Backend Engineer

Lapel, Inc

$120K — $160K *
Information Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 3+ years of backend or software engineering experience
  • Proficient in designing APIs and managing backend architecture
  • Experience with backend technologies like Node.js or Python
  • Familiarity with databases, particularly PostgreSQL or MySQL
  • Understanding of system design and performance optimization
  • Customer-focused with ability to translate product needs into backend systems
  • Proactive and detail-oriented with a commitment to quality

Responsibilities

  • Build and scale backend systems for the Lapel platform
  • Design and develop APIs to support product features
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create scalable solutions
  • Define backend architecture and tooling decisions
  • Own backend projects from inception to deployment
  • Manage database schemas and data flows
  • Optimize system performance and ensure reliability
  • Ensure security and data protection best practices

Benefits

  • Competitive salary and meaningful early-stage equity
  • Full medical, dental, vision benefits with 401(k)
  • Generous time off and coordinated breaks
  • Daily lunch and dinner provided, plus in-office snacks
  • Strong team culture with off-sites and feedback loops
Full Job Description
What You'll Do
  • Build, operate, and scale the core backend systems that power the Lapel platform
  • Design and develop robust APIs and services that support product features end-to-end
  • Work closely with founders, product, and design to translate ideas into scalable backend solutions
  • Help define and shape backend architecture, infrastructure, and tooling decisions
  • Own key backend projects end-to-end, from scoping to deployment to post-launch iteration
  • Design and manage database schemas, data models, and data flows across systems
  • Optimize system performance, reliability, and scalability
  • Implement best practices around security, authentication, and data protection
  • Contribute to infrastructure and deployment pipelines
  • Debug and resolve production issues, ensuring high uptime and system stability
Our Stack

Lapel is built end-to-end in TypeScript in a single monorepo.
  • React, Vite, and Tailwind on the frontend;
  • Node.js and Postgres on the backend;
  • Temporal and Pulsar to power orchestration.

We ship quickly, and care about creating a developer experience where anyone can prototype, experiment, and get ideas into production fast.
You'll Thrive in This Role If You
  • Have 3+ years of backend or software engineering experience, with a track record of building and scaling systems
  • Are comfortable designing APIs, working with databases, and owning backend architecture decisions
  • Have experience with backend technologies (Node.js, Python, Go, or similar) and databases like PostgreSQL or MySQL
  • Understand system design, scalability, and performance optimization at a practical level
  • Are customer-focused and able to translate product needs into reliable backend systems
  • Enjoy working in fast-paced environments with high ownership and autonomy
  • Are proactive, detail-oriented, and take pride in building high-quality systems

This role is fully in-person at our San Francisco HQ. We work together in-office most days of the week.
The Process

We aim to hire with intention, respect your time, and offer feedback along the way.
  1. Initial conversation (20 minutes) We'll explore your motivations, share what we're building, and answer your questions.
  2. In-depth interview (45 minutes) We'll go deeper into your craft and experience. No live coding. No prep work necessary.
  3. Take-home project (2-4 hours) You'll complete a short, well-scoped exercise that mirrors the kind of work you'd do here.
  4. On-site visit (1-2 days) Join us in the office to review your take-home, grab lunch, and work on something real.


Compensation and Benefits

We believe great people build great companies-and we invest accordingly.
  • Competitive salary + meaningful early-stage equity
  • Full benefits: medical, dental, vision, 401(k), and commuter benefits
  • Generous time off: many company holidays and coordinated team-wide breaks throughout the year to focus and recharge
  • Office perks: lunch and dinner provided daily, in-office snacks, and health & wellness benefits
  • Team culture: regular off-sites, tight feedback loops, and a bias toward action

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