Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Database)

Nutrient; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Nutrient is seeking a backend engineer who designs database-first systems for Document Engine. You’ll write backend code that queries PostgreSQL efficiently, model data at scale, and decide when to optimize in code versus hardware as volumes grow.

You’ll work in a remote-first team building Elixir/Phoenix-based services, with AWS, Kubernetes, Terraform, and FluxCD in the stack. You’ll own architecture and tooling, collaborate to ship reliable features, and help the team move fast with

Qualifications

• Experience building backend services for high-scale apps.
• Deep PostgreSQL expertise, including data modeling and indexing.
• Ability to optimize queries and reduce N+1 issues.
• Experience with AWS and containerized deployments.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement high-performance Elixir/Phoenix-based systems.
• Design efficient schemas, lean queries, and smart indexing.
• Profile queries to remove bottlenecks and optimize access.
• Ensure performance for large document volumes in cloud or self-hosted PostgreSQL.
• Design and run zero-downtime migrations as data grows.
• Build AI-powered tools and workflows to speed up engineering.
• Own architecture, tooling, and services; collaborate with a small remote team.
• Meet in person periodically to align and reflect.

Skills

Backend services

Distributed systems

PostgreSQL experience

Data modeling

Query optimization

Indexing

Transactions

AWS

Kubernetes

Elixir knowledge

AI-native development

Clean architecture

Feedback culture

Tools

Terraform

Helm

FluxCD

GitOps

Job description

Your Role at Nutrient

We’re looking for a backend engineer who thinks about the database from the first line of code. Our customers run Document Engine with huge volumes of documents and annotations. At that scale, how the software uses the database decides whether the system flies or falls over.

You find satisfaction in writing backend code that asks the database for exactly what it needs and nothing more. You design data models that stay fast as volumes grow, and you know when a problem should be solved in the application rather than by adding hardware. When scaling is needed, you know how to do that too. You work in an AI-native way: you hand research and implementation work to agents, review their output critically, and build tooling that makes you and the team faster.

What You’ll Work On

• Execute on the design and implementation of high-performance Elixir/Phoenix-based systems such as Nutrient’s Document Engine and Document Web Services API
• Build features with efficient database usage at their core: well-designed schemas, lean queries, smart indexing, batching, and avoiding unnecessary round trips
• Find and remove database bottlenecks in existing code by profiling query patterns, reading query plans and reworking data access where it matters
• Make sure Document Engine performs well for customers with very large document and annotation volumes, whether in our managed cloud or in their self-hosted PostgreSQL setups
• Design and run safe, zero-downtime migrations as the product and its data grow
• Build systems and workflows that use AI to speed up our work, from agent-driven investigation of performance issues to automating repetitive engineering tasks
• Ownership for architecture, tools and services, contribute to product development and customer success
• Collaborate closely with a small, remote-first engineering team to ship features, debug hard problems, and continuously improve reliability
• Meet in person with the team periodically to align and reflect

What You’ll Bring

• Experience in backend services and distributed systems
• Deep, hands-on PostgreSQL experience in production: data modelling, query optimisation, indexing, transactions and concurrency
• A track record of making applications use the database efficiently, for example by fixing N+1 queries, redesigning access patterns or reducing load through better data design
• Experience with PostgreSQL at scale: large tables, partitioning, replication, migrations on live systems and troubleshooting production incidents
• Familiarity with cloud environments (we use AWS) and containerised deployments; Kubernetes experience is a plus, not a requirement
• Strong coding skills: Elixir experience isn’t required, we’ll help you learn
• You work AI-native: agents are part of how you research, investigate and ship code, and you stay fully accountable for what goes out
• A pragmatic approach to code: you appreciate clean architecture but know when good enough is the right call
• A culture of direct feedback: you speak up when something isn’t right and take feedback just as well

Who Thrives Here

At Nutrient, we’re not just hiring for skills — we’re hiring for mindset. The people who thrive here are:

• Collaborators : You collaborate openly, listen actively, and prioritize team success over ego.
• Hungry Learners : Rapid learning fuels progress and career growth.
• Curious Thinkers : You dig deep to uncover the “why,” valuing understanding over simply being right.
• Self-Starters : You take action without waiting for direction, turning obstacles into opportunities with creativity and persistence.
• Owners : You take responsibility for solutions and outcomes, always looking for ways to improve what’s within your control.
• Doers : You’re energized by progress, motivated to create meaningful impact, and eager to tackle challenges.

Why You’ll Love Working Here…

At Nutrient, we build tools that reshape how businesses and developers work with documents. Our culture is centred on continuous growth and collaboration. Every team member has room to learn, innovate, and drive meaningful impact.

• Real platform ownership: You’ll help run and evolve the managed cloud behind Document Engine (cluster lifecycle, GitOps, and observability), not just ship services on top of it.
• Modern stack end to end: Elixir and Phoenix for the product, Kubernetes with Terraform, Helm, and FluxCD for the infrastructure it runs on.
• Fully remote and async-first: Minimal meetings, strong writing culture, and the independence to manage your own work.
• Mission-critical product: Nutrient’s platform is trusted by 15%+ of the Global 500 across 80+ countries.
• Strong growth trajectory: ARR grown from $28M to $49M over the past two years, backed by Insight Partners, with a $100M+ investment fuelling further growth.

Nutrient believes in equal opportunity. We employ people from many cultures and countries, celebrate diversity, and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, skill sets, and perspectives. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other non-merit factor.