Senior Backend Engineer – AI HealthTech Platform

Kismet Search; California; On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Performance bonus

RSUs with a publicly traded company

100% employer-paid medical, dental &  

vision for employees and dependents

Job summary

Unknown company in San Diego is seeking a Senior Backend Software Engineer to design and evolve backend systems and data infrastructure for a healthtech platform. You will own scalable services, APIs, and data models while collaborating with product, clinical experts, and other engineers.

The role emphasizes architecture, performance, and reliability in data-heavy applications with a backend-first approach. Healthcare experience is a plus, and the team operates in a cloud-first environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of software engineering experience with a strong backend focus.
• Proven experience building production-grade backend services, APIs, and data-intensive applications.
• Strong experience with Java and/or Kotlin, preferably Spring Boot.
• Deep PostgreSQL expertise, including schema design, query optimization, indexing, and performance tuning.
• Strong GraphQL experience, including schema design and API architecture.
• Experience building cloud-first applications on AWS, GCP, or Azure.
• Strong understanding of software architecture, design patterns, data structures, and engineering fundamentals.
• Experience with CI/CD and modern DevOps practices.
• Education: BS in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience.
• Preferred: Prisma, JPA, database migration frameworks, healthcare/medical device software, medical imaging, AI/data platforms, or other complex environments.
• Healthcare experience is a plus; data, scale, performance, reliability, and complex workflows are of interest.

Responsibilities

• Design and build scalable backend services and APIs using Node.js, GraphQL, and Java/Kotlin with Spring Boot.
• Design and optimize data models and PostgreSQL databases, including schema design, complex queries, indexing, migrations, and performance.
• Build systems that handle complex clinical and operational data with high standards for accuracy, reliability, and performance.
• Design GraphQL schemas and APIs for scalability, maintainability, and performance.
• Participate in architecture, technical design, and code reviews and help shape engineering standards.
• Troubleshoot complex production issues and drive problems to root cause.
• Collaborate with product and engineering teams to translate complex requirements into effective technical solutions.
• Mentor engineers and contribute to a strong engineering culture.

Skills

Backend development

GraphQL

PostgreSQL

Java/Kotlin

Spring Boot

Cloud platforms (AWS/GCP/Azure)

CI/CD

Data modeling

API design

System architecture

Education

BS in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Spring Boot

PostgreSQL

GraphQL

AWS/GCP/Azure

Job description

Our San Diego-based client is a publicly traded HealthTech company using AI, advanced imaging, data science, and cloud software to transform how complex spine procedures are planned and delivered. Its personalized surgery platform combines sophisticated clinical data, imaging, planning, automation, and manufacturing to improve patient outcomes.

We’re looking for a Senior Backend Software Engineer to build and evolve the backend systems and data infrastructure powering this platform.

This is a backend-first, data-intensive role for an engineer who enjoys complex problems involving data models, APIs, system architecture, database performance, scalability, and reliability. You’ll have meaningful ownership and the opportunity to influence technical direction while working alongside experienced engineers, product leaders, and clinical experts.

What You’ll Do:

• Design and build scalable backend services and APIs using Node.js, GraphQL, and Java/Kotlin with Spring Boot
• Design and optimize data models and PostgreSQL databases, including schema design, complex queries, indexing, migrations, and performance
• Build systems that handle complex clinical and operational data with high standards for accuracy, reliability, and performance
• Design GraphQL schemas and APIs for scalability, maintainability, and performance
• Participate in architecture, technical design, and code reviews and help shape engineering standards
• Troubleshoot complex production issues and drive problems to root cause
• Collaborate with product and engineering teams to translate complex requirements into effective technical solutions
• Mentor engineers and contribute to a strong engineering culture

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 7+ years of software engineering experience with a strong backend focus
• Proven experience building production-grade backend services, APIs, and data-intensive applications
• Strong experience with Java and/or Kotlin, preferably Spring Boot
• Deep PostgreSQL expertise, including schema design, query optimization, indexing, and performance tuning
• Strong GraphQL experience, including schema design and API architecture
• Experience building cloud-first applications on AWS, GCP, or Azure
• Strong understanding of software architecture, design patterns, data structures, and engineering fundamentals
• Experience with CI/CD and modern DevOps practices
• Excellent debugging, problem-solving, and communication skills
• EDUCATION: BS in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent experience
• Preferred: Prisma, JPA, database migration frameworks, healthcare/medical device software, medical imaging, computer vision, CAD/3D software, manufacturing technology, AI/data platforms, or other complex or highly regulated environments.
• Healthcare experience is a plus, not a requirement. We’re especially interested in engineers who have solved difficult problems involving data, scale, performance, reliability, and complex workflows.

Why This Role:

You’ll be building technology at the intersection of AI, medical imaging, clinical workflows, and advanced manufacturing. The work is technically challenging, highly visible, and directly connected to clinical decision-making and patient care.

This is an opportunity to own meaningful backend systems, influence architecture, and solve genuinely complex engineering problems rather than simply implement tickets.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS OVERVIEW:

• Performance bonus
• RSUs with a publicly traded company
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental & vision for employees and dependents