Join a stealth-mode startup on a mission to redefine how people shop online. Our client is building ... Backend engineer with 7+ years building reliable, scalable infrastructure * Thrive in ambiguity ...
Join a stealth-mode startup on a mission to redefine how people shop online. Our client is building ... Backend engineer with 7+ years building reliable, scalable infrastructure * Thrive in ambiguity ...
Sr Backend Engineer
Boston, MA · On-site
Senior Back-End Engineer Location ... Cambridge, MA | In-Person About us We are a Seed Stage Generative AI startup based in Cambridge, MA.
Quick apply
Sr Backend Engineer
Boston, MA · On-site
Senior Back-End Engineer Location ... Cambridge, MA | In-Person About us We are a Seed Stage Generative AI startup based in Cambridge, MA.
Sr Backend Engineer
Boston, MA · On-site
Senior Back-End Engineer Location ... Cambridge, MA | In-Person About us We are a Seed Stage Generative AI startup based in Cambridge, MA.
Quick apply
Sr Backend Engineer
Boston, MA · On-site
Senior Back-End Engineer Location ... Cambridge, MA | In-Person About us We are a Seed Stage Generative AI startup based in Cambridge, MA.
Senior Backend Engineer WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS Our client is building AI technology to make health ... Founder level ownership mindset or early stage startup experience preferred * Ability to work ...
Senior Backend Engineer WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS Our client is building AI technology to make health ... Founder level ownership mindset or early stage startup experience preferred * Ability to work ...
Backend Engineer
San Francisco, CA · Remote
$120/hr
About Clerkie Clerkie is a fintech startup on a mission to democratize financial wellness using the ... About the role We're looking for a Backend Engineer who wants to build and own critical systems in ...
Quick apply
Backend Engineer
San Francisco, CA · Remote
$120/hr
About Clerkie Clerkie is a fintech startup on a mission to democratize financial wellness using the ... About the role We're looking for a Backend Engineer who wants to build and own critical systems in ...
Senior Back-End Engineer
Boston, MA · On-site
Senior Back-End Engineer Location ... Cambridge, MA | In-Person About us We are a Seed Stage Generative AI startup based in Cambridge, MA.
Quick apply
Senior Back-End Engineer
Boston, MA · On-site
Senior Back-End Engineer Location ... Cambridge, MA | In-Person About us We are a Seed Stage Generative AI startup based in Cambridge, MA.
Senior Back End Engineer
Boston, MA · On-site
Senior Back-End Engineer Location ... Cambridge, MA | In-Person About us We are a Seed Stage Generative AI startup based in Cambridge, MA.
Quick apply
Senior Back End Engineer
Boston, MA · On-site
Senior Back-End Engineer Location ... Cambridge, MA | In-Person About us We are a Seed Stage Generative AI startup based in Cambridge, MA.
Senior Backend Engineer
Manhattan, NY · On-site
Senior Backend Engineer WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS Our client is building AI technology to make health ... Founder level ownership mindset or early stage startup experience preferred * Ability to work ...
Senior Backend Engineer
Manhattan, NY · On-site
Senior Backend Engineer WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS Our client is building AI technology to make health ... Founder level ownership mindset or early stage startup experience preferred * Ability to work ...
Senior Backend Engineer WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS Our client is building AI technology to make health ... Founder level ownership mindset or early stage startup experience preferred * Ability to work ...
Quick apply
Senior Backend Engineer WHY THIS ROLE EXISTS Our client is building AI technology to make health ... Founder level ownership mindset or early stage startup experience preferred * Ability to work ...
Founding Backend Engineer
New York, NY · On-site
$160K - $200K/yr
Founding Backend Engineer Company Overview Client is a fast-growing social shopping platform co ... Only worked at large tech companies (Meta, Google, etc.) with no startup experience. * Frequent job ...
Founding Backend Engineer
New York, NY · On-site
$160K - $200K/yr
Founding Backend Engineer Company Overview Client is a fast-growing social shopping platform co ... Only worked at large tech companies (Meta, Google, etc.) with no startup experience. * Frequent job ...
Backend Engineer
Palo Alto, CA · On-site
Role Step is looking for a Backend Software Engineer. As part of the team you'll be at the ... Stock in an early-stage startup * Flexible WFH and vacation policy * Employee referral program
Backend Engineer
Palo Alto, CA · On-site
Role Step is looking for a Backend Software Engineer. As part of the team you'll be at the ... Stock in an early-stage startup * Flexible WFH and vacation policy * Employee referral program
Backend Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
... startup environment. You'll work as an equal member of our 3-4 person software team. You'll be ... backend engineering, with a focus on cloud infrastructure and data-intensive applications
Backend Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
... startup environment. You'll work as an equal member of our 3-4 person software team. You'll be ... backend engineering, with a focus on cloud infrastructure and data-intensive applications
Founding Backend Engineer
$160K - $200K/yr
Founding Backend Engineer Company Overview Client is a fast-growing social shopping platform co ... O nly worked at large tech companies (Meta, Google, etc.) with no startup experience. * F requent ...
Founding Backend Engineer
$160K - $200K/yr
Founding Backend Engineer Company Overview Client is a fast-growing social shopping platform co ... O nly worked at large tech companies (Meta, Google, etc.) with no startup experience. * F requent ...
Senior Backend Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$175K - $200K/yr
Based in San Francisco, we've been named a LinkedIn Top Startup, are valued at over $1 billion, and ... One team one dream About this role We're looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to join our Core ...
