Staff Backend Engineer, Picnic - New York City

Who we are 

Picnic is reinventing lunch at work. We partner with top local restaurants and batch hundreds of orders at a time to deliver high-quality, individually packaged meals—without fees or tips. The result is a seamless, affordable, and joyful experience for employees, and a more sustainable model for restaurants.

 

We recently launched, and early signals have been exceptionally strong. Picnic has been adopted organically by companies across a wide range of industries, with customers discovering and advocating for the product before any marketing. Since launch, we’ve grown incredibly fast and are now entering the 10 → 100 scale phase as we expand across major North American markets.

 

Picnic owns the full stack that powers workplace food delivery: kitchens, courier operations, routing and batching systems, operations tooling, and client applications. This vertical ownership allows us to tightly integrate software, logistics, and operations to deliver reliable, cost-efficient service at scale. We have one of the most complicated meal delivery routing problems and you will help us optimize it at scale!

 

About the role 

We’re looking for a Staff Backend Engineer to help architect and scale Picnic’s real-time logistics and operations platforms. This is a high-impact role for someone who enjoys ambiguity, thrives in complex systems, and wants to shape the technical direction of backend systems that power real-world operations.

You’ll work across backend services that support web and mobile surfaces, partner closely with frontend, mobile, product, and operations teams, and help define how we design, build, and scale backend systems at Picnic.

What You’ll Do

• Write high-quality, well-tested code in languages like Java and Go, and set a strong bar for engineering excellence
• Lead and influence large backend initiatives across domains such as vehicle routing optimization, automation, scalability, and reliability
• Own backend architecture and drive solutions to ambiguous, high-impact problems
• Drive the development and scaling of core data stores and API layers as the business grows
• Establish and promote best practices for building, testing, monitoring, and operating large-scale systems
• Translate technical vision into quarterly roadmaps in collaboration with product and engineering leadership
• Mentor and uplevel engineers through technical leadership, reviews, and hands-on collaboration

What we’re looking for

• 10+ years of experience in software engineering
• Strong experience architecting and delivering systems in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
• Proven ability to lead complex, cross-team initiatives and drive architectural alignment
• Deep understanding of backend system design, APIs, data stores, and distributed systems
• Experience collaborating closely with frontend, mobile, product, data, and business partners
• A hands-on engineer who sets a high bar for code quality, reliability, and operational excellence
• Passion for product impact and building systems that directly support customers and operators

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building or operating logistics, delivery, or real-time systems at scale
• Background in fast-growing, high-execution technology companies
• Familiarity with frontend and mobile tradeoffs and how backend decisions affect client performance
• Track record of improving developer productivity through tooling, patterns, or process improvements

 

Why join us 

• Massive market opportunity: Online food delivery continues to grow rapidly, creating room for durable, category-defining companies
• Real impact: You’ll help reshape how restaurants succeed in delivery while improving everyday experiences for thousands of workers
• Ownership and influence: Frontend is core to Picnic’s operations—your work directly impacts couriers, operators, and customers
• Strong engineering culture: You’ll collaborate closely with experienced engineers and leaders who care deeply about craft, impact, and growth

 

What else you need to know 

This role is based in our New York office. We believe the best ideas emerge from close collaboration, especially when building new products and redefining how an industry works. As a result, Picnic operates in-office five days a week for all non-field roles.

The base salary range for this role is $224,000 - 284,000 per year.

Actual compensation will be determined on an individual basis and may vary depending on experience, skills, and qualifications.

Base salary is just one part of your total rewards package. You may also be eligible for equity awards and an annual performance-based bonus.

 

Benefits Summary (USA Full-Time Exempt Employees):

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (multiple plans, incl. HSA options)
• Company-paid life and disability insurance (short- and long-term)
• Voluntary insurance: accident, critical illness, hospital indemnity
• Optional supplemental life insurance for self, spouse, and children
• Pet insurance discount
• 401(k)
• Time Off policies:
• Discretionary vacation days
• 8 paid holidays per year
• Paid sick time
• Paid Bereavement leave
• Paid Parental Leave
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Healthcare, Dependent Care, Commuter)

Benefits are subject to change at the company's discretion.
CSS accepts applications on an ongoing basis.

Ready to join us as we serve those who serve others? 

 

#LI-Onsite