Senior Backend Engineer

About The Company Antler is a globally recognized startup generator and early-stage venture capital firm dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs to build innovative companies from the ground up. Operating across multiple regions, Antler provides founders with the necessary resources, mentorship, and funding to transform their ideas into scalable businesses. Known for its collaborative and dynamic environment, the company fosters a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and continuous learning. With a focus on cutting-edge technologies and disruptive solutions, Antler is committed to shaping the future of industries through entrepreneurial excellence and technological advancement. About The Role We are seeking an experienced Backend Engineer to join our engineering team in Berlin. This full-time, on-site position offers an exciting opportunity to take ownership of complex backend systems, from initial conception to deployment and maintenance. You will be responsible for designing, developing, and scaling robust APIs and distributed systems that underpin our products, ensuring high performance, reliability, and scalability. Collaborating closely with product managers, frontend developers, and designers, you will translate innovative ideas into well-architected backend solutions that support our rapid growth and evolving technological landscape. In this role, you will push the boundaries of modern backend technologies, contribute to the evolution of our infrastructure, and enhance developer tooling to facilitate fast iteration cycles. Your proactive approach will help identify and implement improvements in system performance and reliability, directly impacting the quality and efficiency of our services. This position offers a unique chance to work at the forefront of technology, driving innovation and operational excellence within a fast-paced startup environment. Qualifications The ideal candidate will possess over 5 years of professional experience in backend engineering, preferably within startup or high-growth settings. You should have deep expertise in Python and FastAPI, with a proven track record of building and scaling production systems. Experience designing and implementing APIs such as REST, GraphQL, or gRPC is essential, along with strong knowledge of SQL databases like PostgreSQL, including schema design, query optimization, and data modeling for large-scale applications. Familiarity with cloud-native architectures, particularly on Google Cloud Platform (GCP), is highly desirable. You should have experience working with services such as Cloud Functions, Cloud Tasks, and Firestore. Additionally, knowledge of DevOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and infrastructure-as-code will be advantageous. Experience with Vertex AI and ML-specific infrastructure is a plus. Excellent communication skills, a high sense of ownership, and the ability to operate autonomously while aligning with team goals are key attributes for success in this role. Candidates with a background in AI products, open-source contributions, or entrepreneurial ventures will be highly considered. Responsibilities Take full ownership of complex backend systems, from initial scoping and architecture design to deployment and ongoing maintenance. Design and develop scalable, high-performance APIs and distributed systems that power our core products. Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Product, Frontend, and Design to translate product ideas into technically sound backend solutions. Innovate with modern backend technologies, driving improvements in system architecture, infrastructure, and developer tooling. Proactively identify opportunities to enhance system performance, reliability, and developer experience, leading initiatives to implement these improvements. Contribute to the evolution of our backend infrastructure, supporting rapid iteration and deployment cycles. Maintain high standards of code quality, security, and documentation to ensure system robustness and maintainability. Participate in code reviews, knowledge sharing, and continuous learning activities within the engineering team. Benefits Join a high-growth, innovative startup environment with meaningful ownership and impact on product development. Enjoy a competitive compensation package ranging from €100,000 to €150,000, including equity options. Work in a state-of-the-art office space in Berlin, with a flexible hybrid work model requiring a minimum of three days in the office. Participate in regular team events, off-sites, and collaborative activities that foster team cohesion and personal growth. Receive support for late-night work with paid dinners and Uber rides home. Be part of a vibrant, inclusive culture that values kindness, collaboration, and innovation. Access to cutting-edge technologies and professional development opportunities in a fast-paced environment. Equal Opportunity Antler is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive environment for all employees. We celebrate diversity and are dedicated to creating a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best. We do not discriminate based on race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. Our goal is to build a team that reflects a variety of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds to drive innovation and success.