Staff Engineer, Backend Platform

Zūm; Redwood City (CA); On-site; USD 240,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k)

Holidays

Wellness

Vacation

Job summary

Zūm in Redwood City is seeking a Staff Engineer for the Backend Platform team. This role involves hands-on contributions to develop Zūm's technology platform while working with a team of backend developers. Ideal candidates will have 8+ years of experience and strong skills in backend development with languages such as Node.js, Java, or Python. Benefits include a competitive salary range of $240,000–$280,000, stock options, and comprehensive medical, dental, and wellness packages.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of industry experience as a Software Engineer or Staff Engineer.
• Proven experience building backend systems for enterprise-level applications.
• Experience with relational and non-relational databases.

Responsibilities

• Core contributor in designing the architecture of our Backend platform.
• Work with 2-4 backend developers to deliver product features.
• Introduce tools to scale and accelerate development.
• Work with Product and Design teams to deliver new features.
• Improve the existing Backend platform and add features.

Skills

Backend development

Architectural design

Node.js

Java

Python

Cloud environments (AWS, Google Cloud)

API development

Microservice architectures

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science

Job description

Zūm is revolutionizing mass mobility with its Connected Mobility Experience (Zūm CMX™) system that connects and coordinates people, vehicles, and operations in real time. Over 4,500 schools rely on Zūm CMX.

Who You Are

We are looking to add a Staff Engineer, Backend Platform to our Backend Engineering team. You will be responsible for hands‑on contributions in building Zūm’s technology platform. If you are self‑driven, able to devise simple solutions to complex problems, and thrive in building products with full ownership, you will fit well here.

What You’ll Do

• Core contributor in designing the architecture of our Backend platform.

• Work with 2‑4 backend developers to deliver high quality product features.

• Introduce tools and processes to scale and accelerate our development.

• Work with Product and Design teams to plan and deliver new product features.

• Improve the existing Backend platform, add new features and content.

• Hands‑on coding while owning the full development lifecycle—from ideation to deployment.

What You Bring To Zūm

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Computer Science (or equivalent). 8+ years of industry experience as a Software Engineer or Staff Engineer.
• Proven experience building backend systems for enterprise‑level applications across multiple platforms.
• Strong hands‑on skills in architectural design and backend development.
• Experience with relational and non‑relational databases.
• Proficiency in one or more backend programming languages: Node.js, Java, or Python.
• Hands‑on experience deploying and managing applications in cloud environments (AWS or Google Cloud).
• Experience building scalable systems—both vertically and horizontally.
• Proficient in developing APIs for internal and external use with a strong focus on performance, scalability, and security.
• Experience with microservice‑based architectures.

Other Skills Required To Succeed In This Role

• Strong technical experience and eagerness to enforce and establish good coding conventions.
• Good planning, organization, and decision‑making skills.
• Good communication with engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders.

Bonus Points

• Passionate about working for a mission‑driven company.
• Experience working in the transportation industry.
• Strong experience with NodeJS and Typescript.

Benefits

The targeted base salary range for this role in California is $240,000–$280,000 plus stock options. We also offer Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), Holidays, Wellness, Vacation, and more. Zūm Services, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide equal employment opportunities and prohibit discrimination of any type.