Backend Software Engineer

re-zoo-me; San Francisco, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Outset is hiring a Backend Engineer to design, develop, and optimize scalable backend services and APIs in Python/Django. You will help refine our real-time interview technology and in-house AI infrastructure, collaborating closely with the CTO and CEO on strategic technical directions.

The role emphasizes production-grade systems, PostgreSQL data stores, and AWS deployment, with opportunities to lead projects from conception to deployment and interact with users to drive product improvements.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of software engineering building production-grade backend systems.
• Strong proficiency in Python and Django with robust API experience.
• Extensive knowledge of SQL databases (PostgreSQL preferred).
• Experience deploying and managing services on AWS.
• Bonus: familiarity with WebRTC, real-time data streaming, or AI/ML infrastructure.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with CTO and CEO on strategic technical decisions and product direction.
• Design, develop, and optimize backend services, APIs, and real-time data processing infrastructure.
• Implement and refine in-house LLM and real-time interview technology.
• Lead projects from conception through production deployment, ensuring scalability and reliability.
• Interface with users to gather feedback and continuously improve the core product.

Skills

Backend development

Python

Django

APIs

PostgreSQL

AWS

Real-time data

WebRTC (bonus)

Job description

Outset invented a better way to do research: AI-powered user interviews.

Global brands like Hubspot, Microsoft, Uber and Nestle use Outset to achieve deeper, qualitative insights about their users at unprecedented speed and scale.

The research industry is massive (>$140B and growing) and ripe for disruption. Incumbents are outdated, slow, and burdened by high-cost services. That's our opportunity.

Outset is backed by top Silicon Valley investors and raised a $30M Series B in December 2025—less than six months after our Series A—led by Radical Ventures with participation from M12 (Microsoft’s venture arm), 8VC, Y Combinator, and Adverb Ventures.

The raise follows a breakout year, with our business growing 8x as enterprise customers across industries adopt our category, AI‑moderated research, as the new standard for understanding people.

We’re a tight-knit team serving some of the world’s largest enterprises.

What you will do:

• Collaborate closely with the CTO and CEO on strategic technical decisions and product direction.
• Design, develop, and optimize backend services, APIs, and real-time data processing infrastructure.
• Implement and refine our in-house Large Language Model and real-time interview technology.
• Lead projects from initial conception through production deployment, ensuring scalability and reliability.
• Interface directly with users to gather feedback, understand pain points, and continuously improve our core product.

The ideal candidate will have:

• 3+ years of software engineering experience building production‑grade backend systems.
• Strong proficiency with Python and Django, including experience building robust APIs.
• Extensive knowledge of SQL databases (Postgres preferred).
• Experience deploying and managing services on AWS.
• Bonus points for familiarity with WebRTC, real‑time data streaming, or AI/ML infrastructure.

Compensation Range: $160K - $300K