Senior Backend Engineer
The Opportunity:
We are looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to architect and build the robust backend platform that transforms Slingshot GenAI software from an internal prototype into a professional, commercial-grade solution for the global animation and VFX industry. You will not just be writing code; you will be the bridge between high-performance AI workflows and a secure, artist-centric user experience. Your work ensures that the software delivers the reliability, auditability, and scalability required by our customers.
The Requirements
Skills:
- Docker and container orchestration (ECS or Fargate; Kubernetes is a plus).
- Infrastructure as Code (CloudFormation, AWS SAM, or Terraform).
- Experience designing scalable distributed systems.
- Experience with asynchronous processing, queues, and event-driven architectures.
- Identity and access management (AWS Cognito, OAuth2, JWT).
- Experience with monitoring and observability (CloudWatch, logging, metrics).
- Design and integrate payment and billing systems (e.g., Stripe), including subscriptions, usage metering, credits, invoicing, and webhooks.
Must-haves:
- Experience: 5 plus years in Backend Engineering or Platform Engineering.
- Core Languages: Expert proficiency in Python (essential for AI and ComfyUI integration).
- API: Proven ability to design and optimize RESTful APIs for high-load environments.
- Eligibility: You must be legally entitled to work in Canada.
Nice-to-haves:
- Familiarity with image generation or generative AI workflows.
- Experience building ML and AI infrastructure, model training pipelines, or inference services.
- Experience with PyTorch, Hugging Face, LoRA training, or GPU-based workloads.
- Knowledge of immutable ledgers or databases specifically for chain of title tracking.
- A background in VFX, Animation, or handling exceptionally large media assets.
In this role, success looks like:
Platform Architecture and Containerization
- From Prototype to Product: Lead the migration of our current local prototype into a robust, scalable, containerized cloud environment.
- Deployment: Work closely with the Product Manager to deploy application code and manage data storage strategies utilizing Infrastructure as Code to ensure we scale smoothly as our user base grows.
- Documentation: Maintain clear documentation for API and backend components so the system remains maintainable as our engineering team expands.
AI Infrastructure and GPU Optimization
- Worker Nodes: Configure and optimize GPU-accelerated worker nodes to handle high-performance GenAI workloads without latency.
- Monitoring: Set up comprehensive system monitoring and observability to track worker health, GPU usage, and system performance in real time.
Security, Identity, and Billing
- Multi-Tenancy and Access: Build the security layer using identity and access management tools to handle user login and ensure strict data separation between clients.
- Billing Integration: Design and integrate payment and billing systems, managing everything from subscriptions and usage metering to credits, invoicing, and webhooks.
- Asset Security: Implement secure, high-speed storage solutions for 2D image sequences and metadata.
Auditability and Integration
- Chain of Title: Enable full auditability by implementing an immutable database. You will ensure every generated image has a traceable history for legal and copyright compliance.
- DCC Integration: Collaborate with our software engineers to optimize REST API performance, ensuring seamless communication between our backend and creative tools like Maya and Blender.
Why Join Stellar?
- Hybrid Work: We offer a flexible schedule with 2-3 days in our Vancouver office.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Extended health benefits.
- Growth: Professional development support to help you stay ahead of tech trends.
- Culture: A collaborative, ego-free environment where technical expertise fuels creative magic.
- Compensation: The salary range for this position is between $130,000 and $150,000 CAD, based on your level of experience.
