Pelago
Substance Use Management
BackendEngineer
Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Mid candidates.
“Backend Engineer at Pelago. Skills: Node.js, TypeScript, AWS, Event-driven architecture, SQL database management, API development. Building and scaling backend systems. Designing and implementing robust APIs”
What You'll Achieve.
Improve member outcomes at scale; Spend less time on mechanical implementation and more time on system design, judgment, and impact; Accelerate implementation, testing, and review using AI; Focus on defining intent, validating behavior, and designing resilient systems; Own outcomes, not just ship features; Ensure reliability, performance, and scalability of backend systems; Enable secure, scalable, and efficient systems that connect members to care
Industry & Context.
Outcome-oriented problem solvers; Empowered, outcome-oriented problem solvers; Problem-shaping; Anticipating second-order effects; Problem-solving
Based in London or within commuting distance (2 days/week in-office), Unable to offer visa sponsorship
What They're Looking For.
Must Have
4+ years of professional experience as a backend engineer, Extensive experience with Node.js and TypeScript, Proven track record with event-driven architectures, Years of working with SQL, including schema design, optimization, and scaling, AWS expertise, including API Gateway, SNS, SQS, Lambda, Cognito, EC2, RDS, S3, CloudWatch, and VPC, Experience integrating and managing third-party APIs in production environments, Genuine curiosity about emerging technologies, including AI, and a proactive mindset toward exploring how they can enhance work, problem-solving, and innovation at Pelago, Familiarity with testing frameworks and experience writing unit and integration tests, Based in London or within commuting distance (2 days/week in-office)
Nice to Have
Experience with NoSQL databases, Infrastructure provisioning using Terraform, Experience scaling AWS environments in high-growth contexts, Knowledge of serverless architecture trade-offs and benefits, API security best practices
What You'll Do.
Building and scaling backend systems
Designing and implementing robust APIs
Maintaining serverless AWS infrastructure
Working with complex data systems
Contributing to an event-driven architecture
Taking ownership of mission-critical features from concept to deployment
Maintaining and evolving entirely serverless AWS-based architecture using Node.js and TypeScript
Contributing to the development of an event-driven system
Owning core feature implementation and refactoring critical functionality
Designing and optimizing MySQL databases at scale
Managing and integrating third-party APIs
Implementing best practices for code quality
and deployment automation
Partnering with cross-functional teams to translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions
How You'll Work.
Team & Collaboration
Working in close partnership with product, design, and clinical teams; Collaborating cross-functionally to balance member impact, clinical constraints, and technical tradeoffs; Partnering with cross-functional teams to translate business requirements into scalable technical solutions; Collaborative agile environment
Full Job Description
Pelago is the world’s leading virtual clinic for Substance Use Management. Our program provides guidance, support and treatment for members seeking to overcome their tobacco, alcohol and opioid use. From unhealthy habits to active substance use disorders, Pelago delivers a personalized solution based on individual health, habits, genetics, and goals, providing care for members wherever they might be on the substance use spectrum. Pelago's suite of virtual services ranges from education, to cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to comprehensive medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Pelago enables employers and health plans to deliver accessible, affordable, and effective treatment for substance misuse. Pelago has scaled to helping hundreds of employers and health plans and has already helped more than 750,000 members manage their substance use better. We have recently closed our Series C and raised over $151m from leading global investors. If you are passionate about making an impact on the health of others, join us and make it happen! About Pelago Engineering: Our engineering team operates as empowered, outcome-oriented problem solvers, working in close partnership with product, design, and clinical teams to improve member outcomes at scale. As AI transforms how software is built, we are intentionally evolving our development lifecycle so we spend less time on mechanical implementation and more time on system design, judgment, and impact. How We Work: Outcome-driven: Engineers are given problems to solve, not just features to build. Success is measured by learning, impact, and outcomes—not velocity alone AI-native: We use AI across the SDLC to accelerate implementation, testing, and review. Engineers focus on defining intent, validating behavior, and designing resilient systems High autonomy, high accountability: Teams have real ownership over their domains. With autonomy comes responsibility for quality, safety, and results Cross-functional by default: Engineers partne
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