Senior Backend Engineer at Proton.ai
Who We Are:
The wholesale distribution sector is overdue for transformation, and Proton is at the forefront of this change. Distributors power global commerce, yet their tech tools remain outdated. Proton fixes this with AI-driven sales software that simplifies complex product catalogs and predicts customer needs. Our platform delivers measurable impact—10x ROI, faster sales team onboarding, and improved rep productivity—proving that distribution can thrive in the digital era.
After securing a $20M Series A from Felicis Ventures (backers of Twitch, Shopify) and Battery Ventures, we're scaling rapidly. If you thrive in dynamic environments where you can shape technology and business outcomes, Proton offers the perfect growth opportunity.
Your Mission:
Proton seeks a Senior Backend Engineer to architect the future of our SaaS platform. Working closely with our Director of Engineering, you'll design systems that balance scalability, security, and enterprise-grade customization for our growing customer base.
We need a technical leader who evaluates emerging technologies through the lens of long-term platform growth while delivering immediate customer value.
Note: Proton partners with Oyster HR for international hires as long-term contractors.
Annual compensation: $50,000 - $70,000 USD (experience-dependent)
Key Responsibilities:
- Full-Stack Impact: Own backend development while advising product teams on technical feasibility. Ship features that transform how distributors operate—from concept to production deployment.
- Architectural Leadership: Guide cross-functional teams (backend, frontend, DevOps) in technology decisions that support exponential growth without compromising performance.
- Enterprise Solutions: Apply your knowledge of corporate software needs to build configurable platforms that adapt to diverse customer requirements.
- System Integrity: Design for reliability at scale, optimizing data pipelines and infrastructure to handle complex distribution workflows.
Ideal Candidate Profile:
- 7+ years building scalable SaaS platforms, preferably in startup environments where you've made foundational architecture decisions
- Expertise in Python/Go (C#/Java considered) with a history of improving system security and performance
- Cloud-native development experience (AWS/GCP/Azure) including database optimization, API design, and containerized deployments
- Technology explorer—you evaluate emerging tools against business needs and technical constraints
- Enterprise software background preferred, especially with complex data models and compliance requirements
- Ability to translate technical concepts for executives, PMs, and engineers alike
Our Technology Landscape
Backend
- Transitioning from Elasticsearch/Redis to SQL as primary datastore
- Python microservices on Kubernetes
- Airflow for batch processing
- ML pipeline with neural networks for predictive analytics
Frontend
- Vue.js 3/Nuxt 3 modernization (migrating to Vuetify)
- Docker/Kubernetes deployment
- GitHub Actions CI/CD
Don't know every tool listed? We prioritize problem-solving skills and learning agility over specific framework knowledge.
Why Join:
- Ownership Culture: Competitive salary + equity—we succeed together
- Work Flexibility: Remote-friendly with async collaboration
- Team Connection: Bi-annual in-person strategy sessions