Staff Software Engineer, Backend

Cantina, Inc.; Los Angeles, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 200,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary plus equity

Medical, dental, vision insurance

42 days PTO including holidays

401(k) retirement plan

Lifestyle spending account

Free lunch and snacks

Job summary

Cantina Labs, a leading social AI company, is hiring a senior backend engineer to design, build, and scale services for an AI-powered platform. You will work with product, design, and data teams to deliver maintainable features and robust systems.

Ideal candidates have 5–10 years of software experience, strong backend and cloud expertise, and a solid grasp of microservices and RESTful APIs. Collaboration and initiative are highly valued.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5–10 years of professional software engineering experience, with backend focus.
• Strong knowledge of backend and cloud architectures, and RESTful APIs.
• Experience with microservices, design patterns, and scalable systems.
• Excellent communication and collaboration in cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with product, design, and data teams to deliver high-quality features.
• Build and scale AI-powered backend systems for user engagement.
• Experiment with new technologies to improve user journeys and reliability.
• Contribute to architecture decisions and infrastructure for scalability.

Skills

Backend development

Cloud architectures

REST APIs

Microservices

Design patterns

Collaboration

Marketing tools integration

Education

BS/MS in CS/Engineering

Tools

Segment

Branch.io

Job description

Cantina Labs is a social AI company, developing a suite of advanced real-time models that push the boundaries of expression, personality, and realism. We bring characters to life, transforming how people tell stories, connect, and create. We build and power ecosystems. Cantina, our flagship social AI platform, is just the beginning.

If you're excited about the potential AI has to shape human creativity and social interactions, join us in building the future!

About the Role:

As part of the Backend Engineering team, you'll design, build, and scale systems and services that revolutionize how users engage with our cutting-edge AI-powered platform. This role is ideal for a self-sufficient senior software engineer who thrives in fast-paced environments.

What you’ll do:

Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, designers, and data specialists, to deliver high-quality, performant, and maintainable features.

Build and enhance AI-powered systems supporting user acquisition, onboarding, and engagement.

Experiment with and implement new technologies to optimize user journeys and streamline customer experiences.

Gain exposure to the architecture and operations behind one of the fastest-growing social AI products globally.

Contribute your expertise to help evolve team processes and technical infrastructure, ensuring scalability and reliability.

What you’ll bring:

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.

5–10 years of professional software engineering experience, with expertise in backend and cloud architectures.

Solid understanding of software design patterns, microservices architecture, and RESTful APIs.

Familiarity with third party services like Segment, Branch.io , or similar marketing tools.

Strong communication skills and a collaborative, team-oriented mindset.

Compensation:

The anticipated annual base salary range for this role is between $200,000 - $240,000. When determining compensation, a number of factors will be considered, including skills, experience, job scope, location, and competitive compensation market data.

Competitive salary and generous company equity

Medical, dental, and vision insurance – 99.99% of premiums covered by Cantina

42 days of paid time off, including:

15 PTO days

15 company holidays

2 floating holidays

Generous parental leave & fertility support

401(k) retirement savings plan

Lifestyle spending account – $500/month to use however you’d like

Complimentary lunch and snacks for in-office employees