Senior Backend Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$175K - $200K/yr
Based in San Francisco, we've been named a LinkedIn Top Startup, are valued at over $1 billion, and ... One team one dream About this role We're looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to join our Core ...
Senior Backend Engineer
$175K - $225K/yr
... startup building the modern data platform for alternative investments. Backed by leading VCs and ... → Strong backend engineering experience using Python, Java, or Go → Experience building ...
Quick apply
Senior Backend Engineer
$175K - $225K/yr
... startup building the modern data platform for alternative investments. Backed by leading VCs and ... → Strong backend engineering experience using Python, Java, or Go → Experience building ...
Title Python Backend Engineer Remote 6 months minimum Our Tech Landscape Backend Python OR Django ... Startup experience Experience working on cloud infrastructure especially AWS
Title Python Backend Engineer Remote 6 months minimum Our Tech Landscape Backend Python OR Django ... Startup experience Experience working on cloud infrastructure especially AWS
Backend Engineer
New York, NY · On-site
$120K - $160K/yr
... paced startup environment. What You'll Do * Feature Development: Build and maintain backend ... Partner with frontend engineers, product managers, and designers to deliver end-to-end features.
Backend Engineer
New York, NY · On-site
$120K - $160K/yr
... paced startup environment. What You'll Do * Feature Development: Build and maintain backend ... Partner with frontend engineers, product managers, and designers to deliver end-to-end features.
Backend Engineer
New York, NY · On-site
$120K - $160K/yr
... paced startup environment. What You'll Do * Feature Development: Build and maintain backend ... Partner with frontend engineers, product managers, and designers to deliver end-to-end features.
Quick apply
Backend Engineer
New York, NY · On-site
$120K - $160K/yr
... paced startup environment. What You'll Do * Feature Development: Build and maintain backend ... Partner with frontend engineers, product managers, and designers to deliver end-to-end features.
Backend Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$170K - $220K/yr
Position Summary As a Backend Engineer at HeyGen, you'll be at the forefront of building the core ... Prior experience in a startup or fast-paced tech environment. What HeyGen Offers * Competitive ...
Backend Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$170K - $220K/yr
Position Summary As a Backend Engineer at HeyGen, you'll be at the forefront of building the core ... Prior experience in a startup or fast-paced tech environment. What HeyGen Offers * Competitive ...
Backend Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$130K - $160K/yr
Backend Engineer San Francisco, CA Being a Backend Engineer at a company smaller than 10 people is ... It would be great if they've been at an early stage startup before and understand the type of ...
Backend Engineer
San Francisco, CA · On-site
$130K - $160K/yr
Backend Engineer San Francisco, CA Being a Backend Engineer at a company smaller than 10 people is ... It would be great if they've been at an early stage startup before and understand the type of ...
Startup Backend Engineer information
See salary details
$60.5K - $73.1K
4% of jobs
$73.1K - $85.7K
2% of jobs
$85.7K - $98.3K
2% of jobs
$98.3K - $110.9K
7% of jobs
$110.9K - $123.5K
9% of jobs
$124.7K is the 25th percentile. Wages below this are outliers.
$123.5K - $136K
11% of jobs
$136K - $148.6K
14% of jobs
The median wage is $149.5K / yr.
$148.6K - $161.2K
15% of jobs
$169.1K is the 75th percentile. Wages above this are outliers.
$161.2K - $173.8K
17% of jobs
$173.8K - $186.4K
13% of jobs
$186.4K - $199K
5% of jobs
$60.5K
$147.7K
$199K
How much do startup backend engineer jobs pay per year?
As of May 30, 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 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 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 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:
Job description
Join a stealth-mode startup on a mission to redefine how people shop online. Our client is building a hyper-personalized, AI-powered shopping experience backed by some of the most successful names in tech. They're tackling challenges at the intersection of distributed systems, real-time data processing, and large-scale infrastructure, and they're seeking backend engineers who want to build from the ground up.
Term: Full Time
Location: Onsite in San Francisco, CA
The Role:
- Architect and scale low-latency, high-throughput systems used by millions
- Build APIs, core infrastructure, and backend services powering AI-driven personalization
- Collaborate daily - this is a fully onsite role with a tight-knit, high-output team
- Shape foundational systems, not just features - we’re early, flat, and execution-first
Tech Stack:
- Languages: Go, Python, Rust, or similar
- Cloud: AWS, GCP, or Azure (serverless, containerized workloads)
- DevOps: Kubernetes, Terraform, CI/CD pipelines
- Systems: Experience with distributed systems, real-time APIs, or high-availability infrastructure
- Bonus: Experience scraping and normalizing large-scale data from diverse sources
Ideal Qualifications:
- Backend engineer with 7+ years building reliable, scalable infrastructure
- Thrive in ambiguity, move fast, and care deeply about clean architecture
- Low ego, strong communicator, and ready to own key systems in a product-led org
About Strategic Employment Partners
Sourced by ZipRecruiter
Strategic Employment Partners (SEP) was founded in 2007, serving companies in the Greater Los Angeles area by providing Technology Recruiting and Placement Services. With the combined experience of our seasoned professionals, SEP quickly began to build strong partnerships and provide curated talent for some of the largest and fastest growing companies in Los Angeles. Since then, SEP has expanded its operations and currently has eight divisions nationwide.
Industry
Recruiting and staffing services
Company size
51 - 200 Employees
Headquarters location
Los Angeles, CA, US
Year founded
2006