Hopper

Staff Backend Software Engineer

Hopper$120K — $160K *
US-AnywhereRemote in New York, NY
Consumer Technology
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of software engineering experience, particularly in backend systems.
  • Strong understanding of AI and LLMs, with experience in orchestrating AI agents.
  • Familiarity with distributed system development, preferably in Scala.
  • Strong product-oriented mindset focused on customer experience.
  • Proficiency in multiple programming languages and tech stacks, showcasing stack-agnostic thinking.

Responsibilities

  • Identify and execute improvements to the codebase for efficiency and safety.
  • Collaborate in a low-process environment, emphasizing trust and autonomy.
  • Drive decisions asynchronously through documentation and clear specs.
  • Own end-to-end features, primarily focusing on the backend while using AI tools as needed.
  • Architect scalable solutions for launching new partner experiences.
  • Work with PMs and business partners to shape and refine the product roadmap.
  • Provide and receive constructive feedback in a collaborative environment.

Benefits

  • Unlimited PTO for a healthy work-life balance.
  • Carrot Cash travel stipend for personal travel expenses.
  • Flexible co-working and remote work options with stipends.
  • Generous parental leave policies that exceed industry standards.
  • Open communication culture with management and team leadership.
  • 100% employer-paid Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage for employees.
  • Access to Disability and Life insurance for enhanced financial security.
  • Health Reimbursement Account (HRA) to aid with medical costs.
  • 401(k) plan options to support long-term financial planning.
Full Job Description
About the job

We9re looking for a staff software engineer who builds great products and has figured out how to use AI to do it at a pace that wasn9t possible a year ago. You9re not using AI to auto-complete your code - you9re orchestrating agents, building feedback loops, and shipping features end-to-end in a fraction of the time it used to take. You understand the strengths and weaknesses of LLMs, and you9ve developed the taste to know when to trust the output and when to intervene.

Tech stack
  • Backend: Scala, GCP services
  • Frontend: React + TypeScript
  • We value stack-agnostic thinking. If you9ve built great systems in Go, Python, Java, or anything else, and you pick things up fast - that9s what matters.
What your day-to-day would look like
  • Identify and execute improvements to the codebase that make it easier for both humans and AI agents to move fast and ship safely.
  • Work with a group of senior engineers in a low-process environment powered by trust and autonomy.
  • Drive decisions and consensus asynchronously with thoughtful documentation and specs.
  • Own features end-to-end - from the backend systems to the partner-facing surface. You9ll primarily work on the backend, but expect to use AI tooling to move across the stack as needed. We care that you can ship a complete feature, not that you can write production-grade React from memory.
  • Architect scalable solutions and foundational patterns that let us efficiently launch new partner experiences.
  • Work directly with PMs and business partners to define and refine our roadmap. Your voice and technical vision matter.
  • Collaborate with a diverse group of people, giving and receiving feedback for growth.
An ideal candidate has
  • A natural drive to fearlessly dive into an unknown codebase and deliver results fast.
  • Strong product thinking - your conception of quality and architecture is anchored in the customer experience, not in technical elegance for its own sake.
  • The ability to direct AI agents and automated workflows to build and maintain complex systems, and the judgment to know when to step in and when to let them run.
  • Experience designing the guardrails and feedback loops that keep AI-assisted development productive and reliable.
  • Experience with, or a mastery-level willingness to learn, distributed system development in Scala.
  • The ability to articulate not just how you9d solve a problem, but why, and what tradeoffs you9re accepting.
Perks and Benefits of working with us
  • Well-funded and proven startup with large ambitions, competitive salary and the upsides of pre-IPO equity packages.
  • Unlimited PTO.
  • Carrot Cash travel stipend.
  • Access to co-working space on demand through FlexDesk AND Work-from-home stipend.
  • Please ask us about our very generous parental leave, much above industry standards!.
  • Entrepreneurial culture where pushing limits and taking risks is everyday business.
  • Open communication with management and company leadership.
  • Small, dynamic teams = massive impact.
  • 100% employer paid Medical, Dental and Vision coverage for employees.
  • Access to Disability & Life insurance.
  • Health Reimbursement Account (HRA).
  • DCA/ FSA and access to 401k plan.

#LI-REMOTE

About Hopper

Hopper is a travel booking app that uses big data to predict and analyze airfare and accommodations. The app provides personalized recommendations and alerts users when prices are expected to rise or fall. Hopper was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. The company has raised over $400 million in funding and has been recognized as one of the most innovative companies in travel.
Learn more about Hopper
Size
1,000 employees
Industry
Founded
2007

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