Senior Software Engineer (Backend, Core)

Whoop; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

WHOOP seeks a Senior Software Engineer on the Core team to build the foundations powering the WHOOP App and member experiences related to fitness, sleep, strain, recovery, and integrations. You will partner with engineers, product, design, data science, and performance science to deliver polished, scalable backend systems.

You will lead design efforts, drive technical planning, and establish engineering standards while mentoring teammates to grow capabilities and maintain high-quality software

Qualifications

• Lead the design and implementation of foundational backend capabilities to improve scalability and reliability.
• Drive technical planning for complex initiatives by defining scope, sequencing work, identifying risks, and communicating tradeoffs.
• Deliver high-impact platform capabilities while balancing technical quality with business priorities.
• Establish and evolve backend engineering standards through architecture discussions, reviews, docs, and leadership.
• Mentor engineers and help grow the team's technical capabilities through coaching and knowledge sharing.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of foundational backend capabilities that improve scalability, reliability, and developer productivity.
• Drive technical planning for complex initiatives by defining scope, sequencing work, identifying risks, and communicating technical tradeoffs.
• Deliver high-impact platform capabilities while balancing technical quality, business priorities, and data-informed engineering decisions.
• Establish and evolve backend engineering standards through architecture discussions, code reviews, documentation, and technical leadership.
• Mentor engineers and help grow the team's technical capabilities through coaching, feedback, and knowledge sharing.

Skills

Backend development

Java

API design

Distributed systems

PostgreSQL

Cloud-native architectures

Event-driven architectures

Engineering leadership

Mentoring engineers

Code reviews & documentation

Tools

Kafka

SQS

PostgreSQL

Job description

At WHOOP, we’re on a mission to unlock human performance and healthspan. WHOOP empowers members to perform at a higher level through a deeper understanding of their bodies and daily lives. Our wearable technology monitors vital physiological metrics to offer personalized insights that enhance fitness, health, sleep, and recovery.

As a Senior Software Engineer on the Core team, you will build the foundations that power the WHOOP App and develop features that empower members to optimize performance and longevity. You will play a critical role in building and scaling the foundational systems that power the WHOOP member experience for fitness, sleep, strain, recovery, and integrations. You will partner closely with other engineers, product management, design, data science, and performance science to shape and build the polished member-facing experiences for these features.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of foundational backend capabilities that improve scalability, reliability, and developer productivity.
• Drive technical planning for complex initiatives by defining scope, sequencing work, identifying risks, and communicating technical tradeoffs.
• Deliver high-impact platform capabilities while balancing technical quality, business priorities, and data-informed engineering decisions.
• Establish and evolve backend engineering standards through architecture discussions, code reviews, documentation, and technical leadership.
• Mentor engineers and help grow the team's technical capabilities through coaching, feedback, and knowledge sharing.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to lead complex technical initiatives, influence engineering direction, and mentor other engineers.
• Deep expertise in backend development, including Java, API design, distributed systems, and relational databases such as Postgres.
• Experience designing scalable, reliable, and observable systems using cloud-native and event-driven architectures such as Kafka or SQS.
• Strong engineering judgment with experience balancing technical quality, business priorities, and long-term maintainability.
• Experience writing well-tested, maintainable software and establishing engineering best practices through technical leadership.
• Excellent collaboration and communication skills with technical and non-technical partners.
• Enthusiasm in leveraging AI tools while maintaining high standards for quality and engineering excellence.
• Bonus: Experience building shared platform capabilities or contributing across mobile and backend

Learn more about our Software Org and how to be successful in your engineering career at WHOOP via our Career Framework.

This role is based in the WHOOP office located in Boston, MA. The successful candidate must be prepared to relocate if necessary to work out of the Boston, MA office.

WHOOP is an Equal Opportunity Employer and participates in E-verify to determine employment eligibility. It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.