Senior Backend Engineer

Company Description

Populus is a mission-driven company that is shaping the future of cities. Our platform empowers cities to manage their streets and curbs — with access to mobility data from shared scooters, cars, and delivery services — to deliver a safer, more sustainable transportation future. Today, we serve over 100 cities around the world on 4 continents, as the trusted digital platform to manage the future of mobility.

Role Overview

As a Senior Backend Engineer at Populus, you’ll be joining a small team of engineers who focus on our Python backend. You’ll be modeling complex city policies, building out geospatial data management tools, and supporting the operation of the same. You’ll also have to troubleshoot in the rest of our stack, which consists of infrastructure on GCP, a Postgres/PostGIS database, Pyramid and FastAPI Python APIs, and a React/MobX/TypeScript frontend.

About the Job

• Some folks in Chicago have found some “interesting” behavior when trying to set policies about scooter parking, and the frontend seems fine. It’s time for some code archaeology! You set some expectations with the Client Success manager and start digging.
• Another developer has worked out a new endpoint in the API and made a draft pull request. You take a look - they’ve worked out lots of quirks of the problem domain, but you’d like them to consider a few changes for maintainability. The discussion is nuanced, so you grab them for some pairing time and make the code better together.
• You hear people talk about all the exciting projects we are planning, and a little voice in your head says, “this will overwhelm our current vehicle data storage strategy.” You work with a few other engineers to describe the problem and its impact, pitch a solution to the rest of the organization, and get some time blocked off to work on an alternative approach that will scale into the future.

About You

• You have worked in a cross-functional team, owning large projects that you broke down into smaller parts to release separately.
• You have developed features in web-app backends in Python or a similar language.
• You have maintained projects post-launch, addressing issues that occur in production and adapting the projects to new requirements.
• You have supported the growth of other engineers on the team, through review, mentorship, and sponsorship.
• You have identified and driven technical improvements across the platform.
• You have worked with product to pitch and prioritize projects across the team.
• You value diversity and equity, and you integrate inclusive behaviors into every aspect of your work.

The base salary range for this full-time role is commensurate with experience + bonus + stock options  + benefits.  

Apply Today

Complete the application attaching your resume and an optional cover letter explaining in a few words why you're the right person for this role and why you're excited to help us solve big transportation problems.   If you require any accommodation due to difference or disability, please contact operations@populus.ai with your request.

Notices

Populus is an equal opportunity employer - we are committed to a workplace that is as dynamic, diverse, and passionate as the communities we serve. Populus prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, age, disability, marital status and veteran status.

Populus’ salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The ranges reflect the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for this position across all US locations; however, Populus has an office first philosophy and reserves the higher end of the range for employees that are based in the Bay Area and commuting to the office on a regular basis. Unless stated otherwise, Populus will prioritize hires who are able to work in the San Francisco office three days per week. 

Within this range, individual pay is determined by location, job-related skills, experience, and relevant education/training. Only in truly rare circumstances where a candidate has experience or expertise that far exceed the basic requirements for this position would Populus consider paying a base salary rate at the upper end of the range. Your contact at Populus can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process. Please note that the compensation ranges reflect the base salary only and do not include the value of bonuses, stock options, or benefits. 

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