Sr. Backend Software Engineer, Labs

Apply for the Sr. Backend Software Engineer, Labs role at Pax8.

At Pax8 Labs, we’re inventing the future of how businesses interact with autonomous technology—making AI practical, intuitive, and transformative. As a Backend Engineer, you’ll design and create the core infrastructure that powers human‑guided AI workflows, enabling real‑time orchestration and seamless integration across diverse environments.

This greenfield engineering role is located in our innovation hub, where speed, experimentation, and bold ideas drive everything we do. You’ll tackle today’s hardest backend challenges while building the foundation for future projects and breakthrough technologies—including new interaction models and entirely new product lines.

• Design and build scalable backend services, APIs, and orchestration systems for coordinating AI‑driven workflows across complex, multi‑agent business processes.
• Develop data pipelines, state management, and real‑time communication for dynamic workflows.
• Design and optimize infrastructure for scalability and reliability, including container orchestration, cloud deployments, and observability (monitoring, logging).
• Contribute to SaaS platform architecture with modularity and extensibility in mind, building reusable frameworks that accelerate future projects.
• Integrate and optimize AI/ML models in production, ensuring performance and reliability at scale.
• Shape team culture by championing experimentation and knowledge sharing, collaborating in a small team focused on rapid learning and innovation.

• Modern Development:
  Embrace AI tools where they add genuine value, from coding assistance to automated testing.
• Async‑First Communication:
  Thoughtful documentation (Slack, Notion, Loom), with focused in‑person collaboration 1–3 days per week in our Denver office.
• Build‑Measure‑Learn:
  We learn through iteration and support each other in experimentation.

• Experience in backend languages such as Go, Python, Rust, Kotlin, or Type Script (skill over years).
• Proven ability to design and build robust, scalable APIs (REST, Graph
  
  QL, or gRPC) for complex systems.
• Deep knowledge of cloud‑native architectures, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and microservices.
• Hands‑on experience with one or more major cloud platforms such as Azure, AWS, or GCP, including managed services and deployment best practices.
• Extensive experience with databases, caching, message queues, and event‑driven architectures.

• Proficiency with modern Dev Ops practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure‑as‑code (Terraform).
• Strong system design and architecture skills with focus on scalability and reliability.
• Experience debugging complex distributed systems and performance optimization.
• Adaptable and excited to work in an environment that values rapid learning and iteration.
• Commitment to code quality, comprehensive testing, and operational excellence.
• Enthusiasm for AI/ML advancements and backend infrastructure innovations.
• Understanding of autonomous agent architectures and coordination patterns preferred.
• Experience with agent frameworks, workflow orchestration, or distributed coordination systems preferred, but not required.
• Degree or equivalent practical experience in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field.

First 90 Days: Help build initial prototypes, innovate, establish development practices, and integrate successfully with the team.

First Year: Deliver robust, scalable agent systems that validate core technical hypotheses and support rapid product iteration.

• Compassionate Candor – Assist others with candid, actionable feedback.
• Seek to Understand – Be open, curious and committed to learning.
• We Before Me – Collaborate and seek diverse perspectives for Team Pax8 wins.
• Do What You Say – Take ownership, honor commitments, prioritize and deliver.
• Light Up Learning – Try new ideas, be vulnerable, share failures for collective learning.
• Driven by Passion – Connect personal passion to Pax8 mission, stay resilient.

• Technical Challenge:
  Build distributed systems that coordinate autonomous…