Senior Backend Software Engineer, Developer Productivity Engineering

X, the moonshot factory

$161K — $194K *
Enterprise Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science or related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 5+ years of experience in backend programming with languages like Python, Go, or Java.
  • 3+ years of experience with Google Cloud Platform and its key services.
  • Expertise in containerization (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes).
  • Proficient with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform and Helm.
  • Experience with CI/CD systems like ArgoCD or GitHub Actions.
  • Strong understanding of Developer Experience (DevEx) principles.

Responsibilities

  • Design infrastructure as a product, enabling straightforward deployment tools for teams.
  • Identify bottlenecks in development cycles to streamline processes from code to production.
  • Establish best practice templates for secure and reliable service architecture.
  • Provide tools for application teams to monitor and manage production health effectively.
  • Mentor engineering teams through documentation and direct support to enhance their technical skills.

Benefits

  • Generous PTO and flexible hybrid work model.
  • 401(k) with employer contributions.
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Opportunities for professional development.
  • Work within an Alphabet-backed environment tackling significant real-world problems.
Full Job Description
S e n i o r B a c k e n d S o f t w a r e E n g i n e e r , D e v e l o p e r P r o d u c t i v i t y E n g i n e e r i n g

Software Engineering Mountain View, CA (HQ)

About the role

As a Developer Productivity & Infrastructure Engineer, you won't just be keeping the lights on; you will be the force multiplier for our entire engineering org. Your mission is to build the 'Golden Path'-a seamless, automated, and secure platform that allows our AI and Power Systems experts to deploy code at scale with zero friction, turning infrastructure into a competitive advantage rather than a bottleneck.

How you'll make 10x impact:
  • Design and treat "Infrastructure as a Product," creating internal platforms and CLI tools that allow feature teams to deploy services, manage secrets, and scale resources without deep infrastructure knowledge.
  • Proactively identify bottlenecks in the inner-loop development cycle (local environment setup, build times, test execution) to ensure engineers can go from "code complete" to "production" in minutes, not days.
  • Establish standardized templates and best practices for service architecture, ensuring that the "easy way" to build is also the most secure, reliable, and observable way.
  • Empower application teams to own their own production health by providing intuitive dashboards, standardized alerting frameworks, and distributed tracing tools.

What you should have:
  • Bachelor's or Master's in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
  • 5+ years of experience in backend programming languages such as Python, Go, Java.
  • 3+ years of extensive experience with leading cloud platforms (Google Cloud Platform) and their core services.
  • Expertise in containerization technologies (Docker) and container orchestration platforms (Kubernetes), crucial for managing scalable applications.
  • Proven experience with Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools such as Terraform, Terragrunt, Pulumi, and Helm, for automated and consistent infrastructure management.
  • Experience building infrastructure on one or more Cloud platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure, Oracle)
  • Proficiency with CI/CD systems and workflows (e.g., ArgoCD, Github Actions), enabling continuous delivery and integration.
  • Empathy for the Developer Experience (DevEx): A proven track record of gathering feedback from engineering teams to improve internal tooling and workflows.
  • API-First Mentality: Experience building internal APIs or abstractions that hide the complexity of Kubernetes or Cloud IAM from the end-user (the SWE).
  • Teaching & Mentorship: Ability to lead "Office Hours" or write internal documentation that upskills the broader engineering org on cloud-native patterns.

It'd be great if you had these:
  • 2+ years of experience delivering large-scale transformation projects, specifically transitioning legacy applications to modern cloud-native solutions.
  • Track record of delivering scalable solutions to complex software problems
  • Experience in startup or high-growth environments.

Our values
  • Take charge: We take initiative and own outcomes that move the mission forward.
  • Transform with purpose: We build solutions that solve real problems and create meaningful impact.
  • Be a Tapestry, not a thread: We collaborate across diverse skills and perspectives to achieve more than we can individually.
  • Always fine-tune: We stay curious, seek feedback, and refine our understanding as we learn.
  • Stay grounded: We listen openly, value different perspectives, and stay focused on what matters most.

What we offer

A culture that supports growth, ownership, and meaningful impact, along with:
  • Competitive salary and equity
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage
  • Generous PTO and flexible hybrid work model
  • 401(k) with employer contribution
  • Professional development
  • The ability to work on important real-world problems within an Alphabet-backed environment

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $161,000 - $194,000 + bonuses + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your location during the hiring process.

Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, or benefits.

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