Software Engineer, Distributed Systems (Infra)

gamma.app; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 310,000; Full time

Job summary

Gamma is seeking a Software Engineer, Distributed Systems (Infra) to build and scale the infrastructure behind billions of interactions. You will work on real-time collaborative editing, databases, APIs, and event pipelines, shaping the core data model and storage foundations to power Gamma's growth.

The role blends backend engineering with product impact in a fast-paced, product-led environment. Based in San Francisco with a strong in-office culture, you’ll collaborate across frontend, product,

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years of backend engineering experience building scalable systems.
• Proficiency in backend technologies and databases (Node.js, Python, PostgreSQL, Redis).
• Experience with high-traffic production systems and performance optimization.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement scalable APIs, distributed systems, and data infrastructure that serve millions of users
• Help define and evolve the core data model and storage systems powering Gamma's business
• Ship backend systems that directly impact growth metrics and user experience
• Work on real-time collaborative editing, databases, public APIs, and high-volume event pipelines
• Balance long-term technical investments with rapid shipping velocity
• Collaborate across frontend, product, and data teams to deliver high-quality solutions under tight timelines

Skills

Backend engineering

Distributed systems

API design

Real-time collaboration

Node.js

Python

PostgreSQL

Redis

Performance optimization

Product-minded

High-traffic systems

Tools

AIJSX framework

Vercel AI SDK

Typescript stack

Job description

Software Engineer, Distributed Systems (Infra)

We're building the creative layer for modern communication. Every month, over a billion people make presentations — but the tools they use to make them haven't evolved in decades. We're changing that, using AI to disrupt a massive market.

Millions of people rely on Gamma to create, teach, and persuade, creating more than 1 million gammas every day.

We see Gamma as the next great workplace tool, combining viral B2C love with a massive B2B opportunity. We believe AI can be a true creative partner: one that understands context, clarity, and taste.

We’ve reached a $2.1B valuation, crossed $100M in annual recurring revenue, and have been profitable since 2023.

We're an imaginative, passionate team who takes our work seriously, but not ourselves. Our culture is warm, a little quirky, and fueled by curiosity.

About the role

You'll build and scale the application and data infrastructure that supports 70M+ users creating millions of gammas every day. This means working on real-time collaborative editing, databases, public APIs, and high-volume event pipelines while helping define and evolve the core data model and storage systems powering Gamma's business. You'll ship backend systems that directly impact growth metrics and user experience, balancing long-term technical investments with rapid shipping velocity.

As Software Engineer on the Platform team, you'll collaborate across frontend, product, and data teams in a fast-paced, product-led environment. You'll bring a product-minded approach, understanding how technical decisions impact user experience and business metrics while thriving in an environment where shipping quality directly impacts growth.

Our team has a strong in-office culture and works in person 4-5 days per week in San Francisco. We love working together to stay creative and connected, with flexibility to work from home when focus matters most.

What you'll do

• Design and implement scalable APIs, distributed systems, and data infrastructure that serve millions of users
• Help define and evolve the core data model and storage systems powering Gamma's business
• Ship backend systems that directly impact growth metrics and user experience
• Work on real-time collaborative editing, databases, public APIs, and high-volume event pipelines
• Balance long-term technical investments with rapid shipping velocity
• Collaborate across frontend, product, and data teams to deliver high-quality solutions under tight timelines

What you'll bring

• 3-5+ years of backend engineering experience building scalable systems
• Strong proficiency in backend technologies (Node.js, Python, or similar) and databases (PostgreSQL, Redis)
• Experience with high-traffic production systems and performance optimization
• Track record shipping high-quality, complex applications under tight timelines
• Product-minded approach with understanding of how technical decisions impact user experience and business metrics
• Thrives in fast-paced, product-led environments where shipping quality directly impacts growth
• Experience with real-time collaboration systems, event pipelines, or AI-powered applications (Nice to have)

Compensation range:

The base salary for this full-time position, which spans multiple internal levels depending on qualifications, ranges between $180K - $310K plus benefits & equity.

Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to experience and expertise in the requirements listed above.

We're building on a full Typescript stack centered around some of the most modern and popular technologies.

• We use our own custom, open-source AI prompting framework, AIJSX . We have a lot of custom tools built in-house, but also new ones like Vercel AI SDK .

Our tiny team operates at massive scale:

1M+

70M

users around the world

6M+

AI images generated daily

1 trillion

LLM tokens processed per month

Life at Gamma

• You get energy from small teams doing big things.
• You love when design, code, and storytelling overlap.
• You default to action, even when the answer isn’t clear yet.
• You value details, but know when to ship and move on.
• You bring both the spreadsheets and the sparkle, equal parts workhorse and unicorn.
• You believe AI should amplify creativity, not replace it.
• You know kindness and intensity are not opposites.
• You like working with people who care deeply: about their craft, their teammates, and the users on the other side of the screen.

Who we are

Gamma is full of imaginative, passionate people who take their work seriously but not themselves. The culture is warm, a little quirky, and fueled by curiosity. It’s the kind of place where you’ll debate a pixel on Monday, laugh over someone’s keyboard setup on Tuesday, and ship something remarkable by Friday.

We care about craft, move with intention, and don’t mind getting a little scrappy. It’s fast, creative, and occasionally chaotic — but that’s what makes it interesting.

Here’s a bit about what it’s like to work here, from people on the inside:

We asked the team what makes Gamma, Gamma. Here were some of their answers:

• "quirky, inspiring, fun, a little wild in the best way"
• "You can have an idea and just run with it."
• "Everyone’s talented and humble — the mix keeps you sharp."
• "We ship cool stuff, learn a ton, and laugh a lot doing it."

Meet the team

We’re a team of dreamers and doers building in beautiful San Francisco

We’re kabbadi enthusiasts, pickleballers, dog herders, woodworkers, keyboard nerds, potters, and more — and we can’t wait to meet you!