Backend Engineer - GGS

Role Overview

We re looking for an experienced Backend Engineer to help us design, build, and scale systems that deliver engaging and impactful learning experiences. You ll work across software engineering, data infrastructure, and system optimization helping us build the platform we wish we had in school.

What You'll Be Working On

• Designing, building, and managing backend APIs and systems at scale.
• Leading data engineering projects: transforming messy, unstructured data from multiple sources into structured, reliable systems.
• Profiling and optimizing slow database queries and API endpoints.
• Developing media and streaming integrations with tools like Zoom, Slack, and Discord to support immersive learning.
• Building internal tools that enhance productivity for non-engineering teams (e.g., marketing, product).
• Contributing to open-source projects starting small and growing your contributions over time.

Technical Requirements:

• Production experience in JavaScript (Node.js), Python, Go, or Ruby.
• Strong SQL expertise ideally with PostgreSQL.
• Experience with Node.js-based stacks (our core technology).
• Performance engineering experience:
• Profiling with APM tools.
• Debugging and designing experiments to isolate issues.
• Interpreting complex query execution plans.
• Proficiency in Linux/BSD environments:
• Bash scripting.
• Monitoring with htop, iotop, perf, etc.
• Handling system-level constraints (CPU, memory, I/O, file handles).
• Familiarity with Git or similar version control systems.

Professional Experience

Either 2.5+ years working on medium to large-scale production systems OR 5+ years of freelance/contract work with equivalent impact and complexity, and the ability to clearly explain your contributions.

Initiative Impact

We value individuals who have shown initiative and done something exceptional professionally or personally. For example:

• Started your own company or impactful side project.
• Meaningful contributions to open-source communities.
• Led community-driven or educational initiatives.
• Mastered a complex skill (e.g., chess, go, competitive sports).
• Volunteering, teaching, or animal rescue efforts that demonstrate dedication and leadership.

Nice to Have

• Familiarity with data science or statistics.
• Experience with big data tools or processing pipelines.
• Deep knowledge of PostgreSQL internals or other database engines.