Back End Software Engineer

City Detect - Back End Software Engineer - Remote
· Full time

We're seeking a Backend Software Engineer to design, build, and maintain the databases, data pipelines, and backend services that power our customer-facing and internal software.

City Detect harnesses AI and computer vision to revolutionize urban management by using sensors to map the physical world and help communities respond to issues and track longitudinal changes. Founded in 2021, we recently raised a Series A and are actively partnering with major municipalities across Texas, California, Florida, and beyond to create cleaner, safer, and more livable cities. We value responsible practices, cutting-edge innovation, and collaborative community partnerships as we scale our platform and shape the future of urban living through technology.

You'll be responsible for the architecture, development, testing, and maintenance of our backend systems and data infrastructure. Working closely with founders and team leads, you'll ensure our databases, APIs, and data pipelines are performant, reliable, and scalable as we grow.

• Design, develop, and optimize database schemas and queries in AWS RDS Aurora PostgreSQL
• Build and maintain serverless API services using Python and FastAPI on AWS Lambda
• Develop and optimize ETL pipelines and data processing workflows
• Monitor, troubleshoot, and improve system performance, identifying and resolving bottlenecks
• Write clean, efficient, and well-documented code with appropriate testing coverage
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to define technical requirements and prioritize work
• Establish best practices for database optimization, query performance, and backend architecture
• Participate in code reviews and mentor other engineers on backend best practices

• 5+ years of professional experience as a backend software engineer or similar
• Strong production experience with Python or similar language, particularly for API development and data processing
• Deep expertise with Postgre
  
  SQL (or similar relational databases), including query optimization, indexing strategies, and performance tuning
• Experience designing and building RESTful APIs at scale
• Proven ability to identify and resolve database performance issues and avoid common pitfalls
• Experience with cloud platforms, particularly AWS services (Lambda, RDS/Aurora, S3)
• Solid understanding of software engineering fundamentals, including data structures, algorithms, system design, and code maintainability
• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced startup environment
• Strong problem-solving skills and attention to performance, reliability, and security

• 7+ years of total professional engineering experience
• Experience with serverless architectures and event-driven systems
• Hands-on experience with Apache Spark or other distributed data processing frameworks
• Familiarity with FastAPI or similar modern Python web frameworks
• Experience with GIS concepts, spatial databases (PostGIS), and mapping technologies
• Understanding of software security best practices, including authentication, authorization, and data protection
• Experience with database migration strategies and zero-downtime deployments
• Familiarity with monitoring and observability tools (Cloud Watch, Data Dog, etc.)
• Experience scaling backend systems and optimizing for high-throughput workloads
• Knowledge of caching strategies (Redis, CDN) and their implementation

• Eligible for company equity incentive plan
• Fully remote position
• Unlimited PTO
• Health, vision, and dental insurance
• $100 monthly wellness stipend
• Bi-annual team retreat
• Professional development opportunities

Our hiring process is designed to be thoughtful, efficient, and human. Candidates typically move through a short series of interviews over 2–3 weeks, starting with a 30-minute phone screening, followed by one or two technical conversations and a final interview with our CEO.

We focus on cultural alignment, real-world technical understanding, and career goals—not coding puzzles or Leet Code-style tests. You’ll hear back within 24 hours after each stage whenever possible. If an offer is extended, the role begins with a 30-day trial period where you’ll take ownership of a meaningful project and receive clear, ongoing feedback to ensure mutual fit.

Due to regulatory and operational requirements, we are currently only considering candidates based in the United States.

$150,000 - $167,000 per year