workwhilejobs - Staff Software Engineer, Backend
Requirements
• Significant experience designing and building backend systems in Python (or similar), including APIs, data models, and distributed services • A strong track record of owning technical systems or product areas end-to-end, especially in growing or evolving codebases • Comfort working in ambiguity: able to define problems, propose options, and guide teams toward pragmatic solutions • Deep care for system correctness, reliability, and long-term maintainability, balanced with real product needs • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence technical direction across the team • Experience mentoring engineers and elevating team-wide technical quality (formal management experience not required) • Experience working in marketplace, fintech, or data-sensitive systems • Exposure to scaling systems, migrations, or meaningful architectural change • Interest in helping shape engineering standards and best practices as the team grows • Engineering @ WorkWhile • We’re a small and mighty team with senior engineers from Rippling, Stripe, DoorDash, Faire among others • We value user-centricity, competence, speed, and having fun • We embrace independence and take ownership of our projects, yet are also great team players • We deal in outcomes, not projects • Read more about our team at https://tech.workwhile.ai/ https://tech.workwhile.ai/?utm_source=dover&utm_medium=job-posting&utm_campaign=candidate-search
Responsibilities
• Own and evolve complex backend systems that power core product flows, from architecture and data modelling to reliability and long-term scalability • Partner closely with engineering leadership, product, and design to shape technical direction and translate ambiguous problems into durable solutions • Lead high-impact initiatives that span multiple services or teams, setting clear technical direction and unblocking others • Raise the bar on system design, correctness, and operational excellence across the backend codebase • Act as a force multiplier for the team: reviewing designs, mentoring engineers, and helping others make strong technical decisions • Contribute to our engineering culture by modelling thoughtful tradeoffs, clear communication, and ownership at scale
Benefits
• Hybrid work culture with office hubs in SF, NY, Seattle & Toronto • In-person company offsites • Medical, dental, & vision coverage • Flexible time off • 401(k) with employer match • WFH stipend to support your home office needs • WorkWhile has a diverse, mission-driven, and supportive culture—we look for people who want to take ownership, are energized by ambiguity, and strive to make a lasting impact. If this resonates with you, we’d love to chat!
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