About this role
Department: Technical
Work Arrangement: Remote
Job Type: Independent Contractor, Full Time
Work Schedule: US Time Zone (candidate expected to be flexible with the client's preference)
Locations: Philippines, LATAM, and other remote regions with excellent English communication skills
About Pearl TalentPearl works with the top 1% of candidates from around the world and connects them with the best startups in the US and EU. Our clients have raised over $5B in aggregate and are backed by companies like OpenAI, a16z, and Founders Fund. They're looking for the sharpest, hungriest candidates who they can consistently promote and work with over many years. Candidates we've hired have been flown out to the US and EU to work with their clients, and even promoted to roles that match folks onshore in the US.
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Why Work with Us?At Pearl, we're not just another recruiting firm—we connect you with exceptional opportunities to work alongside visionary US and EU founders. Our focus is on placing you in roles where you can grow, be challenged, and build long-term, meaningful careers.
Role OverviewThe Backend Engineer designs, builds, and scales server-side systems, data infrastructure, and integration pipelines that power modern applications across diverse industries including PropTech, AI-powered platforms, SaaS products, and data-intensive startups. This is often a foundational hire where you'll have true ownership in shaping backend architecture, working directly with technical leadership and cross-functional teams to build systems from the ground up. You'll architect scalable cloud infrastructure, implement robust ETL/ELT pipelines ingesting large data streams, manage search and AI integrations, and ensure reliability, performance, and security across all backend systems. This role requires engineers who combine deep technical expertise with systems thinking, building infrastructure that supports real-time product discovery, generative AI experiences, and high-volume data processing.
Your ImpactYour backend architecture will form the foundation enabling applications to scale from initial launch to millions of users without performance degradation. By building robust data pipelines and integration systems, you'll unlock value from diverse data sources, transforming raw data into actionable intelligence. Your infrastructure decisions will directly impact system reliability, cost efficiency, and development velocity across engineering teams. Through thoughtful API design and integration architecture, you'll enable seamless connections between systems, third-party services, and AI capabilities. Your work on search infrastructure and vector databases will power intelligent product discovery and AI-driven experiences. By establishing engineering best practices, monitoring systems, and security protocols, you'll create operational excellence that prevents outages and protects sensitive data.
Core ResponsibilitiesBackend Architecture & Cloud Infrastructure (30%)
Design and implement scalable backend architecture supporting high-traffic applicationsSet up and manage cloud infrastructure including VPCs, IAM, security groups, and networking (AWS preferred, GCP/Azure)Implement Infrastructure as Code (IaC) using Terraform, Pulumi, or CloudFormationDefine backend architecture standards, API design patterns, and system integration strategiesBuild cost-optimized cloud strategies balancing performance and infrastructure spendDesign microservices architecture or monolithic systems based on business requirementsImplement containerization strategies using Docker and orchestration with KubernetesEstablish monitoring, logging, and observability frameworks for system health trackingEnsure high availability, disaster recovery, and backup strategiesServer-Side Development & API Design (25%)
Develop scalable server-side applications using Node.js, TypeScript, Python, or GolangBuild robust RESTful APIs and GraphQL endpoints with proper error handling and documentationImplement authentication, authorization, and security protocols (OAuth, JWT, API keys)Optimize backend performance for speed, efficiency, and resource utilizationDesign database schemas and queries for SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB, DynamoDB) databasesBuild real-time features using WebSockets, Server-Sent Events, or streaming technologiesImplement caching strategies using Redis or Memcached for performance optimizationWrite clean, maintainable, well-tested backend code following best practicesData Integration & ETL/ELT Pipelines (25%)
Build and scale ETL/ELT pipelines ingesting large data streams from diverse sources (REST, XML, EDI APIs)Design resilient, idempotent data loaders that evolve with external data source changesDeploy and manage orchestration tools (Airflow, Dagster, Prefect) for workflow automationBuild and maintain dbt pipelines with automated testing, CI/CD workflows, and version controlImplement data transformation logic ensuring data quality, validation, and error handlingIntegrate streaming data platforms (Kafka, Kinesis, RabbitMQ) for real-time data processingDesign schema-flexible pipelines handling varying data structures gracefullyManage data warehousing solutions (Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift) for analytics and reportingSearch, AI & Advanced Integrations (15%)
