Senior Backend Software Engineer - Kalepa for Operations

Jobgether; Oregon; Hybrid; USD 192,000 - 246,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity options

Paid time off

Health insurance

401(k) plan

Remote-first environment

Gym stipend

Education credits

Job summary

Kalepa is seeking a Senior Backend Software Engineer for Operations in the United States. You will lead backend systems design using Python and AWS, build scalable services, and own data models and API integrations across customer workflows.

This role emphasizes LLM-powered document processing, production incident response, and collaboration with cross-functional teams to improve architecture and tooling while mentoring peers.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience building backend systems in production.
• Strong proficiency in Python and AWS.
• Experience with relational databases and PostgreSQL.
• Experience designing external-facing APIs and integrations.
• OSS, testing, and production incident handling.

Responsibilities

• Lead scoping, architecture, and delivery of backend systems using Python and AWS.
• Build and optimize LLM-powered systems processing large volumes of unstructured data.
• Design, develop, and maintain external-facing APIs and third-party integrations.
• Own database architecture, queries, and data scalability; optimize performance.
• Contribute to architectural decisions across the product ecosystem.
• Mentor engineers through code reviews and knowledge sharing.
• Provide accurate project estimates and manage delivery timelines.
• Lead incident management and production issue resolution.

Skills

Python

AWS

Serverless

Asynchronous processing

APIs

PostgreSQL

System design

Code reviews

Debugging

AI evaluation frameworks

Tools

Lambda

Step Functions

Job description

Our partner is looking for a Senior Backend Software Engineer – Kalepa for Operations based in the United States.

Accountabilities

• Lead the scoping, architecture, design, and delivery of complex backend systems using Python and AWS, including scalable services, data models, and asynchronous processing pipelines.
• Build, deploy, and optimize LLM-powered systems capable of processing large volumes of unstructured documents and data while maintaining high standards of precision, reliability, and explainability.
• Design, develop, and maintain external-facing APIs and integrations with third‑party platforms that support critical customer workflows.
• Own database architecture, query performance, and data scalability, proactively identifying optimization opportunities and managing technical debt.
• Contribute to architectural discussions and technical decisions across the broader product ecosystem, helping establish scalable and maintainable engineering solutions.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional engineering teams to refine requirements, prioritize initiatives, and continuously improve development processes.
• Provide accurate project estimates, manage delivery timelines, and support other engineers in planning and estimating technical work.
• Take a leading role in incident management, debugging, and production issue resolution, serving as a technical resource for complex engineering challenges.
• Establish and promote best practices across software development, testing, deployment, and production operations.
• Mentor and support other engineers through code reviews, technical pairing, architectural feedback, and knowledge sharing.
• Leverage AI‑powered development tools thoughtfully to improve engineering productivity, code quality, and overall delivery efficiency.
• Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of evaluation frameworks that measure and optimize the accuracy and performance of AI‑driven operational workflows.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of professional software engineering experience building, deploying, and maintaining backend systems in production environments.
• Strong proficiency in Python, the primary technology within the engineering stack, although candidates with substantial experience in other object-oriented programming languages will also be considered.
• Hands‑on experience with AWS, serverless technologies such as Lambda and Step Functions, asynchronous workflows, and cloud‑based infrastructure.
• Strong knowledge of relational databases, including database design, query optimization, and performance tuning, ideally with PostgreSQL.
• Excellent understanding of software engineering fundamentals, including system design, debugging, testing methodologies, and structured problem‑solving.
• Demonstrated experience designing and developing external‑facing APIs and integrating third‑party systems.
• Proven ability to take full ownership of complex technical projects and deliver results independently with minimal supervision.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to proactively identify blockers, ask relevant questions, communicate progress, and keep stakeholders informed.
• An experimental and iterative mindset, with the ability to test new approaches, evaluate results, and solve technically challenging problems in ambiguous environments.
• High standards of engineering quality, accountability, and attention to detail, combined with a genuine interest in tackling complex problems.
• Additional assets:Previous experience building, deploying, and operating large‑scale LLM‑powered applications in production.
• Familiarity with document‑processing pipelines and systems handling large volumes of unstructured data.
• Experience designing and maintaining distributed systems.
• Background in insurance, fintech, or other data‑intensive and regulated industries.
• Experience developing AI evaluation frameworks and optimizing the accuracy, reliability, and performance of intelligent systems.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary based on experience and geographical location:Zone 1:
• $213,000–$246,000 USD for candidates based in New York and San Francisco.
• Zone 2:
• $192,000–$246,000 USD for candidates in other locations across the United States and Canada.
• Significant equity options package, offering the opportunity to participate in the company’s growth.
• 20 days of paid time off annually.
• 100% employer‑covered medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees and their families (US employees).
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer contributions, regardless of employee contribution (US employees).
• Healthy living and gym membership stipend.
• Mobile phone bill stipend.
• Continuing education credits and opportunities for professional development.
• International team offsites and opportunities to connect with colleagues globally.
• Remote‑first working environment, with team members based across the United States, Canada, and Europe.
• Opportunities to work on advanced AI technologies and strategically important engineering infrastructure.
• High levels of technical ownership, autonomy, and opportunities to influence product and architectural decisions.