Senior Software Engineer, Backend

Forage; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision coverage

Team lunches

Equity compensation

Job summary

Forage is hiring a backend engineer to build resilient, scalable systems that power access to groceries and benefits. You will work with product leaders to translate requirements into robust software, with a focus on Python, Django, and AWS, while mentoring teammates and owning critical components.

Hybrid role in New York or San Francisco, with optional remote within North America on a case-by-case basis. Expect to contribute to high-availability systems and collaborate across cross-functional

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of backend experience.
• Strong understanding of cloud platforms, ideally AWS.
• Proficient in Python and Django.
• Strong problem-solving and independent working skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with product leaders to implement company objectives.
• Contribute to innovation related to quality and scalability of the team’s work.
• Provide mentorship and guidance on engineering best practices.
• Serve on the on-call rotation to support high availability goals.

Skills

Python

Django

AWS

Backend engineering

Communications

Leadership

On-call

Education

BS in Computer Science or Engineering

Job description

About Us

Forage’s mission is to expand financial access for low-income families.

About Us

Forage’s mission is to expand financial access for low-income families.

According to recent studies, the cost of groceries is the number-one financial stressor in America—even more stressful than housing, healthcare, and childcare. At Forage, we believe that it doesn’t have to be that way, and our mission is to help people put food on the table.

Our technology makes it easy for retailers like Albertsons and Dollar General to accept benefits like SNAP and WIC. Our free consumer app helps cost-conscious shoppers check their EBT balances, find savings, and earn rewards on everyday purchases. And we’re just getting started: we’re building new products every day that will help low-income families save on groceries and improve their financial health.

Our Impact So Far

• Forage’s payments technology is used at over 100,000+ stores in all 50 states
• We’ve helped deliver tens of millions of grocery orders to low-income families
• Over the last year, we’ve grown payments volume by more than 13x
• Since its launch in 2025, the Forage App has been downloaded over 300,000 times
• We recently raised our $40M Series B, bringing our total funding to over $75M

Watch our story and see why we do what we do.

You could work anywhere, so why Forage?

• Build tech that matters. Play a direct role in putting food on the tables of millions of families, and help make grocery access more equitable through better payments infrastructure.
• Join a rocket ship with purpose. We’ve grown revenue 100x in two years, with the capital, traction, and runway to keep going, all while staying mission-first.
• Work with exceptional people. Collaborate daily with ‘Foragers’ from companies like Stripe, Instacart, Google, affirm, Uber, and beyond. A tight-knit team with deep experience and low ego.
• Disrupt a massive market. Help modernize a $100B+ system and shape the future of inclusive commerce as we scale toward a $1B+ business.
• Accelerate your career. Thrive in a talent-dense environment backed by top investors in fintech (like Nyca, PayPal Ventures, and more), where ownership and growth are the norm.

What We Are Looking For

We're seeking a backend engineer who thrives on building resilient, scalable systems and maintaining high technical standards. The ideal candidate has 5+ years of hands‑on experience with scripting languages like Python and web frameworks like Django. You understand how to balance technical trade‑offs while accomplishing functional requirements.

Beyond coding, we value engineers with strong communication and an ownership mindset. You should have experience leading medium‑scale projects and a track record of breaking down complex requirements into clear technical specifications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent industry experience
• 5+ years of experience in backend roles
• Strong understanding of cloud platforms (ideally AWS) and their services.
• Proficient in scripting and automation using languages, ideally Python
• Experience with web frameworks like Django
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work independently and in a team
• Excellent communication skills to collaborate with development teams and advocate for infrastructure needs
• Experience leading medium‑scale projects involving another engineer
• Experience collaborating with cross‑functional partners like product managers and solutions engineering

Key Responsibilities

• Collaborate with product leaders to implement company objectives
• Contribute to innovation related to the team’s mission of quality and scalability
• Provide mentorship and guidance to team members on engineering best practices
• Serve on the on‑call rotation to support high availability goals

Our Offer

This role is Hybrid in New York or San Francisco, we will consider remote within North America on a case‑by‑case basis. We define hybrid as 2-3 days in office.

Your base salary would fall within the bands below. Please keep in mind that the equity portion of your offer is not included in these numbers and represents a significant part of your total compensation.

• Expected salary range: $185k-$220k USD base salary, plus equity and benefits. Depending on experience.
• Meaningful work that makes a positive impact on our society.
• 100% of Medical, Dental and Vision premium coverage for yourself and dependents.
• Enjoy regular team lunches at our New York or San Francisco offices, fostering collaboration and connection over great food.
• A fun and caring environment that prioritizes transparency, growth, and ownership.
• A talented, high‑achieving, and humble team with diverse backgrounds and viewpoints.

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries at our headquarters in San Francisco, California. Individual pay is determined by work location, job‑related skills, experience, and relevant education or training.

We aim to review every application within 4 business days of submission and provide feedback on each of your interviews within 2 business days of completion.

Integrity & Fairness:

To maintain a fair and equitable hiring process for all candidates, we require that interviews and exercises be completed without the use of AI‑powered tools. We assess candidates based on their direct experience, judgment, and communication.

Please note:

We are not engaging with third‑party recruiters or agencies for this role. We kindly ask that you refrain from contacting us regarding recruitment services. Fees will not be paid for unsolicited resumes sent to Forage.

Please note:

Forage is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants must have work authorization that does not require visa sponsorship now or in the future.

E-Verify Notice:

Forage participates in E-Verify to confirm employment eligibility for all newly hired employees. Learn more by reviewing the E-Verify Participation Poster.