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Staff Backend Software Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Sense

Staff Backend Software Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

Staff Backend Software Engineer About Sense Check out and join our energetic team at Sense! We're a VC-backed, post-Series C climate tech company entering our next stage of growth. We're located in ...

DAT

Staff Backend Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

DAT.com/company Job Application Deadline: 08/31/2026 Candidate profile As a Staff Backend Software Engineer, you will be a key technical leader, responsible for the design, development, and delivery ...

DAT

Staff Backend Software Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

DAT.com/company Job Application Deadline: 08/31/2026 Candidate profile As a Staff Backend Software Engineer, you will be a key technical leader, responsible for the design, development, and delivery ...

Sense

Staff Backend Software Engineer

Cambridge, MA · On-site

Staff Backend Software EngineerAbout Sense Check out and join our energetic team at Sense! We're a ... Role Overview As a Staff Backend Engineer at Sense, you'll use your expertise to expand the ...

Sense

Staff Backend Software Engineer

Cambridge, MA

Staff Backend Software EngineerAbout Sense Check out and join our energetic team at Sense! We're a ... Role Overview As a Staff Backend Engineer at Sense, you'll use your expertise to expand the ...

Feathr

$165 - $180/hr

Staff Backend Software Engineer: Compensation Range: $165,000 - $180,000 base, and a bonus potential of up to 12% Benefits: Fully remote, Health/dental/vision insurance, Company Holidays + Winter ...

Feathr

Staff Backend Software Engineer

Gainesville, FL · On-site

$165 - $180/hr

Staff Backend Software Engineer: Compensation Range: $165,000 - $180,000 base, and a bonus potential of up to 12% Benefits: Fully remote, Health/dental/vision insurance, Company Holidays + Winter ...

Feathr

Staff Backend Software Engineer

Gainesville, FL · Remote

$165K - $180K/yr

Staff Backend Software Engineer: Compensation Range: $165,000 - $180,000 base, and a bonus potential of up to 12% Benefits: Fully remote, Health/dental/vision insurance, Company Holidays + Winter ...

Fox

Staff Backend Software Engineer

Los Angeles, CA

ABOUT THE ROLE We are looking for a Staff Backend Software Engineer to lead delivery of reliable, scalable services for audio/video hosting, monetization, and analytics in the media and creator space ...

Fox

Staff Backend Software Engineer

New York, NY

ABOUT THE ROLE We are looking for a Staff Backend Software Engineer to lead delivery of reliable, scalable services for audio/video hosting, monetization, and analytics in the media and creator space ...

Fox

Staff Backend Software Engineer

Tempe, AZ

ABOUT THE ROLE We are looking for a Staff Backend Software Engineer to lead delivery of reliable, scalable services for audio/video hosting, monetization, and analytics in the media and creator space ...

Jobtailor

Staff Backend Software Engineer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

$140 - $180/hr

Establish best practices for software development, DevOps, and system monitoring Requirements * 5+ years of experience in backend development with a track record of building scalable systems

SPAN

Staff Backend Software Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

$150K - $200K/yr

Designing a flexible and distributed electrical grid The Role We are seeking a seasoned backend software engineer to join our team building the cloud-based glue that gives our users access to the ...

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Staff Backend Software Engineer information

See salary details

$60.5K

$147.7K

$199K

How much do staff backend software engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 29, 2026, the average yearly pay for staff backend software engineer in the United States is $147,662.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $124,000.00 and $172,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a staff backend software engineer?

Staff Backend Software Engineers are senior-level engineers who design, build, and maintain the server-side infrastructure of applications. They are responsible for ensuring systems are scalable, reliable, and performant, often acting as technical leaders within their teams. In addition to coding, they mentor other engineers, make architectural decisions, and collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver complex projects. Their expertise is critical in shaping the technical strategy and long-term vision of backend systems.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a staff backend software engineer?

To thrive as a Staff Backend Software Engineer, you need deep expertise in server-side programming languages (such as Java, Python, or Go), system architecture, and scalable API design, typically with a computer science degree or equivalent experience. Familiarity with databases (SQL/NoSQL), cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, or Azure), CI/CD tools, and often advanced knowledge of containerization or microservices are essential. Strong problem-solving, leadership, and effective communication skills help you drive technical direction and mentor junior engineers. These skills are crucial for building robust backend systems, ensuring team alignment, and delivering reliable, high-performance products.

How does a staff backend software engineer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams on large-scale projects?

