Staff Software Engineer
Staff Engineer · Staff · Full Time
Opens Deliveroo's application page
Role
What you'll do.
Staff Software Engineer at Deliveroo Hyderabad - A senior technical leadership role focused on architecting scalable solutions for a high-traffic three-sided marketplace serving millions daily. Lead technical direction across distributed systems, mentor engineers, and influence strategic roadmaps while solving complex logistical and infrastructure challenges at 20k+ requests per minute scale.
Responsibilities
- Technical Authority & Strategic Leadership: Act as a subject matter expert providing high-level technical reviews, architectural guidance, and technical advice across multiple engineering teams. Influence long-term technical roadmap development and establish technical standards for systems handling 20k+ requests per minute, ensuring alignment with business objectives and organizational growth.
- Scalable Systems Architecture: Design, architect, and define technical solutions for complex business problems within high-traffic marketplace environments. Lead the design of distributed systems that handle massive request volumes, complex logistical workflows, and three-sided marketplace coordination between customers, riders, and restaurant partners.
- Cross-Team Alignment & Execution: Align non-adjacent engineering teams to deliver high-impact results that move the needle for the entire organization. Manage project timelines, risks, and sustainable delivery paces while breaking down ambiguous technical challenges into actionable solutions that multiple teams can execute.
- Engineering Mentorship & Culture Building: Support the professional growth and development of engineers across all levels, from junior to senior staff. Partner with up-and-coming leaders to scale engineering culture, provide career guidance, and create an environment of high standards, collaboration, and continuous learning.
- Talent Acquisition & Interview Leadership: Lead engineering interviews and contribute strategically to recruiting initiatives to ensure the team maintains high hiring standards. Help shape the hiring process and team composition to build exceptional engineering teams aligned with Deliveroo's technical vision.
Qualifications
What we look for.
Technical
Distributed Systems Architecture
Proven expertise designing and operating distributed systems at massive scale. Deep understanding of real-time logistics coordination, system resilience patterns, circuit breakers, load balancing, and handling high-concurrency scenarios. Experience with distributed consensus, eventual consistency models, and managing system observability across microservices.
Database Expertise - Relational & NoSQL
Strong practical experience with PostgreSQL for transactional consistency and query optimization at scale. Proficiency with NoSQL solutions including Redis for caching and real-time data, DynamoDB for scalable key-value storage, and Elasticsearch for full-text search and analytics across high-volume datasets.
Polyglot Programming Languages
Proficiency in multiple programming languages such as Go, Ruby, Python, Scala, or Rust. Demonstrated ability to select appropriate languages for specific architectural requirements. Strong understanding of language-specific performance characteristics, concurrency models, and ecosystem maturity for backend systems.
High-Scale Web Application Development
Significant experience building and operating production web-based applications serving millions of users. Track record of shipping scalable backend systems, managing infrastructure as code, implementing observability solutions, and optimizing system performance. Pride in writing readable, well-tested, maintainable software with comprehensive testing strategies.
Real-Time Data Processing & Logistics
Experience with real-time event processing, stream processing pipelines, and complex logistical problem solving. Understanding of geospatial systems, order management, and coordinating multi-party transactions in distributed environments. Familiarity with marketplace optimization challenges and supply-demand matching algorithms.
Education
Computer Science or Related Technical Degree
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent discipline. Strong foundation in fundamental computer science concepts including algorithms, data structures, systems design, and computational complexity.
Continuous Learning & Advanced Technical Certifications
Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development through technical certifications, advanced coursework, or industry-recognized credentials in distributed systems, cloud architecture, or specialized backend technologies. Participation in technical communities and conferences.
Experience
10+ Years Backend Software Engineering
Extensive experience as a backend software engineer with proven track record of shipping production systems at scale. Strong foundation in core software engineering practices, system design, and collaborative development processes.
5+ Years in High-Scale Systems Design
Demonstrated expertise designing and operating systems handling massive request volumes and complex workflows. Experience working in fast-paced, high-ownership environments where technical decisions directly impact millions of users.
3+ Years in Technical Leadership & Mentorship
Proven experience providing technical leadership, mentoring junior and mid-level engineers, and influencing technical direction across multiple teams. Track record of building strong engineering cultures and scaling teams while maintaining high technical standards.
