[Hiring] Senior/Staff Software Engineer, Backend @Syndio

Role Description

We are hiring a Senior or Staff level Backend Engineer to join our core platform engineering group. In this high-autonomy role on a focused team, you will design, build, and scale high-throughput distributed systems that power our core backend services. You will own systems end-to-end - from API design and data modeling to deploying resilient infrastructure and monitoring performance in production.

What You'll Work On

• Design, ship, and operate core distributed microservices written in Go and Python.
• Build real-time event streaming and data processing pipelines using Kafka.
• Architect performant, flexible API interfaces across REST, GraphQL, and gRPC protocols.
• Design efficient schemas and optimize query performance for relational storage using Postgres and modern ORMs.
• Provision, maintain, and scale cloud infrastructure across GCP and AWS using Terraform and GitHub Actions CI/CD pipelines.
• Ensure high reliability, low latency, and operational visibility across backend systems using Datadog.

Qualifications

• 7+ years building and operating backend systems in production.
• Deep comfort with Go and Python, with strong experience building concurrent, high-performance systems.
• Strong database fundamentals with Postgres and relational ORMs, including query optimization and schema migration strategies.
• Experience building and maintaining event-driven architectures with Kafka.
• Expertise designing production APIs across REST, GraphQL, or gRPC.
• Hands-on experience with cloud environments (GCP and/or AWS), Infrastructure as Code via Terraform, and continuous delivery via GitHub Actions.
• Operational mindset: familiarity with observability, distributed tracing, and metrics tooling in Datadog.
• Strong written communication to author design docs and lead clear PR reviews.
• Own a technical domain with light supervision: propose direction in writing with clear specs, take review, ship, and carry the pager for what you shipped.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in backend systems.
• Proficiency in Go and Python.
• Experience with Postgres and relational ORMs.
• Familiarity with Kafka for event-driven architectures.
• Knowledge of REST, GraphQL, and gRPC APIs.
• Experience with GCP and/or AWS.
• Understanding of Infrastructure as Code and CI/CD practices.
• Familiarity with observability tools like Datadog.

Benefits

• 💰 Competitive Compensation: Salary targeted at $180-210k USD or $175-205k CAD per year, determined by experience and expertise.
• 🏆 Syndio Equity: Share in Syndio’s success.
• 🏝 Flexible Vacation Policy: Up to 20 days PTO in Canada, plus paid sick & safe time, compassion leave, and voting leave.
• 🩺 Medical, Dental, Vision: Syndio pays 90% of employee premiums, and 50% for dependents.
• 🏥 Life Insurance & Disability: Syndio covers the full premium.
• 📍 Remote-first in US + Alberta; non-mandatory office available in Calgary.

Role Progression

• First 30 days: Onboard into our development workflow, master core platform architecture, and ship your first feature.
• First 60 days: Independently own sub-systems, optimize Postgres/ORM data paths, and manage cloud infrastructure updates via Terraform.
• First 90 days: Lead the design and implementation of a major event-driven or API capability end-to-end and take on-call responsibilities for platform services.

The Interview Overview

• Recruiter Screen (25 min)
• Meet the Hiring Manager (30 min)
• Technical Discussion – Systems & Data Architecture (60 min)
• Practical Coding & API Design Exercise Review (60 min)
• Product Interview (30 min)
• Executive Interview (30 min)