Senior Back-End Engineer

Years from now, history will look back at this moment as a landmark for the human race—the moment when generative AI began to change everything. Luckily, you happen to be living through it. Now what?

If you’re one of those rare people driven to add their intellectual energy to the relentless momentum of technological advancement, consider Loka your optimal leverage point.

Loka, a globally distributed tech consultancy based in Silicon Valley, is seeking a Senior Backend Engineer to join our growing team. In this position you’ll serve as the primary specialist in designing and implementing Backend solutions across multiple projects. Your expertise in Python and/or NodeJs development will help us design and deliver high-performing, reliable and secure Backend applications. Ultimately we expect you to not just fit in with our Backend crew but to elevate it to new heights.

We count more than 100 certified specialists, technical experts and PhDs among our teammates, all of whom contribute their brilliance to serving our clients and mentoring junior colleagues. We work entirely remotely, test new ideas with an in-house incubator, observe local holidays and take every other Friday off (really). We’re as proud of our culture as we are of our projects. You will be too.

The Role

• Design, develop and implement Backend components spanning APIs, serverless functions, distributed services, queue systems, data storage services and more.
• Drive decisions around architectural trade-offs on a system, as well as application level with performance requirements and external constraints.
• Implement and champion security and data-protection best practices across systems.
• Raise the quality bar by maintaining effective test suites and writing clean code and documentation.
• Work closely with clients to gather requirements, align expectations and provide updates on deliverables.
• Follow Loka’s career track for growth by demonstrating technical excellence, innovation, autonomy, ownership, communication and teamwork.
• Report to a Backend Lead.
• Stay up to date with industry trends to incorporate cutting-edge techniques and tools into projects.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior Backend engineers within the team.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with other teams (Machine Learning, Data Engineering, etc.) to ensure seamless integration of Backend solutions.
• Take full responsibility for assigned tasks and projects, ensuring accountability for outcomes and results.
• Understand business objectives and develop solutions that help achieve them.

Required Hard Skills

• 5+ years Backend development
• Fluent in Python or NodeJs (Typescript)
• Strong CS foundation
• Understanding of API/Web communication protocols (openapi, grpc, etc)
• Understand concurrency concepts in APIs/Web
• Understand cloud services and landscape
• Understand traditional and serverless architectures
• Capable of building and maintaining CI/CD pipelines
• Capable of working container-first

Not Required but Nice to Have

• Languages: Go, Typescript, PHP, Ruby
• Frameworks: Django, FastAPI, NextJS, Express, Laravel, RoR
• Databases: PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, MySQL, Redis
• Experience working with AWS
• Experience with DevOps tools (AWS CDK, cdktf or terraform)
• Experience with generative AI tools and services
• Experience with observability tools and stacks

Additional Requirements

• Excellent English: As a global team we work entirely in English for meetings, customer calls and business communications
• CV written in English

Personality Profile

• Curious: You strive to learn and grow into different industries with a modern tech stack.
• Autonomous: We’re a fully remote, globally distributed team.
• Collaborative: You work well as a team player.
• Adaptable: You operate with a startup mindset and move at a startup pace.

Benefits

• Every other Friday off (26 extra days off a year)
• Remote-first culture
• Explore and Relocation programs (three months work abroad or full international relo)
• Paid sick days and local holidays
• Business English classes program
• Continuous Learning Support
• Fitness and/or Mental Health Subscriptions
• Access to LokaLabs™, our internal research and development program
• Defined career path

Your achievements matter to us! Be sure your CV, LinkedIn and GitHub profiles are up to date, written in English and accurately reflect your experience.