Staff Software Engineer, Backend

This is a hybrid role based in our Chicago offices and will require you to be in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

What’s so interesting about this role?

Our team is growing because our user base is growing (30% in the last year!) which means we need you! We’re looking for an experienced Backend Engineer who is passionate about building, testing, deploying, and working closely with the Product team to deliver new features. You will have the opportunity to solve challenging problems, work with the latest systems, collaborate with a kind and capable team, and contribute meaningfully.

What’s the job?

• You’ll join a backend team of 10+ engineers working on key features that support millions of active users daily.

• Leading projects and other engineers to implement new features and coordinate closely with the product and design teams

• Own the design and development of Grindr’s backend services in a stable and scalable microservices architecture

• Work with Product Managers, Designers, and other Engineers to refine feature design and functionality

• Optimize key pieces of Grindr's platform using tools like Redis, Postgres, and Kafka on AWS services

• Innovate by guiding data-driven decisions to adopt new technologies, architectures, and workflow

• Maintain high availability of the Grindr platform by leveraging distributed systems and infrastructure engineering, while playing a key role in optimizations, cost reduction, and incident management.

• Help guide and mentor team members through pairing sessions, code reviews, and architecture reviews.

What we'll love about you

• 7+ years of experience as a Software Engineer and contributing to Backend Systems (Service APIs, Data Processing, Messaging Services)

• Experience designing and implementing large-scale systems for high load and data consistency in a microservice-based architecture

• Experience designing systems that make heavy and efficient use of Cloud Service, AWS preferred.

• Passionate about testing software and systems

• Deep understanding of concurrency concepts and trade-offs

• You love figuring things out and understanding how they work end-to-end

• Experience with the JVM and at least one JVM language such as Java, Kotlin, and Scala. Experience designing and product ionizing large-scale distributed systems

We’ll really swoon if you have any:

• Experience developing Production systems using Kotlin, Postgres and Kafka

• Experience in mentoring / skilling up less experienced developers

What you'll love about us

• Mission and Impact: Grindr is building the global gayborhood in your pocket. Your role will impact the lives of millions of LGBTQ+ people around the world. Through our success, we are making a world where the lives of our community are free, equal, and just.

• Family Insurance: Insurance premium coverage for health, dental, and vision for you and partial coverage for your dependents.

• Retirement Savings: Generous 401K plan with 6% match and immediate vest in the U.S.

• Compensation: Industry-competitive compensation and eligibility for company bonus and equity programs.

• Queer-Inclusive Benefits: Industry-leading gender-affirming offerings with up to 90% cost coverage, access to Included Health, monthly stipends for HRT, and more.

• Additional Benefits: Flexible vacation policy, monthly stipends for cell phone, internet, wellness, food, and commuting, breakfast/lunch provided onsite, and yearly travel & leisure stipend.

About Grindr

Grindr is building the global gayborhood in your pocket. With more than 13.5 million monthly active users, Grindr has become a fundamental part of the LGBTQ+ community and is charting a path to make the world more free, equal, and just. Since 2015, Grindr for Equality has advanced safety, health, and human rights for millions of Grindr users and the global LGBTQ+ community in partnership with more than 100 community organizations in every region of the world.

Our next evolution is underway as a public company that continues to grow and build meaningful experiences for our users. From social issues to product innovations, we’re setting audacious goals for our community and the business, and leveraging the latest tech stacks and a culture of engineering excellence to make it happen. At the heart of our work in this new chapter is a shared set of operating principles centered around cultivating curiosity, thinking big, setting and expediting our ambitious goals, and growing through iteration; all while keeping our users #1.

Grindr is headquartered in West Hollywood, California, with offices in the Bay Area, Chicago, and New York. With a track record of strong financial performance and plans for continued headcount growth, we’re building a team of talented, passionate, and open-minded people who want to disrupt the dating app space, innovate products, and advance LGBTQ+ culture. Come be a part of this exciting journey with us.

Grindr is an equal-opportunity employer

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