Senior Backend Engineer

Clera

$110K — $200K *
Enterprise Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5+ years of backend engineering experience with a proven track record of delivering real products.
  • Proficiency in Python and knowledge of FastAPI, along with testing frameworks like pytest.
  • Experience with AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode) for efficient development.
  • Ability to manage and organize messy, large-scale real-world data effectively.
  • Strong SQL skills with experience in writing high-performance queries for large datasets.

Responsibilities

  • Design and implement backend systems to enable AI-driven supply chain automation.
  • Architect and optimize data models and pipelines for real-world data ingestion and cleaning.
  • Ensure real-time processing of user requests and supply chain plans for uninterrupted operations.
  • Build scalable SQL queries and data access patterns to handle extensive datasets.
  • Deploy production-grade services with a focus on quality and reliability through testing practices.
  • Collaborate with product and engineering teams to translate complex logistics workflows into robust software solutions.
  • Manage and improve deployment processes to maintain system reliability and performance.

Benefits

  • Early-stage equity in a high-potential startup.
  • Visa sponsorship available.
Full Job Description
About the Role

A fast-growing, Y Combinator-backed AI startup in the supply chain space is looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to join their small, high-velocity engineering team in San Francisco. You'll build the backbone of an AI-powered platform that plans and executes how consumer goods are produced and moved globally - turning the messy, physical flow of goods into programmable, reliable, scalable systems.

This is an end-to-end ownership role at a seed-stage company (fewer than 10 people) operating at the intersection of AI, logistics, and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG). You'll have a direct and meaningful impact on the core product from day one.
What You'll Do
  • Design and implement backend systems that power AI-driven supply chain decisions and automated execution.
  • Architect data models and pipelines to ingest, clean, and organize messy, real-world supply chain data.
  • Ensure user requests and supply chain plans are processed in real time for reliable, 24/7 operation.
  • Build scalable, high-performance SQL queries and data access patterns across large datasets.
  • Ship production-grade services using modern backend frameworks and rigorous testing practices.
  • Collaborate closely with the core product and engineering team to translate logistics workflows into software.
  • Own and continuously improve deployment pipelines and runbook processes to keep systems running reliably.
  • Leverage AI code generation and management tools (e.g., Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode) to accelerate development, including parallelizing service instances for continuous operation.
What We're Looking For

Must-haves (dealbreakers):
  • 5+ years of hands-on experience as a Backend Engineer with a strong track record of designing data architectures and shipping real products.
  • Proficiency in Python and modern backend frameworks such as FastAPI, with testing tools like pytest.
  • Demonstrated proficiency with AI-assisted coding tools (e.g., Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode), including experience parallelizing instances for autonomous, 24/7 operation.

Required skills:
  • Experience organizing and managing messy, real-world data at scale.
  • Strong SQL skills - writing high-performance queries over millions of data points.
  • Solid system design skills; comfortable designing scalable data architectures with minimal supervision.
  • Experience owning backend systems end-to-end, including real-time request processing.
  • Experience with large-scale data architectures and systems engineering.

Nice to have:
  • Experience building unstructured data ingestion systems.
  • Experience with frontend frameworks and their testing tools.
  • Familiarity with DevOps practices and AWS.
  • Background or genuine interest in supply chain, logistics, or CPG industries.
Compensation & Benefits
  • Salary: $110,000 - $200,000 USD annually, depending on experience.
  • Early-stage equity in a well-funded, high-growth startup.
  • Visa sponsorship available.
Location

This is an on-site role based in San Francisco, CA. You'll work alongside a tight-knit, fast-moving team in person. Remote arrangements are not available for this position.

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