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Senior Backend Engineer Jobs in Iowa (NOW HIRING)

Contract We are seeking a highly skilled Sr. UI/UX Developer/Architect with extensive experience in ... Backend Familiarity: Experience with .NET, MVC, and SQL to support backend integration and cross ...

Senior Lead Digital Product Manager

Des Moines, IA ยท On-site

$123K - $163K/yr

What You'll Lead As a Senior Lead Digital Product Manager, you will help define the future of ... Technical fluency and experience partnering with engineering teams to deliver backend services ...

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Senior Backend Engineer information

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$19.1K

$142.5K

$199.6K

How much do senior backend engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for senior backend engineer in Iowa is $142,543.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $121,100.00 and $167,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior backend engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Backend Engineer, you need advanced proficiency in server-side programming languages (such as Java, Python, or Node.js), database management, and experience with scalable system architecture, typically supported by a relevant degree and several years of professional experience. Familiarity with frameworks, APIs, containerization tools (like Docker and Kubernetes), and cloud platforms (such as AWS or Azure) is essential, along with knowledge of version control systems like Git. Strong problem-solving abilities, effective communication, and mentorship skills help you collaborate across teams and guide junior developers. These skills ensure the delivery of robust, efficient, and maintainable backend systems that support business objectives and seamless user experiences.

What are some common challenges senior backend engineers face when scaling backend systems, and how are they typically addressed?

Senior Backend Engineers often encounter challenges related to system scalability, such as database bottlenecks, latency issues, and maintaining system reliability under increased load. Addressing these challenges typically involves optimizing database queries, implementing caching strategies, and designing microservices architectures to distribute workloads efficiently. Collaboration with DevOps and frontend teams is also crucial to ensure seamless integration and monitoring. Proactively identifying potential scalability issues and participating in code reviews are key responsibilities in this role.

What does a senior backend engineer do?

A senior backend engineer designs, develops, and maintains server-side applications and systems that support web and mobile platforms. They often work with programming languages like Java, Python, or Node.js, and use databases, APIs, and cloud services to ensure scalable and efficient backend operations. Additionally, they review code, mentor junior developers, and ensure system security and performance standards are met.

What is a senior backend engineer?

Senior Backend Engineers are experienced software professionals responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining the server-side components of web applications or systems. They work with databases, APIs, and application logic to ensure robust, scalable, and efficient backend operations. Their role often involves collaborating with frontend engineers, managing system architecture, reviewing code, and mentoring junior developers. Senior Backend Engineers also play a key role in optimizing performance, ensuring security, and integrating new technologies into existing systems.

What are the most commonly searched types of Backend Engineer jobs in Iowa?

The most popular types of Backend Engineer jobs in Iowa are:

What cities in Iowa are hiring for Senior Backend Engineer jobs?

Cities in Iowa with the most Senior Backend Engineer job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Backend Engineer job openings in Iowa as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 7% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 85% Physical, 5% Hybrid, and 10% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $142,543 per year, or $68.5 per hour.

Software Engineer, iOS Core Product - Iowa City, IA, USA

Speechify Inc.

Iowa City, IA โ€ข On-site

$135K/yr

Other

This job post hasย expired 1 day ago.ย Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

The mission of Speechify is to make sure that reading is never a barrier to learning.
Over 50 million people use Speechify's text-to-speech products to turn whatever they're reading - PDFs, books, Google Docs, news articles, websites - into audio, so they can read faster, read more, and remember more. Speechify's text-to-speech reading products include its iOS app, Android App, Mac App, Chrome Extension, and Web App. Google recently named Speechify the Chrome Extension of the Year and Apple named Speechify its App of the Day.
Today, nearly 200 people around the globe work on Speechify in a 100% distributed setting - Speechify has no office. These include frontend and backend engineers, AI research scientists, and others from Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, leading PhD programs like Stanford, high growth startups like Stripe, Vercel, Bolt, and many founders of their own companies.
Overview
With the growth of our iOS app, being the #18 productivity app in the App Store category and also our recent recognition as Apple's 2025 Design Award for Inclusivity, we find the need for a Senior iOS Engineer to help us support the new user base as well as work on new and exciting projects to push our missing forward.
This is a key role and ideal for someone who thinks strategically, enjoys fast-paced environments, passionate about making product decisions, and has experience building great user experiences that delight users.
We are a flat organization that allows anyone to become a leader by showing excellent technical skills and delivering results consistently and fast. Work ethic, solid communication skills, and obsession with winning are paramount.
Our interview process involves several technical interviews and we aim to complete them within 1 week.
What You'll Do
  • Opportunity to lead key engineering and product decisions
  • Actively shipping production code for the Speechify iOS app
  • Work within a dedicated product team
  • Participate in product discussions to shape the product roadmap
  • Maintain and enhance the existing complex app architecture

An Ideal Candidate Should Have
  • Experience. You've worked on products that scaled to a large user base
  • Track record. You have worked on various products from inception to decent traction. You have been responsible for engineering the product
  • Customer obsession. We expect every team member whose responsibilities directly impact customers to be constantly obsessed about providing the best possible experience
  • Product thinking. You make thoughtful decisions about the evolution of your product and support internal teams and designers into taking the right direction
  • Speed. You work quickly to generate ideas and know how to decide which things can ship now and what things need time
  • Focus. We're a high-growth startup with a busy, remote team. You know how and when to engage or be heads down
  • Technical skills. Swift, SwiftUI

Technical Requirements:
  • Swift Programming Language
  • SwiftUI experience
  • Experience in Multithreading Programming
  • Working with CI/CD infrastructure
  • Experience with Fastlane
  • SOLID principles, the ability to write every single class according to SOLID
  • Experience with Git and understanding of different Git strategies

What We offer:
  • A fast-growing environment where you can help shape the company and product
  • An entrepreneurial crew that supports risk, intuition, and hustle
  • The opportunity to make a big impact in a transformative industry
  • A competitive salary, a collegiate atmosphere, and a commitment to building a great asynchronous culture
  • Work on a product that millions of people use and where daily feedback includes users sharing that they cried when they first found the product because it was so impactful on their lives
  • Support people with learning differences like Dyslexia, ADD, Low Vision, Concussions, Autism, and Second Language Learners, and give reading superpowers to professionals all over the world
  • Work in one of the fastest growing sectors of tech: Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Audio

The United States Based Salary range for this role is: 140,000-200,000 USD/Year + Bonus + Stock depending on experience
Think you're a good fit for this job?
Tell us more about yourself and why you're interested in the role when you apply.
And don't forget to include links to your portfolio and LinkedIn.
Not looking but know someone who would make a great fit?
Refer them!
Speechify is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace.
Speechify does not discriminate on the basis of race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or other legally protected status.