity, agentic AI tools gain privileged access to sensitive data through integrations, creating new risks most security tools miss. Obsidian uniquely detects anomalous OAuth token activity and manages integration risks. Major announcements are on the horizon. Recognizing that SaaS security needs to evolve, Obsidian enables growing organizations to start with a lightweight, prevention-focused browser extension and expand coverage over time.

With global momentum, a growing partner ecosystem including SentinelOne, Databricks, and Google Cloud, and a major fundraise ahead, Obsidian is scaling rapidly toward long-term growth and IPO readiness.

About the Role -

as a Senior Backend Engineer at Obsidian, you’ll:

• Build new backend processing systems that power Obsidian’s core product
• Maintain, improve, and evolve existing systems to ensure performance, resilience, and scalability
• Design and implement APIs and backend services, including multithreaded applications
• Collaborate with product and engineering teams to support key product themes and ensure delivery of high-impact features
• Apply strong software engineering practices to requirements gathering, system design, and code reviews
• Contribute to a fast-moving, collaborative environment where adaptability and teamwork are essential

What's in It for You

• Have direct impact on the core product used by enterprises worldwide
• Work alongside a talented, friendly team in a supportive and collaborative culture
• Grow your skills with opportunities to learn new technologies and engineering practices
• Be part of an innovative, fast-paced environment where your contributions are valued
• Enjoy a hybrid working, with supported remote working and great office spaces in Cheltenham and Manchester

Required Skills & Experience

• 5-7 years of experience in a software engineering role
• Proficiency in one or more modern programming languages such as Python, Go or SQL
• Experience building backend services, APIs, and multithreaded applications
• Familiarity with containerization and orchestration technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes
• Strong knowledge of relational databases (e.g., Postgres)
• Experience collaborating in team environments and adapting to changing requirements
• Understanding of software design principles and engineering best practices
• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, GCP), object storage (S3), or event/streaming systems (Kafka, Redis)
• Familiarity with Git for version control and deployment tooling such as GitLab CI/CD

Desirable Experience

• Experience with system monitoring and observability tools such as Grafana, Prometheus, or similar platforms
• Understanding of quality engineering (QE) practices across development and testing lifecycles
• Exposure to large-scale distributed systems and performance optimisation

AI Skills & AI-Native Engineering Expectations:

As an AI-forward engineering organization, we expect senior engineers to effectively leverage AI tools and understand foundational AI concepts to enhance development efficiency and build AI-ready systems.

AI Engineering Capabilities:

• Leverage AI tools effectively to improve development efficiency and build AI-ready systems.
• Proficient with AI-powered developer tools; able to critically evaluate and refine AI-generated outputs.
• Strong understanding of core AI/ML concepts (LLMs, embeddings, vector databases, inference, evaluation).
• Experience integrating AI/ML APIs and building AI-ready data infrastructure (e.g., for RAG).
• Ensure data quality, governance, observability, reliability, security, and performance in AI-driven systems.