Software Engineer, Backend

character; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Character is actively seeking a talented Backend Engineer to design and maintain high-performance backend systems. This role requires collaboration with designers and engineers to deliver efficient backend solutions.

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years in backend development, expertise in programming languages like Python or Go, and familiarity with cloud platforms. At Character, diversity is valued; we welcome applicants from all backgrounds as equal opportunity employers.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in backend development, building scalable and reliable applications.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or Go.
• Experience with database technologies such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, or NoSQL solutions.
• Familiarity with designing and integrating APIs, including REST and GraphQL.
• Understanding of distributed systems, microservices architecture, and cloud platforms.
• Experience with containerization and orchestration tools like Docker and Kubernetes.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to optimize system performance and reliability.
• Excellent communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services.
• Implement secure and efficient APIs.
• Optimize system performance, reliability, and scalability.
• Work with teams to develop backend solutions.
• Ensure high availability and performance of backend systems.
• Monitor system health and troubleshoot issues.
• Maintain security best practices.

Skills

Backend development

Python

Java

Go

PostgreSQL

MySQL

NoSQL

REST APIs

GraphQL

Distributed systems

Docker

Kubernetes

Problem-solving

Communication

Job description

About the Role

We are looking for a talented and motivated Backend Engineer to join our team. You will be responsible for building and maintaining scalable, high-performance backend systems that power our products. Collaborating with designers, data scientists, and engineers, you'll play a key role in conceptualizing, designing, and delivering robust and efficient backend solutions.

What you’ll do

• Design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services that support our applications and infrastructure.
• Implement secure and efficient APIs to support frontend applications and third‑party integrations.
• Optimize system performance, reliability, and scalability through effective architecture and engineering best practices.
• Work closely with product managers, data analysts, and frontend engineers to develop backend solutions that align with business and user needs.
• Ensure high availability, fault tolerance, and performance of backend systems.
• Monitor system health, troubleshoot issues, and implement improvements to enhance efficiency and stability.
• Maintain security best practices to protect user data and system integrity.
• Stay up to date with industry trends and emerging technologies in backend development and distributed systems.

Who you are

• 5+ years of experience in backend development, building scalable and reliable applications.
• Strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or Go. Python and Go are preferred.
• Experience with database technologies such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, or NoSQL solutions.
• Familiarity with designing and integrating APIs, including REST and GraphQL.
• Understanding of distributed systems, microservices architecture, and cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure).
• Experience with containerization and orchestration tools like Docker and Kubernetes.
• Strong problem‑solving skills and the ability to optimize system performance and reliability.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively in a collaborative environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with event‑driven architectures and messaging systems (Kafka, RabbitMQ, etc.).
• Knowledge of caching strategies and performance optimization techniques.
• Experience working on large‑scale, high‑traffic applications.
• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and DevOps best practices.
• Exposure to machine learning or data‑driven applications.

At Character, we value diversity and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. As an equal opportunity employer, we firmly uphold a non‑discrimination policy based on race, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, or disability. Your unique perspectives are vital to our success.