Senior Software Engineer, Backend

Chicory

4h•$160,000 - $180,000•Hybrid

About The Position

As our Senior Software Engineer, Backend, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the technology behind a rapidly evolving adtech company. You’ll tackle complex, high-impact engineering challenges where strong technical judgment can meaningfully influence the scalability of our platform, the performance of our products, and the growth of the business. This is a highly visible role for an engineer who enjoys solving ambiguous problems, owning meaningful technical decisions, and raising the bar for the people around them. You’ll have the autonomy to make an impact while partnering closely with a talented, collaborative team that values thoughtful engineering, continuous learning, and building things the right way.

Requirements

7+ years of professional backend software engineering experience, including 2+ years working directly on programmatic advertising systems such as SSPs, DSPs, ad exchanges, ad servers, or header bidding solutions
Hands-on experience with OpenRTB and the mechanics of programmatic auctions, including bid request/response flows, timeouts, floor pricing, and deal types
Applied knowledge of Ad Tech ecosystem concepts including identity and cookie synchronization, audience targeting, measurement, and the end-to-end lifecycle of an ad request
Proven ability to design, build, and operate high-throughput, latency-sensitive distributed systems at scale, with strong instincts for service boundaries, API design, asynchronous processing, and failure modes
Track record of improving system performance and reliability through effective instrumentation, monitoring, load testing, and performance analysis (e.g., reducing latency, error rates, or improving availability)
Experience integrating complex external platforms and partners, with attention to versioning, data inconsistencies, operational dependencies, and graceful degradation
Demonstrated ability to independently investigate ambiguous problems across multiple services, identify root causes, and evaluate solution tradeoffs
Experience leading major technical initiatives from architecture through production delivery, including influencing technical roadmaps and driving cross-team alignment
Strong mentorship and knowledge-sharing skills, with a history of raising the technical bar of a team through code review, documentation, and architectural guidance
Ability to connect engineering decisions to business outcomes such as revenue, ad delivery, reach, and customer needs, and communicate effectively with Product and non-technical stakeholders

Responsibilities

Lead backend architecture and strategic engineering initiatives across Chicory’s programmatic advertising platform, including ad serving, OpenRTB, SSP/DSP integrations, auction systems, identity and signal flows, and related backend services
Independently drive complex backend projects from concept through delivery, balancing scalability, reliability, performance, and maintainability while meeting high technical standards
Serve as a technical subject-matter expert on programmatic advertising and translate industry standards and emerging technologies into engineering decisions
Design, implement, and troubleshoot integrations with SSPs, DSPs, exchanges, and other external advertising platforms
Optimize high-throughput, latency-sensitive systems, including auction and ad-serving workflows, while maintaining reliability and scalability
Mentor backend engineers, fostering technical growth and a culture of engineering excellence within the team
Proactively identify architectural improvements, performance optimizations, and system enhancements
Trace and optimize the end-to-end lifecycle of an ad opportunity across Chicory's backend systems and external programmatic partners
Engage closely with Engineering, Product, Campaign Management, and other stakeholders to align technical solutions with business objectives
Conduct rigorous code reviews, establishing and enforcing standards of high-quality software development
Innovate on backend tooling, infrastructure automation, and process improvements to optimize engineering productivity
Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure backend solutions integrate seamlessly across the broader technology ecosystem
Champion best practices in software design, performance engineering, and reliability engineering
Monitor developments in programmatic advertising standards, protocols, identity solutions, and industry practices and translate relevant changes into technical strategy
Build upon team and company culture and act as a champion of the Chicory Principles

Benefits

Comprehensive healthcare benefits, including dental + vision plans
Flexible paid time off policy for vacation, sick days, mental health days, and more!
14 paid holidays + flexibility to take paid time off for any other holidays you observe
Employer-paid membership to One Medical
Free ClassPass membership
Annual learning & development stipend
Flexible remote and hybrid work style arrangements
Fun and friendly office in NYC stocked with free snacks
Virtual and in-person outings and fun activities with our amazing team
Dog-friendly workplace
Competitive compensation package, including base salary + stock options
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) + Health Spending Account (HSA)
401k retirement plan
Commuter benefits
Discounted pet insurance