# Staff Backend Engineer, Hub (US East Coast)
**Company:** [Docker](https://scaleengineer.com/companies/docker)
Docker is seeking a highly skilled Staff Backend Engineer to architect and operate high-scale distributed systems for Docker Hub's registry platform. The ideal candidate will lead complex backend infrastructure projects, driving scalability and performance for one of the world's largest container image repositories, with a focus on distributed systems, data infrastructure, and platform reliability.
**Role:** Backend Engineer
**Seniority:** Staff
**Locations:** United States
**Remote:** yes
**Salary:** 195400–275550 USD
[Apply](https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/docker/9d5c3e18-eaef-4ffb-b4f1-795742fcba98)
Canonical: https://scaleengineer.com/jobs/docker/staff-backend-engineer-hub-us-east-coast
---
## Responsibilities

- Distributed Systems Architecture: Architect, build, and operate high-scale distributed systems powering Docker Hub's registry platform, including artifact storage, metadata services, and performance-critical APIs.
- Data Infrastructure Management: Design and optimize data and storage layers, including relational and NoSQL databases, object storage, and develop schemas for high-throughput workloads.
- System Observability and Performance: Improve system performance and reliability, develop observability tools through metrics, traces, alerting, and dashboards.
- Technical Leadership: Mentor engineers, lead design and architecture reviews, and collaborate across engineering, SRE, Product, and Design teams.

## Requirements

### education

- {"name":"Academic Qualification","description":"Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field, or equivalent practical experience"}

### technical

- {"name":"Distributed Systems","description":"Deep expertise in designing and operating large-scale distributed systems architecture"}
- {"name":"Programming Languages","description":"Strong production experience with Golang and cloud-based service development"}
- {"name":"Cloud Infrastructure","description":"Extensive experience with Kubernetes and cloud environments, preferably AWS"}

### experience

- {"name":"Backend Engineering","description":"8+ years of backend engineering experience with focus on large-scale architectures"}
- {"name":"Storage Systems","description":"Proven experience designing and running high-scale storage systems like PostgreSQL or DynamoDB"}

## Skills

### required

- {"name":"Distributed Systems","description":"Expertise in designing and operating large-scale distributed systems"}
- {"name":"Golang","description":"Strong production-level development experience"}
- {"name":"Kubernetes","description":"Operational experience at scale"}

### preferred

- {"name":"OCI Registries","description":"Experience with container registries and artifact stores"}
- {"name":"Open Source","description":"Contributions to cloud-native or open-source ecosystems"}

## Tech stack

### tools

- {"name":"Argo CD","description":"Continuous delivery tool"}
- {"name":"GitHub Actions","description":"CI/CD workflow automation"}
- {"name":"Kafka","description":"Event streaming platform"}

### others

- {"name":"AWS","description":"Cloud computing platform"}

### databases

- {"name":"PostgreSQL","description":"Relational database management"}
- {"name":"DynamoDB","description":"NoSQL cloud database"}

### languages

- {"name":"Golang","description":"Primary backend programming language"}

### frameworks

- {"name":"Kubernetes","description":"Container orchestration platform"}

## Benefits

### benefits

- {"name":"Remote Work Flexibility","description":"Freedom to work remotely with a flexible schedule"}
- {"name":"Parental Leave","description":"16 weeks of paid parental leave"}
- {"name":"Technology Stipend","description":"$100 monthly technology stipend for home office setup"}
- {"name":"Training Support","description":"Stipend for conferences, courses, and professional development"}
- {"name":"Equity","description":"Stock options to share in the company's success"}

## Compensation

- **max:** 250000
- **min:** 200000
- **currency:** USD
- **stockOptions:** true

## Interview process

### steps

- {"name":"Initial Screening","description":"Initial review of application and background"}
- {"name":"Technical Interview","description":"In-depth technical discussion of distributed systems experience and architectural approaches"}
- {"name":"System Design Challenge","description":"Evaluate candidate's ability to design complex, scalable backend systems"}
- {"name":"Leadership and Collaboration Assessment","description":"Interview focusing on technical leadership and cross-team collaboration skills"}
- {"name":"Final Executive Interview","description":"Comprehensive discussion with senior engineering leadership"}

## Full description
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’re looking for a **Staff Backend Engineer** with extensive experience in **distributed systems**, large-scale backend architecture, and high-volume storage systems. You will own systems end-to-end—from schema design and API architecture to deployment, observability, and operational excellence.

