Software Developer, Backend Ads

TextNow, Inc.•San Francisco, CA

1d•$123,900 - $298,800

About The Position

TextNow is building the future of communication. As one of the largest provider of free phone service in North America, we're connecting millions of people through affordable, accessible wireless and messaging experiences. Our mission is simple: help people stay connected, regardless of their financial circumstances. Our products sit at the intersection of telecommunications, mobile technology, advertising, AI, and consumer software. Every day, millions of customers rely on TextNow to communicate with family, friends, businesses, and essential services. As we continue to grow, we're investing in the platforms, tools, and technologies that power those experiences at scale. We are a collaborative team of builders, problem-solvers, and product-minded engineers who care deeply about customer impact. We value ownership, pragmatic decision-making, data-informed thinking, and moving quickly without sacrificing quality. We're AI-enabled, not AI-driven. AI tools are increasingly part of how we work, but engineering judgment, customer empathy, and thoughtful execution remain at the center of every decision we make.

Requirements

4+ years of professional software engineering experience in a product-focused environment
Demonstrated ownership and the ability to independently drive projects through ambiguity
Strong computer science fundamentals, including data structures, algorithms, and software design principles
Experience building and operating distributed systems and cloud-based applications at scale
Strong understanding of databases, APIs, and modern backend architectures
Proficiency in one or more modern programming languages, with the ability to learn new technologies quickly
Strong written and verbal communication skills with both technical and non-technical audiences
Collaborative mindset with a passion for mentoring, learning, and building high-quality software
Experience working in fast-moving startup or growth-stage environments
Familiarity with cloud infrastructure, automation, observability, and modern development practices
Interest in AI, automation, and emerging technologies that improve how teams build and operate software

Responsibilities

Build scalable backend services, APIs, and platform capabilities that power core TextNow experiences for millions of users
Partner with Product Managers, Designers, Data Scientists, and Engineers to deliver reliable, customer-focused solutions
Contribute to architecture, technical design, and long-term platform strategy
Use data, experimentation, and customer insights to improve product outcomes and operational efficiency
Help define and implement engineering best practices across the organization
Participate in design reviews, code reviews, and technical discussions
Identify and resolve performance, reliability, and scalability challenges
Leverage AI tools and emerging technologies to accelerate development and improve customer experiences
Work with our AdOp team to develop new ad solutions to provide increasing value to advertisers
Collaborate with our Product team to ensure a high-quality user experience around our ads
Debug performance issues with ad units and work with ad providers to resolve them
Implement improvements to the ads code architecture