Sr. Engineer, Backend (Canvas)

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Requirements:

• 6+ years of professional experience in software engineering, with a focus on backend systems, APIs, and scalable architectures.
• Proficiency in TypeScript (preferred), Python, or a similar language for high-performance backend development.
• Experience designing, building, and maintaining APIs for complex systems, including API versioning and lifecycle management.
• Strong understanding of graph-based and relational database design, with the ability to represent complex relationships and dependencies.
• Demonstrated ability to make architectural decisions for scalable and high-throughput systems.
• Proven experience integrating AI/ML systems into production workflows, including optimization for inference and monitoring.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams, including AI/ML specialists, product managers, and other engineers.
• Expertise in designing modular, reusable architectures for multi-team, multi-product ecosystems.
• Proficiency in optimizing backend performance, especially for latency-sensitive and high-throughput APIs.
• Experience with distributed ownership of data models and ensuring consistency across interconnected systems.

Responsibilities:

• Enhance AI Assist Capabilities: Build and optimize backend systems that power AI-driven recommendations, ensuring seamless integration with Canvas workflows. Develop high-throughput systems to process and serve data efficiently for AI-powered features.
• Collaborate with Product and Design Teams: Partner with product managers, UX designers, and AI/ML specialists to deliver intuitive and impactful backend solutions that support our users’ automation needs.
• Deliver our API-First Vision: Architect and implement scalable, developer-friendly APIs that enable seamless communication between Canvas and other Zapier products. Ensure APIs are secure, reliable, and optimized for performance.
• Optimize System Performance: Monitor and improve the reliability, scalability, and efficiency of backend systems, addressing performance bottlenecks, error rates, and maintaining high availability.
• Design Scalable Data Models: Create graph-based and relational data models that represent complex relationships and dependencies, supporting interconnected products across the Zapier ecosystem.
• Resolve Bugs and Implement Feature Requests: Investigate and address backend issues, ensuring they are resolved promptly while continuously looking for ways to improve based on user feedback.
• Collaborate Across Teams: Work with engineers, data specialists, and AI/ML teams across the organization to align on goals, share best practices, and drive innovation in backend system design.