The work is highly dynamic, and you will operate in a **fast-paced environment** where we continuously evolve the platform to support enormous growth in traffic, data, and global usage. You’ll collaborate across engineering, SRE, Product, and Design while acting as a technical leader who simplifies complexity, elevates engineering quality, and improves a globally critical developer platform.

If you’re passionate about building and operating massive-scale distributed systems with huge data and throughput demands, this role is for you.

# 

# **Responsibilities**

**Distributed Systems & Backend Engineering**

* Architect, build, and operate **high-scale distributed systems** powering Docker Hub’s registry platform—spanning artifact storage, metadata services, indexing workflows, and performance-critical APIs.
* Lead the design and implementation of backend services with a strong emphasis on **scalability, correctness, resilience, and performance**.
* Drive major initiatives around **multi-region replication, caching strategies, request-path optimization**, and core registry reliability.

**Data Infrastructure & Storage**

* Design, optimize, operate the data and storage layers - for both Relational and NoSql as well as object storage and related technologies.
* Develop schemas and data models to support high-throughput, large-volume workloads.
* Own systems end-to-end—from storage-layer behavior to API design, deployment workflows, and production monitoring.

**Operations, Observability & Scale**

* Improve the performance and reliability of one of the world’s largest repositories of container images.
* Develop and enhance observability through metrics, traces, alerting, and dashboards.
* Lead improvements to deployment and operational tooling (e.g., Argo CD, GitHub Actions).
* Participate in on-call rotations as part of supporting critical production services.

**Leadership & Collaboration**

* Mentor engineers and lead design and architecture reviews.
* Partner with Product, Design, SRE, and Platform teams to deliver high-impact projects.
* Engage with open-source communities, cloud-native partners, and the broader ecosystem.
* Take part in on-call rotation for your team; respond to incidents, debug production issues, and drive continuous improvement of system reliability

# **Qualifications**

**Required**

* **8+ years** backend engineering experience with deep expertise in **distributed systems** and **large-scale backend architectures**.
* **Strong production experience with Golang**, including designing and operating large Go-based services in cloud environments.
* **Strong production experience with Kubernetes**, including operating services at scale.
* Experience designing and running high-scale storage systems (PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, or equivalent) in production.
* Experience building and operating cloud-based services (AWS preferred).
* Experience with **event-driven or streaming systems**, such as Kafka, SNS/SQS, or equivalent.
* Strong foundation in software engineering best practices: design documentation, testing strategies, CI/CD, code review, observability.
* Comfortable functioning autonomously in a fully distributed, remote-first team and working effectively in a fast-paced environment.
* Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience

**Nice to Have**

* Experience with **OCI registries**, artifact stores, or large-scale content distribution systems.
* Familiarity with search/indexing systems or metadata-rich architectures.
* Contributions to cloud-native or open-source ecosystems.

# **What We’re Looking For**

* An engineer with deep experience in **distributed systems and large-scale storage**
* Someone who thrives in a **fast-paced environment** and consistently optimizes for **reliability, automation, and performance**.
* A technical leader who takes ownership of complex systems and drives long-term architectural direction.
* An engineer energised by the challenges of operating a global developer platform at massive scale.

**Docker considers sponsorship on a case-by-case basis based on business needs.**

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](https://getcovey.com/product/covey-scout-inbound) on April 13, 2024.

Please see the independent bias audit report covering our use of Covey [here](https://getcovey.com/nyc-local-law-144).

**Perks**

* Freedom & flexibility; fit your work around your life
* Designated quarterly Whaleness Days plus end of year Whaleness break
* 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
* 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
* Remote-first culture, with offices in Seattle and Paris

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.

#LI-REMOTE