Senior Backend Cloud Engineer

Halcyon; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

401k

Disability insurance

FSA

Flexible PTO

Parental leave

Equity

Job summary

Halcyon is seeking a Senior Backend Engineer for our cloud team. You will lead the development of the data platform and API services, focusing on Rust and Scala, with Python support for security analysis workflows.

Join a remote-first, distributed team building an adaptive ransomware prevention platform. Responsibilities include designing scalable systems, migrating APIs to Rust, and upholding code quality and reliability across production services.

Qualifications

• 5+ years backend engineering experience with JVM stack.
• Track record designing and owning distributed systems.
• Experience with Rust or guiding a Rust migration.
• Strong APIs, Kafka, and data stores (PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, OpenSearch).
• Experience building cloud-native services, preferably AWS.
• Kubernetes and containers knowledge.
• Comfortable in a remote-first, asynchronous team.

Responsibilities

• Lead design and delivery of data platform features and public API services.
• Drive system design and data flow decisions with product and platform teams.
• Build and own Scala-based backend services in production for reliability and security.
• Migrate APIs from Scala to Rust while maintaining continuity.
• Set code quality, docs, and operational standards.
• Lead design reviews, code reviews and participate in on-call incidents.
• Support Python-based security analysis platform and ML workflows.

Skills

Backend engineering

JVM stack

Distributed systems

Rust language

APIs

Kafka messaging

AWS cloud

Kubernetes

Remote teamwork

Scala familiarity

Databricks

Terraform/Helm

Observability tools

Python for security tools

ML workflows (MLflow)

Binary analysis tooling

Tools

PostgreSQL

DynamoDB

OpenSearch

AWS tooling

Job description

What we do

Halcyon is the industry’s first dedicated, adaptive security platform that combines multiple proprietary advanced prevention engines along with AI models focused specifically on stopping ransomware.

Who we are

Halcyon was formed in 2021 by a team of cyber industry veterans after battling the scourge of ransomware (and advanced threats) for years at some of the largest global security vendors. Comprised of leaders from Cylance (now Blackberry), Accuvant (now Optiv), Fireye and ISS X-Force (now IBM), Halcyon is focused on building products and solutions for mid-market and enterprise customers.

As a remote-native, completely distributed global team, we recognize great talent can exist anywhere. We invite you to apply to a job you’re interested in and we'll work a plan to meet your needs.

The Role

At Halcyon, we’re building a world-class anti-ransomware platform grounded in innovation and resilience. As part of that vision, we’re looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to join our cloud team. You’ll lead the development and evolution of our data platform and API services, working within a modern tech stack that blends Scala and Rust.

You’ll join a team focused on building scalable, maintainable backend systems that serve both internal and customer-facing functions. Your primary focus will be on Rust and Scala services, with opportunities to shape our transition to Rust where it makes sense. Python development experience is highly valued, particularly for supporting our security analysis platform which includes malware analysis engines, automated threat detection, and machine learning workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of features across our data platform and public API services, including ingestion, transformation, and enrichment of security data.
• Drive system design, architecture, and data flow decisions in partnership with product and platform engineering.
• Build, deploy, and own Scala-based backend services in production, keeping them reliable, secure, and performant.
• Help shape and execute our migration of selected APIs from Scala to Rust, ensuring consistency and continuity along the way.
• Set the bar for code quality, documentation, and operational excellence.
• Lead design reviews, code reviews and take part in on-call and incident response.
• Support and enhance our Python-based security analysis platform, including malware analysis engines, automated threat detection, and machine learning model workflows.

Skills and Qualifications

• 5+ years of backend engineering experience, with recent experience in a JVM-based codebase.
• A track record of designing and owning distributed systems from start to finish.
• Experience with Rust, or a well-formed view of when it’s the right tool, and the ability to help guide a migration.
• Strong understanding of APIs, messaging systems (Kafka), and modern data stores (Postgres, DynamoDB, OpenSearch).
• Experience building services in a cloud-native environment, preferably AWS.
• Working knowledge of containers and Kubernetes.
• Comfortable working in a remote-first, asynchronous team environment.

Bonus Skills and Qualifications

• Familiarity with functional programming patterns and idiomatic Scala.
• Experience with Databricks and ClickHouse (or similar lakehouse and analytical/OLAP data stores).
• Experience with Terraform, Helm, and GitHub Actions.
• Familiarity with observability tools (Prometheus, Grafana, CloudWatch).
• Prior work on security products, data pipelines, or high-availability systems.
• Python development experience, particularly with security analysis tools and malware detection frameworks (YARA, PE analysis, binary analysis).
• Familiarity with machine learning workflows, AutoML, and MLflow for model deployment and management.
• Experience with binary analysis libraries (LIEF, ssdeep, TLSH) and security tooling integration.

Halcyon offers the following benefits to eligible employees:

Comprehensive healthcare (medical, dental, and vision) with premiums paid in full for employees and dependents.

401k plan with a generous employer contribution.

Short and long-term disability coverage, basic life and AD&D insurance plans.

Medical and dependent care FSA options.

Flexible PTO policy.

Parental leave.

Generous equity offering.

The Company reserves the right to modify or change these benefits programs at any time, with or without notice.

Base Salary Range

$120,000 - $170,000

In accordance with applicable state and federal laws, the range provided is Halcyon’s reasonable estimate of the base compensation for this role. The actual amount may differ based on non-discriminatory factors such as experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, and location. Base pay is one part of the total package that is provided to compensate and recognize employees for their work, and this role may be eligible for additional discretionary bonuses/incentives, and equity in the Company.

We understand it takes a diverse team of highly intelligent, passionate, curious, and creative people to develop the exceptional product we are building. Our dynamic team has incredible perspectives to share, just as we know you do, and we take great pride in being an equal opportunity employer.

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey.Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiringprocess or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in aconfidential file.

As set forth in Halcyon’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy,we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection.As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measurethe effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categoriesis as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.