Cross-Functional Collaboration in Marketplace or Platform Environments
Experience working in complex marketplace or platform environments coordinating across multiple stakeholder groups. Proven ability to manage ambiguous technical requirements and align teams around shared technical vision in dynamic business contexts.
Skills
Required
System Design at Scale
Expert-level ability to design resilient, scalable architectures handling high-traffic demand. Proficiency in capacity planning, performance optimization, latency reduction, and architectural trade-off analysis for systems serving millions of requests.
Backend Web Development
Deep expertise building production backend systems using modern frameworks and libraries. Strong understanding of API design, request handling, response serialization, and backend performance optimization.
Relational Database Design & Optimization
Expertise in PostgreSQL including schema design, query optimization, indexing strategies, transaction isolation levels, and performance tuning. Experience with database scaling patterns including read replicas and sharding.
NoSQL Data Stores
Practical experience with Redis, DynamoDB, and Elasticsearch. Understanding of when to use each solution, consistency guarantees, scaling characteristics, and operational considerations for production deployments.
Distributed Systems Concepts
Strong grasp of distributed systems theory including CAP theorem, eventual consistency, distributed tracing, consensus algorithms, and fault tolerance patterns. Experience implementing these concepts in production systems.
Technical Leadership & Strategic Communication
Ability to articulate complex technical vision to both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Proficiency in leading technical discussions, resolving architectural debates, and building consensus across teams.
Preferred
Marketplace or Logistics Platform Experience
Nice to haveBackground working on marketplace platforms, food delivery systems, or logistics-heavy applications. Understanding of supply-demand matching, multi-party transaction coordination, and real-time order management.
Cloud Infrastructure & DevOps Practices
Nice to haveHands-on experience with cloud platforms such as AWS or GCP. Familiarity with infrastructure-as-code, containerization, Kubernetes orchestration, and monitoring/observability tools.
Go Programming Language
Nice to haveProficiency in Go for building high-performance backend systems. Experience with goroutines, channels, and Go's standard library. Understanding of when Go is the optimal language choice for systems-level programming.
Event-Driven Architecture & Stream Processing
Nice to haveExperience with event streaming platforms like Kafka, AWS Kinesis, or similar technologies. Understanding of event-driven design patterns and implementing loosely-coupled systems through asynchronous communication.
Observability & Monitoring
Nice to haveExperience implementing comprehensive observability solutions including distributed tracing, metrics collection, and structured logging. Familiarity with tools like Datadog, Prometheus, or equivalent monitoring platforms.
Team Building & Engineering Culture
Nice to haveDemonstrated success building and scaling engineering teams. Experience establishing technical standards, code review processes, and fostering cultures of continuous learning and high-quality engineering.
Tech stack
Languages
Frameworks
Databases
Tools
Other
Compensation
Pay and benefits.
Base·USD 80,000 – 140,000
Benefits
Competitive Equity & Stock Options
Share in Deliveroo's success with equity options, making you a stakeholder in the company's growth. Part of the broader DoorDash ecosystem, providing exposure to a global platform's scaling impact.
Competitive Salary Package
Market-competitive compensation reflecting your seniority level and expertise. Structured to reward impact and technical leadership contributions.
Low-Hierarchy, High-Ownership Environment
Work in a structure that encourages autonomy and ownership. Ship ideas quickly, make technical decisions independently, and see direct impact from your work without excessive bureaucracy.
Continuous Learning & Professional Development
Access to learning resources, conference attendance opportunities, and skill development programs. Support for exploring emerging technologies and advancing technical expertise.
Flexible Working Arrangements
Flexibility in where and how you work, supporting work-life balance while maintaining productivity and collaboration with distributed teams across global offices.
Global Team Collaboration
Work with engineers across Deliveroo, DoorDash, and Wolt. Exposure to diverse technical challenges, best practices, and career growth opportunities across a truly global organization.
Technical Community & Innovation
Access to Deliveroo's engineering blog and technical community. Opportunities to share knowledge, contribute to open-source initiatives, and stay connected with industry innovations.
