Software Engineer, Backend, Level 5

Role Overview

We’re looking for a Backend Engineer to design, implement, and operate our most critical and scalable services, including user identity, friend graph, and core persistence layers.

• Design, implement, and operate critical and scalable services such as user identity, friend graph, and core persistence layers.
• Work across teams to understand product requirements, evaluate trade‑offs, and deliver solutions for innovative products.
• Evaluate, test, and debug work with a focus on high quality.
• Advocate for and apply best practices for availability, scalability, operational excellence, and cost management.
• Utilize AI tools and high‑velocity engineering workflows to design and ship scalable services while maintaining rigorous standards for code correctness, security, and production‑ready quality.

• Experience with backend services or distributed systems.
• Experience in at least one of the following areas:
  • Large‑scale microservices and distributed systems
  • Cloud computing and storage systems
  • Infrastructure and large‑scale system design
  • Security
  • Networking and data storage
  • Machine learning and natural language processing
• Proven track record of operating highly available systems at significant scale.
• Experience with Java, C++, and/or Python.
• Experience with No
  
  SQL solutions, Memcache/Redis, Kubernetes, or Google/AWS services.
• Ability to independently execute medium‑sized features.
• Understanding operational aspects of the system, incident and hotfix investigation, and resolution participation.
• Collaboration and teamwork skills.
• Proficiency in streamlining development with AI tools while auditing produced output for architectural integrity, performance bottlenecks, and security risks.
• Adaptability in learning and applying evolving AI systems and tools.

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant technical field or equivalent years of practical experience.
• 6+ years of post‑Bachelor’s software development experience; or Master’s degree + 5+ years of post‑grad experience; or PhD + 2+ years of post‑grad experience.
• Experience with distributed systems.

• Experience with Java, C++, and/or Python.
• Experience with No
  
  SQL solutions, Memcache/Redis, Kubernetes, or Google/AWS services.

• Expected to work in the office at least 4 days per week (Default Together policy).

• Paid parental leave.
• Comprehensive medical coverage.
• Emotional and mental health support programs.
• Compensation packages that allow sharing in Snap’s long‑term success.
• Equity in the form of RSUs.
• Base salary ranges by pay zone:
  • Zone A (CA, WA, NYC): $209,000 – $313,000 annual.
  • Zone B: $199,000 – $297,000.
  • Zone C: $178,000 – $266,000.

Snap is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to employment opportunities regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other protected class, in accordance with applicable laws. EOE, including disability/vets.