Patreon

Senior Staff Software Engineer, Backend Platform

Patreon1 weeks ago
Location

San Francisco

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 296,000 – 444,000

Level

Staff

Role

Backend Engineer

Posted

May 15, 2026

Full TimeStaff

The role

Summary

Patreon is seeking a Senior Staff Software Engineer for its Backend Platform team to drive technical strategy, build scalable infrastructure, and support the platform's mission of funding the creative class. The ideal candidate will lead architecture modernization, establish technical standards, and mentor engineering talent while working in a hybrid San Francisco office environment.

What you'll do

Technical Strategy: Define and drive the technical strategy for Patreon's backend platform and foundational infrastructure
System Architecture: Lead architecture and implementation of scalable distributed systems, APIs, event-driven systems, and platform services
Modernization: Lead modernization efforts across backend architecture, service boundaries, data access patterns, and infrastructure
Technical Standards: Establish technical standards and best practices around reliability, performance, scalability, and maintainability
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with product engineering teams to ensure platform capabilities align with business and product needs
Technical Leadership: Mentor Staff and Senior engineers across the organization through design reviews, technical leadership, and hands-on collaboration

What we look for

Technical

Distributed SystemsExtensive experience building large-scale backend systems with depth in distributed systems and platform architecture
Performance OptimizationExperience in performance optimization across APIs, databases, caching layers, and distributed services
Cloud InfrastructureExperience operating systems in cloud-native environments such as AWS and Kubernetes-based infrastructure

Education

Computer ScienceAdvanced degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience preferred

Experience

Backend Development10+ years of extensive experience in building large-scale backend systems

Skills

Required skills

Backend LanguagesProficiency in Python, Go, Java, or Rust
Database TechnologiesExperience with MySQL, Postgres, Redis, DynamoDB
System ArchitectureDeep expertise in high-throughput APIs and low-latency architectures

Nice to have

Communication SkillsAbility to articulate complex architectural trade-offs clearly
MentorshipExperience mentoring Senior and Staff engineers

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 296,000 – 444,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Healthcare

Comprehensive health insurance coverage

Equity

Stock options and equity plans

Flexible Time Off

Unlimited or generous PTO policy

Learning Stipend

Funds for professional development and training

401k

Retirement plan with company matching

Commuter Benefits

Support for transportation expenses

Parental Leave

Comprehensive parental leave policy

Interview process

  1. 1
    Initial Screening — Recruiter call to assess background and fit
  2. 2
    Technical Phone Screen — In-depth discussion of technical experience and system design
  3. 3
    Architectural Design Interview — Detailed system design and architectural challenge
  4. 4
    Onsite/Virtual Interviews — Multiple rounds with engineering leadership and team members
  5. 5
    Final Leadership Interview — Discussion of technical vision and cultural alignment
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Patreon

Patreon

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Patreon is an American membership platform enabling creators to earn income from fans. It supports artists, podcasters, and writers with subscription-based content and community tools.

San Francisco, California, United StatesFounded 2013patreon.com

Tech Stack

Languages
PythonGoJavaRust
Databases
MySQLPostgresRedisDynamoDB
Tools
AWSKubernetes
Other
Event-Driven Architectures

Interview Guides

12 guides available for Patreon

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