As a Staff Backend Software Engineer, you will frequently collaborate with product managers, frontend engineers, DevOps, and QA teams to define technical requirements and align backend solutions with overall business goals. You’ll often lead technical discussions, provide architectural guidance, and mentor other engineers, ensuring that backend systems integrate smoothly with other components. This role requires strong communication skills and the ability to translate complex technical concepts for non-technical stakeholders, fostering effective teamwork and project success.

What is the difference between Staff Backend Software Engineer vs Backend Software Engineer?

AspectStaff Backend Software EngineerBackend Software Engineer
Required CredentialsBachelor's or Master’s in CS or related field; extensive experienceBachelor's in CS or related field; 1-3 years experience
Work EnvironmentSenior-level projects, system architecture, mentorshipDevelopment, coding, feature implementation
Employer & Industry UsageTech companies, startups, large enterprisesSame as Staff, common in tech industry
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding seniority, responsibilities, career pathEntry to mid-level development roles

The main difference between a Staff Backend Software Engineer and a Backend Software Engineer lies in experience, responsibilities, and scope. Staff Engineers typically handle complex system design, mentorship, and strategic planning, while Backend Engineers focus on coding, feature development, and smaller project components. Both roles are common in tech companies, but Staff Engineers are more senior and involved in architecture and leadership.

More about Staff Backend Software Engineer jobs

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Cities with the most Staff Backend Software Engineer job openings:

What states have the most Staff Backend Software Engineer jobs?

States with the most job openings for Staff Backend Software Engineer jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Staff Backend Software Engineer jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Staff Backend Software Engineer jobs are:

Staff Backend Software Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Staff Backend Software Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $147,662 per year, or $71 per hour.

Staff Backend Software Engineer

Sense

Cambridge, MA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 15 days ago

Job description

Staff Backend Software Engineer
About Sense
Check out and join our energetic team at Sense! We're a VC-backed, post-Series C climate tech company entering our next stage of growth. We're located in Central Square, Cambridge and are passionate about our mission! This is a great opportunity to work with a team of experienced entrepreneurs creating technology that will really make a difference in the world. Our mission is to reduce global carbon emissions by making homes smart and efficient, and we're looking to make an impact at scale: Sense's technology has the potential to prevent one gigaton of carbon from entering the atmosphere every year.
We're looking for talented self-starters who want to be part of the energy transformation and are ready, willing, and able to tackle tough challenges and complex technical problems. When you join the Sense team, you're helping us build a cleaner, more resilient future.
Sense supports a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace and is an equal-opportunity employer. We strive to foster an engaging, respectful, and supportive community where everyone feels empowered to do their best work.
Role Overview
As a Staff Backend Engineer at Sense, you'll use your expertise to expand the capabilities of our cloud platform and enable the next generation of new product features. You will be a key contributor and leader maintaining and scaling a high-quality production service. You should be:
  • Focused on delivering functionality that benefits the customer and provides real value
  • Able to partner effectively with a cross-functional team of engineers, product managers, and engineering managers across multiple disciplines.
  • Ready to work with embedded engineers to develop systems that integrate with various hardware platforms.
  • Comfortable working closely with partners and customers to ensure success
  • Excited about high-volume, realtime data and solving the challenges it poses.
  • Interested in building high-availability, performant, and scalable systems.
  • Tenacious when tracking down production issues, digging into metrics and logs as needed to solve problems.
  • Ready to own team projects from design and implementation to testing, deployment, and bug fixing. Complete day-to-day work autonomously and identify gaps in requirements or processes, proactively suggesting improvements.
  • Familiar and comfortable with AI coding practices
  • A strong leader and outspoken advocate for engineering best practices and team collaboration.

Work Model
This position is ideally a hybrid work model, but fully remote candidates will be considered. Our office is in Cambridge, MA and we have a mix of in-person, hybrid and remote employees.
Requirements
The ideal candidate will have experience with the following:
  • 8+ years of professional experience with a degree in a relevant field and proven track record in professional software engineering
  • Mastery of Java, Linux, and AWS
  • Experienced at designing clean, usable REST APIs and integrating with partner systems
  • Strong understanding of how to apply security and data privacy principles within your specific engineering domain
  • DevOps and SRE experience maintaining a production environment
  • Cassandra, MySQL, Kafka, and Python experience is a plus
  • Energy industry or climate tech experience is a plus
  • Authorized to work in the US
  • Compensation is 180 - 200k

Benefits
  • Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
  • Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
  • Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
  • Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
  • Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
  • Short Term & Long Term Disability
  • Training & Development
  • Work From Home
  • Free Food & Snacks
  • Wellness Resources
  • Stock Option Plan

Apply