[Hiring] Principal Backend Software Engineer @Turnitin, LLC

Role Description

As a member of the GRaF (Grading and Feedback) team, the purpose of this role is to build and maintain services related to grading and feedback functionality. The Senior Software Engineer - Backend Services will be responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining scalable, high-performance backend systems using AWS Lambda and related technologies. This role is critical in developing and optimizing our serverless architecture. Cross functionally this role will interface mainly with QA, Product, UX and Support.

• Drive the long-term technical strategy and multi-year architectural roadmap for the GRaF backend platform, defining and enforcing technical standards and best practices across the team.
• Lead the design, development, and implementation of scalable, robust, and cost-efficient backend services using AWS Lambda, RESTful APIs, and event-driven architectures.
• Act as a technical leader, providing expert technical guidance and mentorship to engineers on system design, Java best practices, code quality, and troubleshooting complex issues in production environments.
• Proactively partner with engineering, product, and architectural leadership across multiple teams to identify and resolve systemic technical debt and architectural risks.
• Oversee and ensure the continuous improvement of CI/CD pipelines (e.g., GitHub Actions) and the maintenance of comprehensive automated testing frameworks.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional experience in backend development.
• Expert-level proficiency in Java or another programming language suitable for AWS Lambda, with deep experience in distributed, high-scale, and high availability systems.
• Extensive experience with complex AWS serverless services (especially Lambdas & DynamoDB) and a proven track record of driving large-scale architectural decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to act independently, set technical direction, and influence cross-functional teams and senior engineers without direct authority.
• Proven experience mentoring other engineers, leading technical design reviews, and establishing engineering processes and quality standards.
• Exceptional analytical and conceptual thinking skills to resolve significant, unique, and ambiguous technical challenges.

Requirements

• The expected annual base salary range for this position is: $130,350/year to $217,250/year.
• This position is bonus eligible / commission-based.
• Actual compensation will be provided in writing at the time of offer, if extended, and is determined by work location and a range of other relevant factors, including but not limited to: experience, skills, degrees, licensures, certifications, and other job-related factors.
• Internal equity, market and organizational factors are also considered.

Benefits

• Remote First Culture
• Health Care Coverage
• Education Reimbursement
• Competitive Paid Time Off
• Self-Care Days
• National Holidays
• 2 Founder Days + Juneteenth Observed
• Paid Volunteer Time Off
• Charitable Contribution Match
• Monthly Wellness or Home Office Reimbursement
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (mental health platform)
• Parental Leave
• Retirement Plan with match/contribution