Manage search infrastructure including Elasticsearch or OpenSearch clusters for product discoveryImplement vector databases (Pinecone, Weaviate, Qdrant) supporting AI/ML featuresSupport AI integrations through embeddings, RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation), and LLM frameworksIntegrate with AI frameworks (LangChain, LlamaIndex) for intelligent application featuresBuild feature stores and model ops infrastructure supporting ML model deploymentImplement recommendation systems and semantic search capabilitiesOptimize search relevance, ranking algorithms, and query performanceSupport generative AI experiences with proper prompt engineering and context managementDevOps, Testing & System Reliability (5%)
Implement CI/CD pipelines automating testing, building, and deployment processesEstablish automated testing frameworks (unit, integration, end-to-end) ensuring code qualityMonitor system performance using DataDog, Grafana, Prometheus, or CloudWatchImplement security best practices including data encryption, secure API design, and vulnerability scanningOptimize database performance through query optimization, indexing, and connection poolingManage system scaling strategies (horizontal, vertical) based on load patternsConduct code reviews and maintain engineering documentationEnsure data quality, observability, and operational excellenceRequirements
Must-Haves (Required)Experience: 1-3+ years designing and building scalable backend systems and server-side applicationsProgramming Languages: Strong proficiency in Node.js, TypeScript, Python, or GolangCloud Platforms: Hands-on experience with AWS (preferred), GCP, or Azure including infrastructure setupDatabase Expertise: Experience with both SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB, DynamoDB) databasesAPI Development: Proven experience building RESTful APIs with proper architecture and documentationETL/ELT Pipelines: Experience building data integration pipelines and handling diverse data sourcesInfrastructure as Code: Familiarity with Terraform, Pulumi, CloudFormation, or similar IaC toolsSystem Design: Strong understanding of distributed systems, scalability patterns, and architecture principlesProblem-Solving: Excellent debugging, troubleshooting, and analytical skillsCode Quality: Commitment to clean code, testing, and engineering best practicesCommunication: Strong written and verbal English with ability to explain technical concepts clearlyCollaboration: Experience working cross-functionally with product, frontend, and data teamsNice-to-Haves (Preferred)5+ years of backend engineering experience including ETL/ELT pipeline developmentExperience building systems from scratch as foundational engineering hireHands-on experience with orchestration tools (Airflow, Dagster, Prefect)Knowledge of streaming platforms (Kafka, Kinesis, RabbitMQ)Experience with data warehousing (Snowflake, BigQuery, Redshift)Proficiency with search engines (Elasticsearch, OpenSearch, Algolia)Experience with vector databases (Pinecone, Weaviate, Qdrant) and embeddingsKnowledge of ML/AI fundamentals including feature stores and model opsFamiliarity with AI frameworks (LangChain, LlamaIndex) for RAG implementationsExperience with dbt (data build tool) for data transformation workflowsUnderstanding of PropTech, real estate technology, or property management systemsExperience with Next.js, Express.js, NestJS, or similar backend frameworksKnowledge of GraphQL API design and implementationFamiliarity with message queues and event-driven architecturesExperience with containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes)
Tools ProficiencyMust-Haves (Required)Programming: Node.js, TypeScript, Python (strong proficiency in at least two)Cloud Platforms: AWS (EC2, S3, Lambda, RDS, VPC), GCP, or AzureDatabases: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, or equivalent SQL/NoSQL systemsVersion Control: Git, GitHub, GitLab for code managementAPI Development: RESTful API design, Postman or similar testing toolsNice-to-Haves (Preferred)Infrastructure as Code: Terraform, Pulumi, CloudFormationOrchestration: Apache Airflow, Dagster, Prefect for workflow managementStreaming: Apache Kafka, AWS Kinesis, RabbitMQData Warehousing: Snowflake, Google BigQuery, AWS RedshiftSearch Engines: Elasticsearch, OpenSearch, AlgoliaVector Databases: Pinecone, Weaviate, Qdrant, MilvusAI Frameworks: LangChain, LlamaIndex for LLM applicationsData Transformation: dbt (data build tool) for analytics engineeringCaching: Redis, Memcached for performance optimizationMonitoring: DataDog, Grafana, Prometheus, CloudWatchCI/CD: GitHub Actions, CircleCI, Jenkins, GitLab CIContainerization: Docker, Kubernetes, ECS/EKSBackend Frameworks: Express.js, NestJS, FastAPI, Next.js API routesTesting: Jest, Pytest, Mocha for automated testingMessage Queues: SQS, SNS, RabbitMQ for async processingBenefits
Competitive Salary: Based on experience and skillsRemote Work: Fully remote — work from anywhereGenerous PTO: In accordance with company policyDirect Mentorship: Access to global industry leadersLearning & Development: Continuous growth resourcesGlobal Networking: Work with international teamsHealth Coverage (Philippines only): HMO after 3 months (full-time)
Our Recruitment Process Application Skills Assessment Initial Screening Top-grading Interview Client Matching Job Offer Onboarding
Ready to Join Pearl Talent?If you're a driven professional ready to work with exceptional founders building the next generation of world-class companies, we'd love to meet you. Apply now to unlock opportunities where your growth, impact, and success are our top priorities.