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Remote Backend Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

WEX

Senior Backend Engineer - AI Platform

Bodega Bay, CA · On-site +1

$145K - $191K/yr

This is a remote position; however, the candidate must reside within 30 miles of one of the ... Seattle, WA; and Portland, ME About the Team/Role We are seeking a seasoned Sr. Software Engineer ...

Fictiv

Senior Software Engineer (West Coast)

Oakland, CA · On-site +1

$160K - $200K/yr

Senior Backend Engineer (Node.js / AWS) Location: Oakland, CA (Remote) | Open to CA, OR, WA Company: Fictiv Build the Future of Manufacturing Manufacturing is a $13 trillion industry-but much of it ...

eNett

Senior Backend Engineer - AI Platform

Bodega Bay, CA · On-site +1

$145K - $191K/yr

This is a remote position; however, the candidate must reside within 30 miles of one of the ... Seattle, WA; and Portland, ME About the Team/Role We are seeking a seasoned Sr. Software Engineer ...

WEX

Senior Backend Engineer - AI Platform

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$144K - $190K/yr

This is a remote position; however, the candidate must reside within 30 miles of one of the ... Seattle, WA; and Portland, ME About the Team/Role We are seeking a seasoned Sr. Software Engineer ...

eNett

Senior Backend Engineer - AI Platform

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

$144K - $190K/yr

This is a remote position; however, the candidate must reside within 30 miles of one of the ... Seattle, WA; and Portland, ME About the Team/Role We are seeking a seasoned Sr. Software Engineer ...

Field Materials

$144K - $190K/yr

We're looking for a Backend Engineer with experience building high-performance micro-services and APIs. This is the job for someone that cares about building large, scalable, performant production ...

Fictiv

Senior Software Engineer (West Coast)

Oakland, CA · On-site +1

$160K - $200K/yr

Senior Backend Engineer (Node.js / AWS) Location: Oakland, CA (Remote) | Open to CA, OR, WA Company: Fictiv Build the Future of Manufacturing Manufacturing is a $13 trillion industry--but much of it ...

Maker

Remote (Europe) Preferred: Portugal About the Role At Maker, we build an AI-powered page builder ... Not a backend engineer. Someone who owns features end-to-end from understanding the user problem ...

Freenome

Senior Software Engineer II

Brisbane, CA · Remote

$161K - $227K/yr

The ideal candidate is an experienced backend engineer with a strong background in developing ... This role will be a Remote role. What you'll do: * Design, develop, and deploy reliable ...

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Remote Backend Engineer information

What are Remote Backend Engineers?

Remote Backend Engineers are software developers who specialize in building and maintaining the server-side logic, databases, and APIs of web applications, while working from a location outside of a traditional office environment. They focus on ensuring that the application's data and processes function smoothly, securely, and efficiently. Working remotely, they collaborate with teams using digital tools to manage projects, communicate, and deploy code. This role requires strong programming skills, problem-solving abilities, and the discipline to work independently.

What is the difference between Remote Backend Engineer vs Remote Software Developer?

AspectRemote Backend EngineerRemote Software Developer
Required CredentialsBachelor's in CS or related field, often with backend-specific certificationsBachelor's in CS or related field, with general programming certifications
Work EnvironmentFocus on server-side, database, and API developmentDevelops applications across front-end and back-end, often full-stack
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, startups, SaaS providersTech, finance, healthcare, and various industries
Search & Comparison IntentLooking for specialized backend rolesSeeking broader software development roles

The main difference is that a Remote Backend Engineer specializes in server-side development, APIs, and databases, while a Remote Software Developer may work across both front-end and back-end tasks. Backend Engineers focus more on infrastructure and data management, whereas Software Developers have a broader scope in application development.

What are some common challenges Remote Backend Engineers face when collaborating with distributed teams?

