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Staff Backend Software Engineer Jobs in Boston, MA

Senior Backend Software Engineer

Watertown, MA

$133K - $175K/yr

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Retirement

Role Overview We are looking for a Backend Software Engineer to help us design and implement scalable solutions that meet the growing demands of our advanced EM simulation platform. The ideal ...

As a Software Engineer I, you will contribute to the design, development, and maintenance of backend services that power WHOOP's core product experiences, collaborating with cross-functional teams to ...

As a Software Engineer I, you will contribute to the design, development, and maintenance of backend services and APIs, working closely with cross-functional teams to deliver impactful solutions for ...

Staff Software Engineer, Backend & APIs

Boston, MA · On-site

  • Medical

  • Dental

  • Vision

  • Life

  • Retirement

  • PTO

About the Team/Role We're looking for a Staff Software Engineer with deep expertise in backend development to join our 10-4 by WEX team. You will play a key role in designing, developing, and ...

Showing results 21-40

Staff Backend Software Engineer information

See Boston, MA salary details

$65.7K

$160.4K

$216.2K

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

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for staff backend software engineer in Boston, MA is $160,420.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $134,700.00 and $186,900.00 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.

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 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.

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.

What are popular job titles related to Staff Backend Software Engineer jobs in Boston, MA?

For Staff Backend Software Engineer jobs in Boston, MA, the most frequently searched job titles are:

Infographic showing various Staff Backend Software Engineer job openings in Boston, MA 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 $160,420 per year, or $77.1 per hour.

Senior Backend Software Engineer

Flexcompute Inc.

Watertown, MA

$133K - $175K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Re-posted 22 days ago


Job description

Flexcompute is leading the transformation of engineering simulation with our revolutionary ultra-fast simulation technology. Our flagship products, including the industry-leading Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software Flow360 and electromagnetic simulation software Tidy3D, are reshaping how simulations are conducted across diverse sectors. Founded by visionaries from Stanford and MIT and supported by top-tier venture capital firms, we are a rapidly growing team dedicated to breaking boundaries and challenging the norms of the multi-billion-dollar engineering simulation market.

Role Overview

We are looking for a Backend Software Engineer to help us design and implement scalable solutions that meet the growing demands of our advanced EM simulation platform.

The ideal candidate has expertise in high-performance computing (HPC), infrastructure, web API design, and systems design. Additionally, the candidate will be help us enhance our data management, frontend-backend API unification, and cloud integration.

Key Responsibilities
  • Contribute to general software development efforts, such as API unification, simulation data management (e.g., caching, syncing, storage), and scripting improvements.
  • Collaborate with EM and infrastructure teams to implement simulation-specific solutions, including enhancements to back-end/scheduler integrations and Python front-end functionality.
  • Improve our task pipelines through an innovative design for a web API in a multi-physical simulation context.
  • Develop and maintain hybrid cloud compute and storage solutions, integrating on-premise HPC systems with modern cloud platforms.
  • Optimize and manage high-performance computing clusters equipped with high-speed interconnects.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree or higher in computer science or computer engineering.

Technical Skills:

      • Professional experience developing backend systems using Java, Python, and/or C++
      • Strong experience with AWS or similar cloud platforms (compute, storage, networking, IAM, infrastructure automation)
      • Expertise in backend service development and web API architecture
      • Hands-on experience with containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes)
      • Experience designing and operating distributed systems in production environments
      • Strong Linux systems knowledge and infrastructure troubleshooting skills
      • Experience with infrastructure automation and configuration management (e.g., Terraform, Ansible, or similar tools)
      • Familiarity with monitoring, logging, and observability tooling
      • Understanding of networking fundamentals and backend security best practices

Innovative Mindset: Ability to learn quickly, adapt to new challenges, and innovate in a fast-paced startup environment.

Bonus Skills:

    • Experience integrating cloud platforms with HPC environments or large compute clusters
    • Familiarity with job schedulers (e.g., Slurm), distributed compute frameworks, or large-scale data pipelines
    • Experience supporting scientific computing or simulation platforms
    • Knowledge of GPU infrastructure and resource scheduling
    • Experience building developer platforms or internal infrastructure tooling

Example Projects

  • Architect and deploy Kubernetes-based infrastructure to run distributed simulation workloads
  • Design and implement scalable web APIs for simulation job orchestration and data access
  • Build CI/CD pipelines and infrastructure-as-code systems for reproducible deployments
  • Develop hybrid cloud solutions connecting on-prem HPC clusters with AWS compute and storage
  • Implement monitoring and observability systems to track simulation performance and reliability
  • Improve platform scalability to support growing user traffic and compute demand
  • Design secure service architectures, authentication, and licensing systems
  • Optimize infrastructure utilization across CPU and GPU resources
Join Us

By joining Flexcompute, you'll be at the heart of a movement set to redefine the engineering simulation industry. You will play a key role in shaping the future, where our innovations in simulation technology pave the way for groundbreaking advancements. We are committed to fostering an innovative and collaborative culture where boundaries of possibility are re-imagined, driven by creativity, expertise, and a shared vision of transforming the technological landscape.

Benefits

  • Competitive compensation with equity of a fast-growing startup.
  • Medical, dental, and vision health insurance.
  • 401(k) Contribution.
  • Gym allowance.
  • Friendly, thoughtful, and intelligent coworkers.