Senior Backend Software Engineer

About the role

You will architect and own the core backend services that power Semgrep's code analysis platform, ensuring high throughput and low latency for millions of scans. You will design and implement scalable data models and APIs that securely handle customer code and metadata with strict performance SLAs. You will collaborate closely with product and security engineers to translate complex requirements into robust backend services that are observable and maintainable. You will integrate third-party cloud services and vendors while maintaining the reliability and security of our first-party infrastructure. You will optimize database queries and distributed workflows to support rapid feature development without degrading user experience. You will mentor junior engineers on best practices for building resilient backend systems in a fast-paced environment. You will participate in on-call rotations to support production incidents and drive improvements to system reliability. You will contribute to the technical roadmap that shapes how Semgrep scales its AI-driven analysis globally.

Key facts

What you'll do

Design and implement backend services that deliver a fast and reliable user experience for Semgrep customers at scale.

Collaborate with frontend and product engineers to define and evolve APIs and data models that power Semgrep's analysis workflows.

Optimize database schemas, queries, and indexing strategies to handle large volumes of code and metadata efficiently.

Integrate with third-party cloud providers and vendors while ensuring security, compliance, and performance of first-party systems.

Build and maintain infrastructure components deployed on Kubernetes and hosted on AWS to support high availability and resilience.

Implement monitoring, alerting, and logging solutions to ensure reliable operation and quick troubleshooting of production issues.

Partner with security and data teams to enforce guardrails and improve detection accuracy for code vulnerabilities and supply chain risks.

Work with distributed teams to deliver features that align with Semgrep's product vision and customer needs across multiple regions.

Contribute to architectural decisions that balance scalability, maintainability, and speed of development.

Participate in code reviews, design discussions, and on-call rotations to uphold operational excellence and system reliability.

Drive improvements in development workflows by automating processes and reducing manual overhead for engineering teams.

Support the rollout of AI-assisted features that reduce false positives and prioritize reachable vulnerabilities for users.

Help establish best practices for testing, deployment, and documentation across backend services.

Engage with the broader Semgrep community by incorporating feedback into backend enhancements and service design.

Requirements

You have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience.

You have 5+ years of professional software engineering experience building backend systems.

You have demonstrated experience with TypeScript and Node.js or a strong ability to learn them quickly for backend development.

You have hands-on experience with Python and frameworks such as Flask or Django for building web services.

You have solid knowledge of SQL and experience optimizing queries in relational databases such as PostgreSQL.

You understand distributed systems concepts including scalability, fault tolerance, and consistency models.

You are comfortable working with containerization and orchestration tools such as Docker and Kubernetes.

You have experience deploying and operating services on cloud infrastructure, preferably AWS.

You are comfortable reading and integrating with third-party APIs and vendor services in production systems.

You have strong problem-solving skills and the ability to debug complex issues in production environments.

You are comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities and evolving requirements.

You have excellent written and verbal communication skills and can collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.

You are passionate about writing clean, maintainable, and well-tested code.

You are open to learning new technologies and adapting to Semgrep's evolving tech stack.

You are authorized to work in the United States for this role, with current authorization required at the time of application.

Nice to have

Professional experience with React is beneficial for understanding frontend integration and developer workflows.

Familiarity with security analysis tools and code scanning platforms is advantageous for aligning with Semgrep's mission.

Experience contributing to open source projects or building public-facing developer tools.

Knowledge of security and compliance best practices in cloud environments.

Experience with CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure as code.

Practical notes

This is a hybrid role with the expectation you'll join us 3+ days per week in our San Francisco, New York, Boston or Denver offices depending on team. Remote employment will be considered for exceptional candidates as well.

Employment is full-time.

The estimated starting annual salary range for this position is $163,000 to $246,500 USD.

You must be authorized to work in the United States for this role.