Backend Software Engineer

Perplexity AI2 weeks ago

Location

San Francisco

Type

Full Time

Salary

USD 220,000 – 405,000

Level

Senior

Role

Backend Software Engineer

Posted

Mar 3, 2026

Full TimeSenior

The role

Summary

Perplexity AI is seeking an experienced Backend Software Engineer to join their innovative team, focusing on building scalable, high-performance backend systems that power their AI-driven search and interaction platform. The ideal candidate will work on complex, cutting-edge technologies to revolutionize how people search and interact with information across web, mobile, and browser products.

What you'll do

System Scalability: Build and optimize scalable systems for ingesting and processing data from diverse sources including web, files, and other platforms

Database Optimization: Design and improve interfaces for efficient interactions with databases and caching systems to enhance performance and reliability

Cross-Team Collaboration: Work closely with Product Managers, frontend engineers, AI, Search, and Data Science teams to develop and iterate on complex, non-deterministic systems

Service Management: Manage complex orchestration systems with multiple interfaces, scaling and load balancing services to meet rapidly changing technological needs

What we look for

Technical

Programming LanguagesAdvanced proficiency in Python, with strong capabilities in backend development

Cloud InfrastructureExtensive experience with AWS cloud infrastructure, capable of managing large-scale deployments

Database ManagementExpert-level experience with databases and caching systems, understanding of high-performance data management

Education

DegreeBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field preferred

Experience

Industry ExperienceMinimum of 4+ years of professional software engineering experience, preferably in AI, search, or high-scale data platforms

System ComplexityProven track record of working with high-scale, non-deterministic systems such as Large Language Models (LLMs)

Skills

Required skills

Python DevelopmentStrong backend development skills with Python

Cloud ArchitectureAbility to design and implement scalable cloud infrastructure

Data ProcessingExperience with high-throughput data ingestion and processing systems

Nice to have

AI SystemsExperience with AI-driven platforms and Large Language Model integration

Distributed SystemsKnowledge of designing and maintaining complex, distributed backend architectures

Compensation & benefits

Salary

USD 220,000 – 405,000 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity Compensation

Stock options providing potential additional financial upside

Cutting-Edge Technology

Opportunity to work on advanced AI and search technologies

Hybrid Work Model

Flexible work arrangement with options for remote and in-office work

Interview process

1
Initial Screening — Preliminary review of resume and background by recruiting team
2
Technical Phone Screen — Detailed discussion of technical skills, experience, and problem-solving approach
3
Technical Interview — In-depth technical assessment focusing on backend systems, scalability, and coding challenges
4
Systems Design Interview — Evaluation of candidate's ability to design complex, scalable backend architectures
5
Final Interview — Meeting with team leads and potential team members to assess cultural fit and collaborative potential