Cameo

Technology

StaffSoftwareEngineer-Backend

$175–215k Chicago, Illinois, United States
Market Sentiment
HIGH DEMAND

Neural analysis suggests this role is
optimal for Senior candidates.

The Brief

“Staff Software Engineer-Backend at Cameo. Skills: Backend engineering, Distributed systems, Node.js, NoSQL. Set technical direction for backend platform. Architect core services”

What You'll Achieve.

Make platform fast; Make platform reliable; Ready for scale

Industry & Context.

Technology
Problems you'll solve

Distributed-systems problems; Data problems

What They're Looking For.

Must Have

10+ years backend engineering experience, Deep expertise in Node.js, Track record designing distributed systems, Expert-level data modeling with NoSQL, Experience designing event-driven architectures, Built high-throughput, low-latency APIs, Security-minded across authn/authz, Cloud-native chops on AWS, AI fluency

Nice to Have

Good judgment on when relational stores fit, Experience with Kafka/Confluent, Experience with queues, Experience with pub/sub, Experience with async APIs, Experience with supply-chain risk, Use agentic coding tools, Set standards for team builds, Design agentic systems, Design AI-powered systems

What You'll Do.

Set technical direction for backend platform

Architect core services

Own distributed-systems problems

Raise engineering bar

Go deep on data layer

Design event-driven architecture

Design API architecture

Partner with product teams

Partner with data teams

Partner with platform teams

Define where we invest

Define how we stay reliable

How You'll Work.

Team & Collaboration

Partner with product; Partner with data; Partner with platform

Full Job Description

Staff Software Engineer, Backend At Cameo, we make impossible connections possible. Our platform allows fans to get personalized messages from their favorite comedians, actors, athletes, and more.... not gonna lie, it’s pretty magical. And now we’re looking for passionate, hardworking humans to help take Cameo to the next level. 🚀 Our #Fameo means everything to us. Join a stellar team of smart, curious, and driven individuals, and experience working at a globally known consumer startup. 📈 Best in class. We’ve been named one of LinkedIn’s Top 50 Startups to Work For, voted one of America’s Best Startup Employers by Forbes, and the #1 Most Innovative Social Media Company by Fast Company. 💰Get all good stuff. Health insurance, 401(K), Fun work environment at our Downtown Chicago Headquarters, and opportunities to meet Cameo Talent! Come to work every day knowing your efforts will have a material impact, shaping the direction of the next outstanding tech company! About the role: You will set the technical direction for the backend platform that connects fans and talent to create the perfect video shoutout; and you'll make it fast, reliable, and ready for the next order of magnitude of scale. This is a hands-on leadership role: you'll architect the core services behind our website and mobile app, own the hardest distributed-systems and data problems, and raise the engineering bar for the teams around you. As a staff backend engineer, you'll go deep on our backend (node.js) and data layer (MongoDB), design the event-driven and API architecture that ties everything together, and partner closely with product, data, and platform teams. You'll also help define how we build with AI; from using agentic coding tools to move faster, to designing the AI-powered systems that make Cameo better. You won't just ship features; you'll define how we build, where we invest, and how we stay reliable as we grow. What you bring to the table: 10+ years of professional backend engineering e

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