Staff Backend Engineer

Modulate; Somerville (MA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health coverage

Equity

Flexible PTO

Hybrid work

Learning & growth programs

Work-from-anywhere option

Inclusive culture

Job summary

Modulate is a leader in conversational voice intelligence, building a self-serve Conversation Intelligence Platform for enterprise scale. We are looking for a Staff Backend Engineer to design, build, and scale our Developer and Enterprise APIs and bring ML audio models to market.

You will collaborate with product and engineering teams to scope and implement API features, improve reliability and performance, mentor teammates, and expand the capabilities and use cases supported by our platform for

Qualifications

• Strong experience with object‑oriented Python.
• Experience designing and building APIs in production environments.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively within engineering teams.
• Experience building greenfield systems and scaling existing products.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with engineers and product leaders to scope, design, and execute API projects.
• Design, build, test, and deploy API features and improvements.
• Maintain and operate production APIs to ensure reliability and performance.
• Debug issues and continuously improve system stability and scalability.
• Contribute to team knowledge through mentorship, demos, and technical discussions.

Skills

Python (OO)

API design

Collaboration

Scalability

Job description

Join Modulate as we pioneer the future of conversational intelligence.

Modulate is the leader in conversational voice intelligence. We enable platforms and enterprises to deeply understand how people communicate and take timely action based on those insights.

Our products help detect harm, prevent fraud, and build safer, more trusted online and real-world voice environments.

We are building a self‑serve Conversation Intelligence Platform — APIs, workflows, and applications that bring voice understanding to customers at enterprise scale.

We’re looking for a Staff Backend Engineer to help build and scale our Developer and Enterprise APIs.

Your Impact

You will play a critical role in bringing our world‑class ML audio models to market through robust, scalable APIs. Your work will directly impact both our product velocity and our ability to serve enterprise and developer customers.

• Develop and iterate on early‑stage products that are key to Modulate’s success
• Expand the capabilities and use cases supported by our APIs
• Improve scalability, reliability, and performance across core systems
• Establish strong architectural foundations for long‑term growth
• Accelerate Modulate’s ability to serve both B2B and B2C customers

What You Will Do

• Collaborate with engineers and product leaders to scope, design, and execute API projects
• Design, build, test, and deploy API features and improvements
• Maintain and operate production APIs to ensure reliability and performance
• Debug issues and continuously improve system stability and scalability
• Contribute to team knowledge through mentorship, demos, and technical discussions

What We Are Looking For

• Strong experience with object‑oriented Python
• Experience designing and building APIs in production environments
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively within engineering teams
• Experience building greenfield systems and scaling existing products

Benefits

At Modulate, we prioritize people and sustainability—because doing great work requires feeling supported and safe. Some of our key benefits include:

• Competitive salary + equity - Full health, dental, and vision coverage
• Flexible PTO, with a strong culture of taking it
• Weekly team lunches with dietary accommodations
• Hybrid work: core in‑office days with flexible remote options
• Regular leadership and industry learning sessions
• Support for career development and continued learning
• Up to 8 weeks work‑from‑anywhere policy
• A deeply inclusive, human‑centered culture

Pay Transparency

Modulate believes in transparency as a cornerstone of equity and trust. Compensation for this role is based on seniority, skills, and experience.

Salary: $180,000 to 200,000

Equity: Offered

Other perks: HSA, FSA, 15 holidays, professional growth resources