Staff Software Engineer, Backend

Match Group; Palo Alto (CA); On-site; USD 235,000 - 255,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Unlimited PTO

Wellness Days

Charity donation matching

Health, vision, dental

401(k) employer match

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)

Parental leave

MentorMatch program

Udemy courses access

Professional development stipend

Mental health support

Pet insurance

Commuter subsidy

Tinder Gold

Job summary

Tinder, part of Match Group, is seeking a Staff Backend Engineer to own and evolve our high-scale backend services. You will design, build and operate distributed systems, collaborating across teams to expand our service platform and influence technical direction.

You will lead with strong CS fundamentals and experience in Java, Node.js, Go, or C++, building resilient systems for massive user traffic while mentoring teammates and shaping architecture for future growth.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of industry work experience.
• Excellent knowledge of backend fundamentals in data structures, algorithms, and coding.
• Experience designing distributed backend systems handling high volumes of traffic.
• Ability to handle ambiguous business requirements with strong prioritization and execution.
• Proficiency in Java, Node.js, Go, or C++ with strong software design skills.
• BS/MS in Computer Science or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop and operate scalable and resilient distributed services that run on Kubernetes or ECS.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to expand Tinder's service platform.
• Influence team roadmap and product development.
• Recruit, mentor and develop other team members.

Skills

Java

Node.js

Go

C++

CS fundamentals

Distributed systems

Execution & prioritization

Education

BS/MS in Computer Science

Tools

AWS

Azure

GCP

NoSQL (DynamoDB)

Cassandra

Redis

ElasticSearch

Kafka

Spark

TypeScript

Docker

Job description

Our Mission

Launched in 2012, Tinder® revolutionized how people meet, growing from 1 match to one billion matches in just two years. This rapid growth demonstrates its ability to fulfill a fundamental human need: real connection. Today, the app has been downloaded over 630 million times, leading to over 97 billion matches, serving approximately 50 million users per month in 190 countries and 45+ languages - a scale unmatched by any other app in the category. In 2024, Tinder won four Effie Awards for its first-ever global brand campaign, “It Starts with a Swipe”™

Take the Lead

We don't ghost our work or each other. Just as users don't leave their matches hanging, we don't let each other down.

Move Fast

We have a bias for action and urgency. Something that could be done tomorrow would be better if done today.

Better Together

We keep connection at the heart of dating and at the heart of how we work. Just as our users are better when they connect with others, so are we when we collaborate.

Real Talk

We say the hard thing the human way. Just as we ask our users to behave with kindness and candor in our community, we expect Team Tinder to do the same.

Safety First

We act with integrity, transparency, and consistency so people feel safe—whether they're swiping, matching, or working alongside us.

Spark Fun

We have fun to unlock creativity, fuel innovation, and help us build better experiences for daters.

The Engineering team is responsible for building innovative features and resilient systems that bring people together. We're always experimenting with new features to engage with our members. Although we are a high-scale tech company, the member-to-engineer ratio is very high—making the level of impact each engineer gets to have at Tinder enormous.

As a Staff Backend Engineer at Tinder, you will have an outsized impact and ownership of the most visible aspects of the Tinder App. We are deeply invested in challenging norms, constantly improving architecture design, exploring emergent tech and ideas, and leveraging new technologies in interesting ways to deliver an app that is widely known the world over.

In this role, you will:

• Design, develop and operate scalable and resilient distributed services that run on Kubernetes or ECS
• Collaborate with various functional teams across Tinder on the expansion of our service platform
• Influence the team roadmap and product development
• Recruit, encourage, and develop other team members

You’ll need:

• Excellent knowledge and experience with a backend language like Java, Node.js, Go, C++
• BS/MS in Computer Science or an equivalent field with 5+ years of industry work experience
• Excellent knowledge of Computer Science fundamentals with strong competencies in data structures, algorithms, and coding
• Strong designing and building distributed backend systems handling high volumes of traffic
• Experience in handling ambiguous business requirements with excellent prioritization, time management abilities, and a focus on execution

Nice to have:

• Experience with cloud computing systems such as AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform
• Experience in design and development using NoSQL, such as DynamoDB or Cassandra
• Experience with Redis, ElasticSearch, Kafka, and Spark
• Experience with TypescriptAgile development methodology and CI/CD
• Experience with Docker containers

As a full-time employee, you’ll enjoy:

• Unlimited PTO (with no waiting period), 10 annual Wellness Days
• Time off to volunteer and charitable donations matched up to $15,000 annually
• Comprehensive health, vision, and dental coverage
• 100% 401(k) employer match up to 10%, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• 100% paid parental leave (including for non-birthing parents) and family forming benefits
• Investment in your development: mentorship through our MentorMatch program, access to 6,000+ online courses through Udemy, and an annual $3,000 stipend for your professional development
• Investment in your wellness: access to mental health support via Modern Health, paid concierge medical membership, pet insurance, fitness membership subsidy, and commuter subsidy
• Free subscription to Tinder Gold

$230,000 - $240,000 a year

The salary range for this position is $235,000 - 240,000 in New York, NY and $235,000 - 255,000 in Palo Alto, CA. Factors such as scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, job-related skills, internal peer equity, as well as market and business considerations may influence base pay offered. This salary range is reflective of a position based in New York, New York. This salary will be subject to a geographic adjustment (according to a specific city and state), if an authorization is granted to work outside of the location listed in this posting.

Commitment to Inclusion

At Tinder, we don’t just accept difference, we celebrate it. We strive to build a workplace that reflects the rich diversity of our members around the world, and we value unique perspectives and backgrounds. Even if you don’t meet all the listed qualifications, Tinder is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace where we welcome people of all sexes, gender identities, races, ethnicities, disabilities, and other lived experiences. Learn more here: https://www.lifeattinder.com/dei

If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, pre-employment testing, or a job interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please speak to your Talent Acquisition Partner directly.

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