Backend Engineer

The College Board; United States; Remote; USD 114,000 - 123,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization as a Backend Engineer, where you'll play a pivotal role in modernizing student data management. This fully remote position offers the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies in AWS, developing scalable applications and infrastructure solutions. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure data security and integrity while embracing a culture of innovation and accountability. If you're passionate about making a real impact in education and enjoy tackling complex backend challenges, this role is perfect for you. Enjoy a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits while contributing to a mission that truly matters.

Benefits

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Generous paid time off

Paid parental leave

Fertility benefits

Tuition assistance

Retirement benefits

Pet insurance

Annual bonuses

Qualifications

• 2-3 years of experience in software development with a focus on JavaScript/TypeScript and AWS.
• Strong hands-on experience with Node.js and building scalable applications.

Responsibilities

• Develop robust application logic using scalable design patterns with Node.js.
• Collaborate with teams to deliver high-quality software and support production.

Skills

JavaScript

TypeScript

Node.js

AWS

Infrastructure as Code (IaC)

React

Python

Tools

DynamoDB

S3

CloudFormation

Lambda

SNS

SQS

Job description

Backend Engineer

Coll ege Board – Technology

Location: This is a fully remote role. Candidates who live near CB offices have the option of being fully remote or hybrid (Tuesday and Wednesday in office) .

Type: This is a full-time position working co re EST hours.

About the Team

The Cross-Program Microservices team plays a critical role in reimagining how student data is managed, secured, and leveraged across our org anization . Our 20+ person engineering team are structured into three cross-functional groups focusing on different projects. We are leading the charge in transforming College Board’s backend systems to be more privacy-forward, modular, and resilient . Our team is essential to the organization’s most visible and impactful work, ensuring that student data is responsibly managed and securely shared across K–12 and higher education ecosystems. Whether you’re supporting new feature development or helping modernize legacy systems, you’ll be building tools and platforms that help power the flow of student educational data from registration to score release in a secure, efficient way .

About the Opportunity

As a Backend Engineer , you will be a key contributor in modernizing how we manage and protect student data. You will work closely with your team along with Product DevOps, Network Engineering, Security, and Infrastructure teams to design, build and manage robust in frastructure solutions in AWS at scale. You are a rising technologist who enjoys solving complex backend challenges and working in a fast-paced, agile environment with real-world impact. Through your growing knowledge and expertise , you wi ll apply your skillset to develop next generation solutions while working with experienced architects and developers in an environment that values independence, ownership, and accountability .

In this role, you will:

Develop and Implement ( 8 0%)

• Develop robust, well-architected application logic using scalable design patterns with Node.js and modern JavaScript/TypeScript frameworks , supported by senior team members.

• Use features of Amazon Web Services (AWS) to build and scale a “serverless” infrastructure that is purpose-built, efficient, and cost-effective for the application needs.

• Apply infrastructure-as-code principles to automate deployment and scale services efficiently

• Occasionally support frontend development using React JS for efficient responsive user interfaces

Support and Troubleshooting ( 20%)

• Own the resolution of bugs and issues in production, including participation in release cycles

• Collaborate with engineers, analysts, and team leads to deliver resilient, high-quality software

• Participate in application hardening efforts and ensure systems are well-documented and secure

About you, you have

• 2-3 years of professional software development experience with the College Board ’s technology stack at least with:

• Strong hands-on experience in JavaScript/TypeScript, Node.js, and AWS (DynamoDB, S3, CloudFormation , Lambda, SNS, SQS )

• Strong knowledge preferably hands-on experience in master data management (databases, data modeling, data structures) and some IaC

• Python, React, AppSync, EventBridge , performance testing, and security knowledge are nice to haves

• Strong focus on quality demonstrated by thoroughly testing code and using automation

• Ability and enthusiasm to learn new technologies as required , are a good communicator with practical decision-making skills, and a believer in good comments and documentation

• Experience in hands-on development of software applications for the w eb in a professional environment

• Ab ility to travel 2-3 times a year

• Ability to work on-call/after hours as needed to support critical operations and production releases

• Authorization to work in the United States

In addition, you are:

• Communicative, approachable, and collaborative

• Willing to learn, comfortable with failure, and self-driven

• User and mission oriented

• Generous in service of students, colleagues, and partners

About Our Process

• Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled

• While the hiring process may vary, it generally includes resume and application submission, recruiter phone/video screen, hiring manager interview, performance exercise such as live coding or whiteboarding sessions , a panel interview, a conversation with leadership and reference checks .

About Our Benefits and Compensation

College Board offers a competitive benefits and compensation program that attracts top talent looking to make a difference in education. As a self-sustaining non-profit, we believe in compensating employees equitably in relation to each other, their qualifications, their impact, and the relevant market.

The hiring range for a new employee in this position is $ 114 ,000 to $ 1 23 ,000 .

College Board differentiates salaries by location so where you live will narrow the portion of this range in which you can expect a salary . Your salary will be carefully determined based on your location, relevant experience, the external labor market, and the pay of College Board employees in similar roles. College Board strives to provide our best offer up front based on this criteria .

Your salary is only one part of all that College Board offers, including but not limited to:

• A comprehensive package designed to support the well-being of employees and their families and promote education. Our robust benefits package includes health, dental, and vision insurance, generous paid time off, paid parental leave, fertility benefits, pet insurance, tuition assistance , retirement benefits, and more

• Recognition of exceptional performance through annual bonuses, salary growth over time through market increases, and opportunities for merit raises and promotions based on increased scope of responsibility

• A job that matters, a team that cares, and a place to learn, innovate and thrive

You can expect to have transparent conversations about benefits and compensation with our recruiters throughout your application process.

About Our Culture:

• We are motivated to positively impact the educational and career trajectories of millions of students a year.

• We prioritize building a diverse and inclusive team where every employee can thrive, and every voice is heard.

• We value learning and growth; we offer formal and informal ways to lead through your superpowers, sharpen your strengths, and meet your development goals.

• Our high-performing engineers work with the latest technologies, so you will be constantly learning and sharpening your skills, enabling you to be industry-forward instead of left behind technologically.

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