Grindr

Senior Software Engineer, Backend

Grindr • $120K — $145K *
Chicago, IL 60629In-Person
Enterprise Technology
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
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Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 6+ years of backend software engineering experience; proficiency in high-load APIs and data processing.
  • Expertise in microservice architecture and cloud services, preferably AWS.
  • Strong background in concurrency and efficient system design.
  • Familiarity with JVM languages, particularly Java, Kotlin, or Scala.
  • Proven passion for software testing and system reliability.
  • Hands-on experience applying advanced prompting techniques and auditing AI outputs.

Responsibilities

  • Design and develop critical backend services within a microservices setup.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to enhance feature design and functionality.
  • Optimize owned services using Redis, Postgres, and Kafka on AWS.
  • Provide data-driven technology and architecture recommendations.
  • Ensure reliability and availability of services, contributing to cost efficiencies and incident management.

Benefits

  • Full health, dental, and vision premium coverage for employees; partial coverage for dependents.
  • Extensive fertility and family-building support, including IVF and adoption.
  • 401(k) plan with 6% matching and immediate vesting benefits.
  • Comprehensive gender-affirming care with significant cost coverage.
  • Flexible vacation policy and two mandatory company-wide rest weeks per year.
  • Monthly stipends for wellness, food, commuting, and communication expenses.
Full Job Description
About the Job:
  • Own the design and development of key backend services within Grindr's microservices architecture
  • Work with Product Managers, Designers, and other Engineers to refine feature design and functionality
  • Optimize the services you own using tools like Redis, Postgres, and Kafka on AWS
  • Make data-driven recommendations on technology and architecture choices for the systems you support
  • Own reliability and availability for your services, playing a key role in optimizations, cost reduction, and incident response

Role Requirements:
  • 6+ years of experience as a Software Engineer working on backend systems (service APIs, data processing, messaging services)
  • Experience designing and implementing API systems for high load and data consistency in a microservice-based architecture
  • Experience designing systems that make heavy and efficient use of cloud services, AWS preferred
  • Passionate about testing software and systems
  • Deep understanding of concurrency concepts and trade-offs
  • You love figuring things out and understanding how systems work end to end
  • Experience with the JVM and at least one JVM language such as Java, Kotlin, or Scala
  • Applies advanced prompting techniques for complex tasks, critically audits AI outputs for accuracy, and shares AI workflows with the team

You May Thrive in this Role if You:
  • Have experience developing production systems using Kotlin and Kafka
  • Enjoy mentoring and skilling up less experienced developers
  • Have experience designing and productionizing large-scale distributed systems


Benefits and Perks:
  • Health, Dental & Vision Full premium coverage for you. Partial coverage for dependents.
  • Family Formation Up to $300,000 in fertility and family-building support, covering IVF, surrogacy, egg freezing, and adoption.
  • Retirement: 401(k) with 6% match and immediate vesting.
  • Compensation: Industry-competitive compensation, company bonus, and equity for every employee.
  • Gender-Affirming Care : Industry-leading gender-affirming offerings with up to 90% cost coverage, access to Included Health, monthly stipends for HRT, and more.
  • Time Off & Rest Flexible vacation policy. Two company-wide rest weeks per year.
  • Other Benefits: Monthly stipends for cell phone, internet, wellness, food, and commuting, breakfast/lunch


This is a hybrid role based in our Chicago offices and will require you to be in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

About Grindr

Grindr is a location-based social networking and online dating application for gay, bi, trans, and queer people. The app was one of the first geosocial dating apps and was launched in 2009. Grindr is available in over 190 countries and has over 27 million users. The app is owned by San Vicente Acquisition LLC, a company based in West Hollywood, California. Grindr has faced criticism for its handling of user data and for facilitating the spread of sexually transmitted infections.
Learn more about Grindr
Size
100 employees
Market Cap
$836.3 million
Industry
Hospitality & Recreation
Founded
2008
NASDAQ
GRND
* Ladders Estimates

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