Backend Software Engineer (Golang)

Wheel the World; United States; Hybrid; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Airspace Link seeks a senior software engineer to lead API and data components in a distributed agile team. You will own features, design scalable systems, and work with product managers and designers to deliver value.

The role emphasizes ownership, performance, and shaping architecture for high-throughput SaaS applications, with mentorship opportunities and broad cross-team collaboration.

Qualifications

• BS in CS or equivalent years of experience.
• 3+ years developing gRPC and RESTful APIs with Golang.
• 5+ years of professional software engineering for production SaaS.
• Affinity for code and performance optimisations.
• Familiarity with cloud services (Azure or AWS).
• Experience guiding junior engineers.
• Familiarity with OAuth2/JWT and modern AuthN/AuthZ.
• SQL fluency and strong teamwork skills.
• Willingness to learn in a greenfield industry; pilot license a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead and drive innovation initiatives across the full lifecycle.
• Provide strategic and technical leadership for major software components.
• Architect and build high‑performance, distributed systems with scalability.
• Own complex features from spec to deployment and monitoring.
• Collaborate with product managers, designers and engineering leaders.
• Promote knowledge sharing and continuous learning within the team.
• Drive key technical decisions balancing trade‑offs and long‑term goals.
• Introduce new tools, frameworks and design patterns for improvement.
• Ensure adherence to secure development practices and processes.
• Contribute to planning and adapt to changing business priorities.

Skills

Golang

gRPC/REST APIs

Performance optimization

SQL

OAuth2/JWT

Mentorship

Teamwork

Greenfield mindset

Pilot license (Part 107) a plus

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or equivalent

Tools

Azure cloud services

AWS cloud services

Job description

About Airspace Link

Airspace Link is a fast‑growing Series B startup shaping the future of drone operations. We provide innovative software solutions that enable safe, scalable, and integrated drone flights in communities nationwide. As an FAA‑approved provider of LAANC airspace checks and B4UFLY safety checks, we serve as the air traffic control system for drones, supporting cities, states, and federal agencies while enabling private industry to thrive in the emerging drone economy.

Job Summary

In a highly collaborative distributed agile team environment, you would be involved in all stages of the design and implementation of API and data components for Airspace Link’s applications.

Engineers work across one of our small teams. Our main product‑focused engineering teams are focused on Infrastructure, integrations & automations, UTM & flight operations, organization readiness, and airspace awareness. We give people an opportunity to move across teams, but typically hire for gaps on one or more of our teams as an initial assignment.

We work in two‑week iterations and give everyone on the team the opportunity to suggest what they want to build to have the biggest impact on our customers. Engineers are given real ownership of what they focus on, and are responsible for tests, user feedback, and supporting value tracking.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead and drive innovation initiatives across the full lifecycle— from research and ideation through incubation, scaling, and production—while inspiring team members to contribute and think creatively.
• Provide strategic and technical leadership for the design and development of major software components, systems, and features, ensuring alignment with broader business goals.
• Architect and build high‑performance, distributed systems that enhance data and analytics capabilities, ensuring scalability, high throughput, and low latency.
• Take full ownership of complex features from initial specification through to deployment, monitoring, and iteration, using project management tools to track and communicate progress.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with product managers, designers, and other engineering leaders to deliver scalable, user‑focused software solutions.
• Champion knowledge sharing and continuous learning, facilitating technical onboarding, peer learning sessions, and growth opportunities for team members.
• Drive and arbitrate key technical decisions using a principled and inclusive approach, balancing trade‑offs while maintaining focus on long‑term architecture and business goals.
• Promote and exemplify a culture of technical excellence, identifying and introducing new tools, frameworks, and design patterns that drive continuous platform improvement.
• Model adherence to internal processes for work item tracking, testing, and deployment, encouraging consistent and reliable delivery practices across the team.
• Ensure adherence to security best practices, maintaining a secure development lifecycle and actively mitigating risks in your area of influence.
• Contribute to team and organizational planning, and be adaptable to take on new responsibilities as business priorities evolve.

Position Type: Full‑Time, 40 hours per week

Status: Exempt

Location: Hybrid or Remote

Requirements

• B.S. in Computer Science or equivalent years to relevant experience or education
• 3+ years of experience developing gRPC and RESTful APIs with Golang
• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience working on production SaaS applications or APIs
• An affinity for code and performance optimizations, including algorithm/data design and usage
• Familiarity with Azure or AWS cloud services
• Experience implementing production standard best practices
• Experience providing technical guidance and mentorship to junior engineers within the team
• Familiarity with modern AuthZ and AuthN standards (OAuth2, JWT, etc.)
• SQL fluency
• Great teamwork skills
• An eagerness to learn and adapt to the needs of a greenfield industry
• Part 107 or another pilot’s license a plus