Backend Lead (Python/GIS)

Join; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Real ownership of the technical core

Work that matters: Pathfinder fuels能源转

Flexible CET hours 10:00–15:00, hybrid

Senior, international team

AI-forward engineering culture

Job summary

Gilytics, a Swiss geospatial SaaS company, is hiring a Backend Lead to own Pathfinder's server-side engine. You will work on geoprocessing, spatial data APIs and backend services, reporting to the CTO and collaborating with Frontend, DevOps and GIS Data teams.

This is a hands-on senior role focused on ownership, architecture and delivering scalable backend solutions, with opportunities to mentor the team and drive AI-enabled development.

Qualifications

• 5+ years backend software development experience.
• Strong Python with GIS libraries GEOS, GDAL/OGR, Shapely or GeoPandas.
• Experience with PostgreSQL/PostGIS geospatial apps.
• Design and maintain REST APIs and scalable backend services.
• Technical leadership in coordinating developers, reviewing code and mentoring.
• Professional working English.
• CS/SE or GIS degree or equivalent experience.
• Familiar with Git, testing and CI/CD.

Responsibilities

• Architect and build the backend data model, REST APIs and services behind Pathfinder.
• Develop, optimise and maintain geoprocesses and spatial data functions.
• Set backend priorities with the CTO and run agile delivery for the team.
• Lead code reviews and set standards for testing, documentation and security.
• Mentor and grow backend developers.
• Integrate AI into the backend (model endpoints, MCP servers, AI agents).
• Contribute to product roadmap planning and technical estimation.

Skills

Python backend

Geospatial GIS

REST API design

Technical leadership

CI/CD

English communication

Education

CS/SE degree or GIS

GIS/GEO degree

Equivalent experience

Tools

GEOS

GDAL/OGR

Shapely

GeoPandas

PostgreSQL

PostGIS

Git

CI/CD tooling

Job description

About Gilytics

Gilytics is a Swiss geospatial SaaS company. Our platform, Pathfinder, helps utilities, grid operators and infrastructure planners find the best routes and sites for new infrastructure, turning months of manual planning into a data-driven, transparent process. We are a remote-first team of about 26 people across Europe and the Americas.

The role

We are looking for a Backend Lead to own the server-side engine behind Pathfinder: the geoprocessing, spatial data APIs and backend services our customers rely on. This is a hands-on senior role. Depth of knowledge and an ownership-driven, collaborative attitude matter more to us than years in a management title.

You will report to our CTO, Salvador Bayarri, and work closely with the Frontend, DevOps and GIS Data teams.

Tasks

What you will do

• Architect and build the backend data model, REST APIs and services behind Pathfinder
• Develop, optimise and maintain geoprocesses and spatial data functions
• Set backend priorities with the CTO and run agile delivery for the team
• Lead code reviews and set the standards for testing, documentation and security
• Mentor and grow backend developers
• Integrate AI into the backend (model endpoints, MCP servers, AI agents) and champion AI-assisted development across the team
• Contribute to product roadmap planning and technical estimation

Requirements

What you bring

• 5+ years of professional software development, primarily backend
• Strong Python, including GIS libraries such as GEOS, GDAL/OGR, Shapely or GeoPandas
• Hands-on experience building geospatial applications with PostgreSQL/PostGIS
• A track record of designing and maintaining REST APIs and scalable backend services
• Technical leadership experience: coordinating developers, reviewing code and mentoring, whether or not you held a formal management title
• Good knowledge of Git, automated testing and CI/CD
• Professional working English
• A degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, GIS/Geoinformatics or similar, or equivalent professional experience

Nice to have

• Django / Django REST Framework
• Geoprocessing pipelines at scale and large spatial datasets
• AWS, Docker, Linux
• Scrum or other agile delivery experience
• Some proven experience applying AI or GeoAI in a product

Benefits

What we offer

• Real ownership of the technical core of a product used by major utilities and grid operators
• Work that matters: Pathfinder helps speed up the infrastructure behind the energy transition
• Flexible hours around CET core time (10:00–15:00), and a choice of hybrid in Valencia or fully remote in Europe
• A small, senior, international team where your decisions ship
• An AI-forward engineering culture, with tooling and time to use it