Staff Backend Engineer

At Docker, we make app development easier so developers can focus on what matters. Our remote-first team spans the globe, united by a passion for innovation and great developer experiences. With over 20 million monthly users and 20 billion image pulls, Docker is the #1 tool for building, sharing, and running apps—trusted by startups and Fortune 100s alike. We’re growing fast and just getting started. Come join us for a whale of a ride!

We are looking for a Staff Backend Engineer to join the Core Experiences team that builds shared user experiences and capabilities that cross product lines, enabling N+1 use cases, and empowering them to focus on their business and product outcomes. These include account and org management, onboarding, insights, navigation and administration experiences that provide a seamless experience across the Docker toolchain. You will play a pivotal role in designing, building, and maintaining the backend services across Docker's ecosystem. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure the reliability, scalability, and performance of critical systems.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, development, and maintenance of backend services and systems, with a focus on Golang and PostgreSQL.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Product, Design, and Engineering, to define technical requirements and deliver high-impact solutions.

• Architect and implement scalable, secure, and reliable APIs and services to support Docker’s products and ecosystem.

• Establish and uphold engineering best practices, including code quality, testing, CI/CD, documentation, and security.

• Write and maintain unit, integration, and end-to-end tests to ensure system reliability.

• Serve as a mentor and technical leader to other engineers, fostering growth and excellence across the team.

• Troubleshoot and resolve complex issues across services and systems, ensuring smooth operation in production environments.

• Participate in a daytime on-call rotation for one week every 2-6 months, ensuring system reliability and receiving additional compensation.

Requirements:

• Proven experience as a senior or staff backend engineer, with strong expertise in Golang and backend architecture.

• Advanced knowledge of PostgreSQL or equivalent relational databases, including schema design, query optimization, and performance tuning.

• Knowledge of security best practices and experience implementing secure backend systems.

• Proficiency in cloud platforms (AWS preferred, or GCP/Azure), infrastructure as code, and containerization technologies.

• Proficiency in designing and building distributed systems with a focus on scalability, fault tolerance, and high availability.

• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to troubleshoot complex issues across a variety of systems and technologies.

• Experience or strong interest in user profile and organization management

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with experience mentoring and leading technical teams.

• Desire to work in a fully remote, international team and proactively contribute beyond the job description.

Additional Qualifications:

• Experience with event-driven architectures and systems (e.g., Kafka, River queue).

• Strong understanding of CI/CD best practices and experience with systems like Jenkins or GitHub Actions.

• Exposure to frontend technologies and APIs is a plus, but not required.

What to expect in the first 30 days:

• Onboard and meet with backend engineers, product managers, designers, and other key stakeholders to understand team dynamics and workflows.

• Gain a thorough understanding of the current backend architecture, services, and systems

• Review current projects, the product roadmap, and engineering priorities.

• Identify areas for quick wins to improve service performance, scalability, and developer experience.

• Familiarize yourself with Docker’s security, privacy, and compliance requirements, as well as the CI/CD and deployment workflows.

What to expect in the first 90 days:

• Contribute to backend development efforts, including designing and implementing scalable systems and APIs.

• Recommend and implement opportunities for continuous improvement across services and infrastructure, focusing on reliability and maintainability.

• Lead efforts to optimize database performance and implement best practices

• Collaborate closely with team members on cross-functional initiatives, demonstrating leadership and mentorship where needed.

• Take ownership of key components, ensuring they meet performance, security, and operational standards.

• Participate in on-call rotations to develop a deep understanding of production systems and contribute to improving reliability and incident response processes.

Why Join Docker? At Docker, you’ll have the opportunity to lead and shape the backend engineering landscape, driving innovation and setting technical direction. Join us to solve complex problems, mentor a talented team, and contribute to the next wave of containerization technology.

We use Covey as part of our hiring and / or promotional process for jobs in NYC and certain features may qualify it as an AEDT. As part of the evaluation process we provide Covey with job requirements and candidate submitted applications. We began using Covey Scout for Inbound on April 13, 2024.

Please see the independent bias audit report covering our use of Covey here.

Perks (for Full-Time Employees Only)

• Freedom & flexibility; fit your work around your life

• Designated quarterly Whaleness Days

• Home office setup; we want you comfortable while you work

• 16 weeks of paid Parental leave

• Technology stipend equivalent to $100 net/month

• PTO plan that encourages you to take time to do the things you enjoy

• Quarterly, company-wide hackathons

• Training stipend for conferences, courses and classes

• Equity; we are a growing start-up and want all employees to have a share in the success of the company

• Docker Swag

• Medical benefits, retirement and holidays vary by country

Docker embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our company will be.

Due to the remote nature of this role, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.

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