Diverse & Inclusive Workplace
Work environment celebrating diversity across age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic background. Accessible recruitment process with reasonable accommodations available.
Full posting
Original listing.
Staff Software Engineer
Location - Hyderabad, India
Join us in our mission to transform the way people shop and eat, where impact, innovation and growth drive everything we do. Our Engineering teams tackle complex technical challenges across a global, three-sided marketplace, building and scaling systems that serve millions of customers, riders and partners every day.
From real-time logistics to resilient infrastructure and marketplace optimisation, we design, build and operate technology that powers Deliveroo’s growth at scale.
We’re looking for a Staff Software Engineer to join our Hyderabad, India team. In this role, you’ll help us define technical solutions for critical business problems and lead the technical direction for complex, high-scale systems.
Get to know our Engineering team — what drives us, how we work, and what you can expect.
What You’ll Be Doing
You’ll be joining a high-impact engineering group focused on solving unstructured and ambiguous challenges. You will act as a technical authority, aligning non-adjacent teams to deliver results that move the needle for the entire organisation.
Here’s what your day-to-day might look like:
Drive Technical Excellence: Act as a subject matter expert, providing high-level reviews and technical advice across multiple teams.
Architect Scalable Solutions: Define and design technical solutions for complex business problems within a high-traffic environment (20krpm+).
Lead Strategic Direction: Influence the long-term technical roadmap and manage project timelines, risks, and sustainable delivery paces.
Mentor & Coach: Support the growth of engineers across all levels and partner with up-and-coming leaders to scale our engineering culture.
Shape the Team: Lead engineering interviews and contribute to recruiting strategy to ensure we maintain a high bar for talent.
What You’ll Need to Thrive
Our ideal candidate will bring strong expertise in some of these areas and curiosity to grow in others:
Deep Technical Mastery: Significant experience building web-based applications at scale and a pride in writing readable, well-tested software.
Polyglot Mindset: Proficiency in (or a strong desire to learn) languages such as Go, Ruby, Python, Scala, or Rust.
Distributed Systems Expertise: Practical experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL) and NoSQL backends (Redis, DynamoDB, or Elasticsearch).
High-Scale Architecture: Proven ability to design and operate systems handling massive request volumes and complex logistical workflows.
Strategic Leadership: Strong understanding of how to align multiple disciplines and teams to resolve ambiguous technical challenges.
Why Join Us?
At Deliveroo, you’ll do work that matters—solving real-world problems in a three-sided marketplace that’s constantly evolving. We’re food lovers, problem solvers, community organisers, proud parents, and more, brought together by a shared drive to make things better. Working here you can expect to:
🔧 Solve meaningful problems at real scale Work on a complex, always-on marketplace that impacts millions every day.
🌱 See your impact, fast Ship, test and improve ideas quickly in a low-hierarchy, high-ownership environment.
🧠 Grow through challenge and ownership Take on big, ambiguous problems and accelerate your career with strong support.
🌎 A culture built for builders High standards, collaboration, flexible working and continuous learning.
💰 Share in the success you help create Competitive salary and equity options, so you’re rewarded for the impact you make.
➡️ Want a deeper look at how we build? Check out our Tech Blog.
We aim to create a fair process that lets your skills shine—our interview typically includes 3-4 stages. Explore our Engineering Interview Guide here to help you feel confident at each stage.
Our Global Structure
Deliveroo is now part of DoorDash, bringing together teams with even greater reach, scale, and ambition. Depending on your role, you may collaborate with teammates, systems, and leaders across DoorDash and Wolt. Together, we’re unlocking new possibilities as one global team.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
At Deliveroo, we know that a great workplace reflects the world around us and that true diversity and inclusion make us stronger, more creative, and better at what we do. We’re committed to fostering an environment where everyone can do their best work and feel they belong.
We believe in equality of opportunity and welcome candidates from all backgrounds regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion, or belief.
If you have a disability or long-term health condition and need support to apply for one of our roles, or if you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact our recruitment team at [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help ensure you have a fair and equitable experience.
If you’re excited about solving meaningful problems at scale and growing with a supportive team, we’d love to hear from you.
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