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Startup Backend Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Hybrid Senior Backend Engineer

New York, NY · Hybrid

$200K - $250K/yr

Senior Backend Engineer Benefits -- Starting Salary targeting $200K-$250K -- Early-stage startup equity -- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision -- 401k retirement with match -- Bi-annual team off ...

ProNexus

Backend Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

We are hiring on behalf of a venture-backed AI startup building intelligent software that automates ... The company is hiring a Backend Engineer to build the reliable systems behind its AI products.

ProNexus

Backend Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

We are hiring on behalf of a venture-backed AI startup building intelligent software that automates ... The company is hiring a Backend Engineer to build the reliable systems behind its AI products.

ProNexus

Backend Engineer

We are hiring on behalf of a venture-backed AI startup building intelligent software that automates ... The company is hiring a Backend Engineer to build the reliable systems behind its AI products.

ProNexus

Backend Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

We are hiring on behalf of a venture-backed AI startup building intelligent software that automates ... The company is hiring a Backend Engineer to build the reliable systems behind its AI products.

ICONSTAFF

Senior Backend Engineer

Boston, MA · Remote

$160K - $240K/yr

Senior Backend Engineer Role The Opportunity As a Senior Backend Engineer, you'll design and build ... Startup or full-stack experience Additional Info * Fully remote (U.S. only) * Competitive salary ...

Hired Recruiters

Backend Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site +1

You will be collaborating with a small team of seasoned engineers in a fast-moving startup ... grade backend services and APIs to delight customers - Owning major projects from inception to ...

DEUNA

Backend Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site +1

About DEUNA DEUNA is a rapidly growing startup revolutionizing global commerce with ATHIA, our AI ... Role Overview We are looking for a Backend Engineer to lead the design and development of scalable ...

Boxtro Llp 123

Backend Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Launched in 2012, Koding, a fast-growing startup (with over a million users), is seeking a Backend Engineer. In this role, you will be implementing available, resilient and highly performant services ...

Maxana

Backend Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

Maxana is seeking an experienced Backend Engineer for a confidential client -- a well-funded AI ... Prior startup or high-growth company experience required * Must be able to work hybrid 2 days/week ...

Maxana

Backend Engineer

Seattle, WA · Hybrid

Maxana is seeking an experienced Backend Engineer for a confidential client - a well-funded AI ... Prior startup or high-growth company experience required * Must be able to work hybrid 2 days/week ...

Maxana

Backend Engineer

Seattle, WA · On-site

Maxana is seeking an experienced Backend Engineer for a confidential client -- a well-funded AI ... Prior startup or high-growth company experience required * Must be able to work hybrid 2 days/week ...

Maxana

Backend Engineer

San Francisco, CA · On-site

Maxana is seeking an experienced Backend Engineer for a confidential client -- a well-funded AI ... Prior startup or high-growth company experience required * Must be able to work hybrid 2 days/week ...

Maxana

Backend Engineer

New York, NY · On-site

Maxana is seeking an experienced Backend Engineer for a confidential client - a well-funded AI ... Prior startup or high-growth company experience required * Must be able to work hybrid 2 days/week ...

Maxana

Backend Engineer

New York, NY · Hybrid

Maxana is seeking an experienced Backend Engineer for a confidential client - a well-funded AI ... Prior startup or high-growth company experience required * Must be able to work hybrid 2 days/week ...

Maxana

Backend Engineer

San Francisco, CA · Hybrid

Maxana is seeking an experienced Backend Engineer for a confidential client - a well-funded AI ... Prior startup or high-growth company experience required * Must be able to work hybrid 2 days/week ...

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All JobsStartup Backend Engineer Jobs

Startup Backend Engineer information

See salary details

$60.5K

$147.7K

$199K

How much do startup backend engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 21, 2026, the average yearly pay for startup backend 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 are some common challenges faced by backend engineers in a startup environment?

Backend engineers in startups often face the challenge of balancing rapid feature development with maintaining system stability and scalability. Due to limited resources and fast-changing priorities, you may need to wear multiple hats, such as managing infrastructure, addressing technical debt, and ensuring security. Collaboration is typically close-knit, requiring frequent communication with frontend developers, product managers, and sometimes even customers. Adapting quickly to new technologies and evolving project requirements is key to thriving in this dynamic setting.

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

To thrive as a Startup Backend Engineer, you need strong programming skills (commonly in Python, Node.js, or Java), a solid grasp of databases, and experience with scalable system design—often backed by a degree in computer science or equivalent experience. Familiarity with cloud platforms (like AWS or GCP), containerization tools (Docker, Kubernetes), and CI/CD pipelines is typically required. Adaptability, problem-solving, and effective communication are crucial soft skills for navigating the fast-paced, dynamic startup environment. These abilities are vital for rapidly building robust, scalable solutions that can evolve with the company's growth.

What does a Startup Backend Engineer do?

A Startup Backend Engineer is responsible for building and maintaining the server-side logic, databases, and APIs that power a startup's applications. They work closely with frontend developers and product teams to ensure the application is scalable, secure, and performs well. In a startup environment, backend engineers often handle a wide range of tasks, including designing system architecture, optimizing application performance, and quickly deploying new features. Their versatile skill set enables them to adapt as the company grows and technology needs change.
More about Startup Backend Engineer jobs
What cities are hiring for Startup Backend Engineer jobs? Cities with the most Startup Backend Engineer job openings:
What states have the most Startup Backend Engineer jobs? States with the most job openings for Startup Backend Engineer jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Startup Backend Engineer jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Startup Backend Engineer jobs are:
Startup Backend Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Startup Backend Engineer job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 92% Full Time, 2% Part Time, and 5% Contract. Highlights an 79% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 17% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $147,662 per year, or $71 per hour.
Founding Backend Engineer

Founding Backend Engineer

CincyBrianHires

San Francisco, CA • On-site

Full-time

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

Job description

Our client, a fast-growing AI B2B education startup, is hiring a Founding Backend Engineer to own and lead the core systems that make their AI assistant work. This is a high-ownership, high-autonomy role at a company with real paying users and strong institutional backing — where your work will have immediate and visible impact on the product.

What You'll Do
  • Context retrieval — Design and build performant systems that surface the right information at the right time across a wide range of unstructured data sources, including email, calendar, meetings, and third-party integrations. This is a nuanced retrieval problem that goes well beyond standard search.
  • Agentic systems — Architect and ship agents capable of taking real action across tools on behalf of the user. This includes building robust permission models and encoding user preferences so the assistant behaves appropriately in every context.
  • Continual learning — Develop the memory and feedback infrastructure that allows the product to improve meaningfully with every user interaction, moving the assistant closer to a true understanding of each individual over time.
You'll Thrive If

Beyond strong backend engineering fundamentals, the ideal candidate is product-minded, comfortable engaging directly with customers, and genuinely excited about the future of AI-powered productivity. You should be at ease making architectural decisions — not just executing against a spec.

What You Bring

Required:

  • 3–7 years as a product-minded backend engineer with strong early-stage experience
  • Demonstrated track record as a product-minded backend engineer at a Tier 1 venture-backed startup (ideally Series A to C but flexible)
  • Strong technical depth with TypeScript and React, LLM APIs, and Electron
  • Highly comfortable on the backend (full-stack experience also welcome)
  • Genuine interest in engaging with customers and in productivity/workflow automation

Preferred:

  • Experience at a productivity startup (e.g., Superhuman, Notion, Airtable, Slack) or workflow automation startup (e.g., legal tech working with unstructured data)
  • CS or adjacent STEM degree from a top 15 university