Senior/Staff Software Engineer, Backend

Skylight

10h • $150,000 - $203,000 • Remote

About The Position

At Skylight, software engineers design, implement, and maintain software systems to improve government services for users. This software is built to meet the needs of regular users of government services as well as Skylight’s partners in government. As a senior or staff backend engineer, you’ll design, build, and maintain the server-side systems, APIs, and data layers behind secure data exchanges. You’ll work as part of a cross-functional team to deliver software that is reliable, performant, and secure, and that meets federal security standards. You’ll also help grow the team’s engineering capacity through coaching and knowledge sharing.

Requirements

• Ability to write clean, working, and reusable code, with a focus on backend systems and services
• Can produce high-quality code by adhering to good practices such as automated testing
• Possess a strong understanding of data engineering, including how to use various datastores to handle persistent data in software systems
• Familiar with how to build secure, compliant software and defend against common vulnerabilities
• Understand the different pieces of software systems and how to fit them together, while keeping performance, reliability, and availability in mind
• Understand the importance of always putting users at the center of your work, including thinking through the impact and implications of any code that you write
• Experience mentoring engineers and raising the technical bar across a team or product (staff level)
• Ability to work successfully within a professional services environment (e.g., can communicate effectively with clients)
• Passionate about creating better public outcomes through great government services
• A mindset and work approach that aligns with our core values
• Ability to travel for work from time to time
• All work must be conducted within the U.S., excluding U.S. territories.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. now and in the future without sponsorship.
• As a government contractor, you may be required to obtain a public trust or security clearance.
• Must complete a company background check successfully.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with databases and/or cloud infrastructure
• Familiarity with CI/CD best practices
• Experience with infrastructure as code (e.g., Docker, Terraform)
• Experience building software that handles sensitive personal data (e.g., tax, financial, or benefits information)
• Prior experience working in the civic tech space
• Experience working in a remote-team environment

Responsibilities

• Engineer the server-side of a software product as part of a cross-functional team that includes researchers, designers, product managers, and other engineers
• Design, build, and maintain APIs, services, and data layers that keep secure data exchanges reliable and performant
• Achieve technical excellence by advocating for and adhering to lean-agile engineering practices such as API-first design, simple design, continuous integration, version control, and automated testing
• Build secure, compliant software that meets federal security standards and defends against common vulnerabilities
• Analyze systems to identify technical debt, instability, and other opportunities for improvement, then design, document, and communicate solutions
• Mentor other engineers and share knowledge to strengthen the team’s engineering practice

Benefits

• Medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Life and AD&D insurance
• Dependent care FSA, healthcare FSA, health savings account
• Dollar-for-dollar 401(k) match up to 10% of your salary with no vesting period
• Flexible paid time-off-policy (generally around 25 days per year), plus 11 paid federal holidays
• Up to 12 weeks paid-time-off for all eligible new birth, adoption, or foster parents
• Performance rewards, including annual salary increase, annual performance bonus, spot bonuses, and stock options
• Business development / sales bonuses
• Referral bonuses
• Annual $2,000 allowance for professional development
• Annual $750 allowance for tech-related purchases
• Annual swag budget of $100 to display your Skylight pride with some merchandise (hoodies, hats, and more)
• Dollar-for-dollar charity donation matching, up to $500 per year
• Flexible, remote-friendly work environment
• An environment that empowers you to unleash your superpowers for public good

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed