As a Senior Backend Developer, you'll design and maintain high-volume pipelines and databases, implement ETLs for automated abuse-prevention, and develop monitoring solutions while collaborating with teams on safety systems.
About Us:
Bluesky's vision is to make social more like the web itself. We're building a social media app, but beyond that, we've created a protocol that supports a broad ecosystem of applications and clients. Imagine a network of applications — from microblogging to photos to video to long-form writing — all interconnected and accessible with a shared identity.
As a Senior Backend Developer, you’ll be responsible for building and maintaining the infrastructure that powers moderation, anti-spam, and user safety. You’ll work closely with our internal operations and product team to build high-scale services for rapid detection and prevention of abuse.
Responsibilities:
- Design, implement, and maintain high-volume pipelines and databases
- Manage and create ETLs that power automated abuse-prevention
- Assist with the scaling and implementation of the backends for internal tools
- Work closely with engineers across the organization to integrate safety systems in all our products
- Develop monitoring and observability solutions for data infrastructure
You might be a good fit if you:
- Must have 10+ years of extensive experience with Go
- Have strong fundamental programming and software engineering skills
- Have built scalable backend systems (1M+ ops/sec) (e.g. data services, load balancers, etc.)
- Have familiarity with the upper limits of operating systems, networks, and storage.
- Have significant experience with database systems (e.g. Postgres, MySQL, SQLite)
- Have some experience with other data stores (e.g. Scylla/Cassandra, Redis, ClickHouse)
- Have some experience with search systems (e.g. Elasticsearch)
- Like working on small, fast-moving teams
- Previous experience working on infrastructure for social apps at large scale
We’re a fully remote team, but an overlap of working hours with PST is required, and for this role, proximity and willingness to travel to Seattle is a plus. Please note, there may be an on-site component to these interviews. We offer health, dental, and vision insurance.
Additional Notes:
The anticipated base salary range for this position is $200,000 - $270,000, excluding equity. Equity will be considered in the total compensation package. The final base salary for this role will be based on the individual’s geographic location, as well as experience level, skill set, training, licenses and certifications.
If you want to work with an excellent team and help define the future of social, we encourage you to apply.
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