Software Engineer, Backend | Product Engineering - SF Only Software Engineering San Francisco, CA

TRM Labs; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

TRM Labs in San Francisco is seeking a pragmatic backend engineer to design and build scalable APIs and services used by customers and internal teams. You will shape the API product, own critical components, and collaborate with cross‑functional stakeholders to translate vision into tangible outcomes.

Ideal candidates have experience designing scalable systems, knowledge of relational databases, strong ownership, and clear communication skills in a fast‑paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience designing and building scalable backend systems.
• Strong knowledge of relational databases and data modeling.
• Ability to bridge customer needs with technical requirements.
• High initiative and ownership in ambiguous environments.
• Excellent written and verbal communication across teams.
• Experience in cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain public APIs that are part of the API Product suite.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to translate vision into a roadmap with clear outcomes.
• Support internal business units through shared engineering services.
• Develop relationships across the organization to empower their mission end-to-end.
• Work on complex engineering problems and build scalable systems.

Skills

Scalable systems design

API development

Relational databases

Customer-focused requirements

Ownership & initiative

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication skills

Tools

Node.js

PostgreSQL

Job description

Build a Safer World.

TRM Labs provides AI-powered intelligence solutions that help public and private sector agencies investigate and disrupt crime. TRM's platforms enable investigators to trace illicit activity, build cases, and construct operating pictures of threat networks. Leading agencies and businesses worldwide rely on TRM to make the world safer and more secure.

The Product Engineering team is responsible for building a comprehensive set of features, frameworks, and functionalities for both end customers and internal‑facing teams to successfully execute and scale TRM’s business. We are looking for a pragmatic backend engineer who can build reliable and scalable software that will be used by all TRM customers. You’ll also design backend APIs with a deep understanding of the customer experience and performance.

As an early member of the team, you will be deeply involved in the technical details along with our operational processes to champion the velocity, quality, and overall impact of TRM, ultimately building a safer financial system for billions of people.

This role is based in our San Francisco office. Employees in this position are expected to work from the office at least three (3) days per week to support in‑person collaboration and team engagement.

The impact you’ll have here:

• Work on complex engineering problems that help you build and hone not only technical skills but also project management and human/soft skills

• Develop and maintain public APIs that are part of the API Product suite

• Collaborate with stakeholders on transforming a functional vision into a tangible roadmap with clear outcomes

• Support and enable internal business units through shared engineering services and functionalities

• Develop cross‑functional relationships with stakeholders across the organization to understand and empower their mission from end to end

• Experience designing and building scalable systems, web applications, APIs, and services (our backend is built in Node.js but prior experience in Node.js is not required; we believe tools and languages can be learned on the job)

What we’re looking for:

• Experience designing and building scalable systems, web applications, APIs, and services.

• An understanding of storage systems such as relational databases (e.g., Postgres) and analytical databases.

• Demonstrated experience in understanding customer pain points and bridging their needs to technical & product requirements.

• A high degree of initiative and ownership, combined with the ability to navigate ambiguity and adapt quickly to change.

• Exceptional ability to structure problems and identify the most critical issues to prioritize.

• Ability to communicate complex ideas effectively to both technical and non‑technical audiences, verbally and in writing.

• Experience working collaboratively in a cross‑functional environment with a diverse group of people at all levels in an organization.

• US Citizenship required

About the Team:

• The team operates on a weekly sprint schedule. Individuals on the team are tasked to lead projects as technical anchors, and given a chance to grow and take ownership according to their level and goals. We work closely with our internal stakeholders to deliver impactful features to our internal customers and the company.

• The team’s culture is built on psychological safety wherein team members build rapport and trust‑based relationships with teammates, hold each other accountable and to a high bar, collaborate extensively, and have lots of fun along the way.

• The team’s timezone is a mix of EST and PST with at least 6 hours of overlap with PST (8 am to 2 pm PST)

• On‑Call: We have an on‑call rotation that is specific to internal tools. In this role, the internal tools engineer is responsible for triaging customer support requests from specific Slack channels pertaining to internal tools.

Learn about TRM Speed in this position:

• Ruthless Prioritization & Adaptability: We adapt quickly when faced with new information. For example, an engineer may message the PM or EM to prioritize Task A vs. Task B in the middle of the sprint – we don’t let inertia guide our decisions. Instead we focus on ruthless prioritization and pivot quickly as needed.

• Challenging Timelines (Execution Pressure): An engineer questions a teammate’s proposed 3‑week timeline, and constructively argues for condensing it to 2 weeks—backed by rationale, tradeoffs, and a plan to reduce scope or increase velocity. They show ownership of delivery speed and willingness to push for urgency.

• Time‑Boxed Spiking (Rapid Learning & Decision‑Making): An engineer proposes a 1‑week spike with a clear time‑box and success criteria to explore implementation options or validate feasibility through a proof of concept. They demonstrate speed not just in execution, but in de‑risking decisions early.

The following represents the expected range of compensation for this role:

• Individual pay is determined by skills, qualifications, experience, and location. The compensation details listed in this posting reflect the US base salary only.

• The estimated base salary range for this role is $180,000 - $210,000.

• Additionally, this role may be eligible to participate in TRM’s equity plan.

• Please note – we factor in the different costs for geographies outside the United States.

AI Fluency at TRM

AI fluency is a baseline expectation at TRM.

We believe AI meaningfully changes how top performers operate. We expect every team member to use AI to accelerate and reimagine their craft, not just automate surface tasks.

At TRM, AI fluency means you are among the top 10 percent of operators in your function in how you apply AI to:

• Accelerate repeatable workflows

• Structure and solve problems

• Improve output quality

• Increase speed and leverage

You will be evaluated on applied AI fluency during the interview process.

Life at TRM

We are building a safer world. That promise shows up in how we work every day.

TRM moves FAST. We are a high‑velocity, high‑ownership team that expects clarity, follow‑through, and impact. People who thrive here are energized by hard problems, experimentation, and continuous feedback. If something takes months elsewhere, it will ship here in days.

Our work sits at the intersection of AI, national security, and fighting crime. The problems are complex, the stakes are real, and the environment evolves quickly. The pace and intensity of the work reflect the importance of the mission. As a result, the way we operate requires a high level of ownership, adaptability, collaboration, and creative problem‑solving.

At TRM, you should expect:

• Priorities and targets to change quickly

• Operating with a high degree of ambiguity

• A high level of personal ownership and accountability

• Close collaboration across teams and functions

• Frequent, high‑touch communication

• Creative problem‑solving and out‑of‑the‑box thinking

• A pace that rewards urgency, adaptability, and outcomes

This environment is energizing for people who enjoy building, solving hard problems, and making progress in situations that are not always fully defined. It also requires thriving in ambiguity, adjusting course as new information emerges, and maintaining focus and positivity