Software Engineer, Backend (Product Engineering)

Patreon•San Francisco, CA

3d•$189,000 - $255,500•Hybrid

About The Position

Patreon is seeking a Software Engineer, Backend to support its mission of funding the creative class by building and improving products for creators and their fans. The role is part of the Product Engineering team, which partners with Product, Design, Data, Research, and other engineering teams to deliver customer experiences across multiple product areas. The engineer will own well-scoped backend projects from technical design through implementation, testing, launch, monitoring, and iteration. They will build and maintain reliable, scalable services, APIs, and data models for user-facing features; collaborate with cross-functional partners to clarify requirements and define API contracts; and make technical tradeoffs that balance product needs, delivery timelines, performance, and long-term system health. The role also involves improving existing systems, debugging production issues, participating in design discussions and code reviews, and learning unfamiliar product areas while maintaining a backend focus. The position is based in San Francisco and follows a hybrid model requiring three in-office days per week for employees based in office locations.

Requirements

At least 3 years of professional software development experience, or equivalent demonstrated experience, including independently delivering well-scoped backend projects for user-facing products.
Proficiency in Python or a comparable backend language, including experience building and maintaining services and APIs.
Experience with SQL, relational databases, and data modeling.
Experience testing, debugging, monitoring, and supporting backend systems in production.
Ability to design backend components and make thoughtful tradeoffs around reliability, performance, scalability, and maintainability.
Strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to identify risks early, navigate changing requirements, and connect technical decisions to customer and business outcomes.
Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

Own and deliver well-scoped backend projects from technical design through implementation, testing, launch, monitoring, and iteration.
Design, build, and maintain reliable, scalable services, APIs, and data models for user-facing product features.
Partner with frontend engineers, product managers, designers, and data partners to clarify requirements, define API contracts, and deliver complete product experiences.
Make technical tradeoffs that balance product needs, delivery timelines, performance, and long-term system health.
Improve the reliability, performance, and maintainability of existing backend systems.
Debug production issues and support the ongoing health of systems built.
Contribute to technical design discussions and code reviews, sharing knowledge and learning from teammates.
Learn unfamiliar systems and product areas, contributing across the stack when needed while maintaining a backend focus.