Remote Backend Engineers often work with colleagues across different time zones and cultures, which can make real-time communication and quick problem-solving more challenging. They may need to rely heavily on written documentation, asynchronous communication tools, and clear code reviews to ensure everyone stays aligned. Proactively reaching out, maintaining regular updates, and participating in virtual standups or sprint meetings are key strategies to overcome these challenges and foster effective teamwork.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Remote Backend Engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Remote Backend Engineer, you need strong programming skills in languages like Java, Python, or Node.js, along with a solid understanding of database management and software architecture. Familiarity with cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure), version control systems (like Git), and CI/CD pipelines is typically required, and certifications in cloud computing or backend frameworks can be advantageous. Excellent problem-solving abilities, self-motivation, and clear written communication are crucial soft skills for remote collaboration and project delivery. These competencies enable efficient development, seamless teamwork, and the effective building and maintenance of scalable backend systems in a distributed work environment.
What are the most commonly searched types of Backend Engineer jobs in California? The most popular types of Backend Engineer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Remote Backend Engineer jobs in California? For Remote Backend Engineer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Remote Backend Engineer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Remote Backend Engineer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Remote Backend Engineer jobs? Cities in California with the most Remote Backend Engineer job openings:
Remote Backend Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Remote Backend Engineer job openings in California as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 79% Full Time, 17% Part Time, and 4% Temporary. Highlights an 38% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 59% Remote job distribution.
Staff Software Engineer, Product

Staff Software Engineer, Product

NxT Level

San Francisco, CA • Remote

$240K - $250K/yr

Other

Medical, PTO

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

Staff Backend Engineer (PLG / Data Pipelines / Reliability)

Location: Remote (U.S. or Canada)
Compensation: $240,000–$250,000 base (estimated) + meaningful pre-IPO equity

About Our Client

Our client is building an AI-native operating system for local businesses—starting with restaurants. Their platform replaces the patchwork of tools owners use to run the business (website, online ordering, CRM, marketing, and more) and is designed to work agentically: instead of making owners do the work to grow revenue and profit, the software does the work for them.

They’ve achieved significant traction since 2020, generating tens of millions in revenue and processing over a billion dollars in online orders. Their product is used by tens of thousands of restaurant owners and has helped save owners significant fees. The team is in the low hundreds and continues to scale.

The Product You’ll Own

Our client’s free restaurant health report product is one of their most visible and fastest-growing offerings. A restaurant submits their URL and receives a clear view into where they’re losing money online—website performance, Google presence, menu quality, and more. New AI-powered scoring capabilities are launching on top of it, and the backend needs to be fast, resilient, and built to scale.

The Role

Our client is hiring a Senior Backend Engineer to own the backend services and pipelines powering this health report end-to-end. This is a high-ownership role where you’ll harden the platform before major expansion, establish foundational architecture patterns, and partner closely with product-led growth and AI teams as the product evolves.

Tech Stack

  • Backend: Node.js, TypeScript
  • Databases: MongoDB, PostgreSQL
  • Infrastructure & Observability: AWS, Datadog, Temporal

What You’ll Do

  • Own backend services and data pipelines end-to-end—from ingesting third-party presence signals (e.g., Google, Yelp, menus, LLM GEO signals) to serving results reliably at scale
  • Harden the platform for expansion: reduce latency, improve uptime, and build the observability/alerting layer needed to scale confidently
  • Establish platform foundations: shared abstractions, operational runbooks, and architectural patterns that reduce toil and enable other engineers to build faster
  • Partner with PLG product and AI/agents teams as the product expands into new scoring dimensions and AI-powered capabilities

What Our Client Is Looking For

  • 7+ years of experience, including meaningful ownership of production backend services
  • Experience building and operating data pipelines, third-party integrations, and async processing systems at scale
  • Proven track record improving reliability: observability, alerting, incident reduction, and making operational health a team habit
  • Experience in product-focused startup/scale-up environments with end-to-end ownership
  • Strong cross-functional collaboration—product/design/business partners would vouch for your teamwork
  • High ownership, excellent communication, and a proactive approach to identifying and solving problems

Why This Role

  • Own the backend of a highly visible PLG product at meaningful scale
  • Build platform foundations before a major expansion (architecture, observability, runbooks, reliability)
  • Work at the intersection of data pipelines, integrations, and AI-powered scoring systems
  • Remote-first role with strong compensation and equity upside

Compensation & Benefits

  • Estimated base salary: $240K–$250K (dependent on level, location, experience) + generous pre-IPO equity
  • Comprehensive health coverage
  • Remote-first workplace / work from anywhere
  • Unlimited PTO + additional perks

Apply