Backend Software Engineer

About The Company At Scribd (pronounced “scribbed”), our mission is to spark human curiosity. Join our team as we create a world of stories and knowledge, democratize the exchange of ideas and information, and empower collective expertise through our four products: Everand, Scribd, Slideshare, and Fable. We support a culture where our employees can be real and bold; where we debate and commit as we embrace plot twists; and where every employee is empowered to take action as we prioritize the customer. Our workplace philosophy emphasizes balancing individual flexibility with community connections. Through our flexible work benefit, Scribd Flex, employees— in partnership with their managers— can choose the daily work style that best suits their needs. We also prioritize intentional in‑person moments to foster collaboration, culture, and connection. As such, occasional in‑person attendance is required for all employees, regardless of location. We value “GRIT” — demonstrating passion and perseverance toward long-term goals. We seek individuals who set and achieve goals, deliver results, contribute innovative ideas, and positively influence their teams through collaboration and attitude. This approach reflects our commitment to unlocking potential and fostering a dynamic, inclusive environment. About The Role We are seeking a Software Engineer II with extensive experience in building event-driven, distributed, and scalable systems primarily using Python. In this role, you will be responsible for designing and optimizing large-scale data and service pipelines on AWS that support Scribd’s content enrichment and metadata systems. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to develop reliable backend services that integrate machine learning models and large language models (LLMs) when necessary. This position offers a unique opportunity to work on cutting-edge generative AI and metadata enrichment solutions at a global scale. The successful candidate will contribute to the development of high-performance backend systems that process hundreds of millions of documents and billions of images, ensuring high-quality metadata delivery for content discovery and user trust. You will leverage a tech stack centered around Python and AWS services such as Lambda, ECS, SQS, and ElastiCache, alongside orchestration and observability tools like Airflow, Spark, Terraform, and Datadog. This role is ideal for someone passionate about scalable system design, data engineering, and innovative AI integrations, eager to contribute to a platform that impacts millions of users worldwide. Qualifications 5+ years of professional experience in software engineering, with a focus on Python or distributed systems developmentStrong proficiency in Python (3+ years)Experience designing and building event-driven, distributed, and scalable systemsHands-on experience with AWS services such as ECS, Lambda, SQS, SNS, CloudWatchProficiency with infrastructure-as-code tools like TerraformSolid understanding of system performance, profiling, and optimization techniquesBachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent professional experienceBonus: Familiarity with data processing frameworks like Spark and DatabricksBonus: Experience integrating machine learning or large language models into production environmentsBonus: Knowledge of Scala is a plus Responsibilities Design and implement event-driven, distributed systems to extract, enrich, and process metadata from large-scale datasetsBuild and maintain scalable APIs and backend services supporting high-throughput content processingLeverage AWS services such as ECS, Lambda, SQS, and ElastiCache to deploy resilient, high-performance systemsCollaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver backend solutions that power machine learning-driven featuresOptimize and refactor existing backend systems for improved scalability, reliability, and performanceEnsure system health and data integrity through continuous monitoring, observability, and automated testingParticipate in architectural discussions and contribute innovative solutions for complex technical challengesStay updated with industry best practices and emerging technologies to enhance system capabilities Benefits Comprehensive healthcare coverage including medical, dental, and vision plans, fully paid for employees12 weeks paid parental leaveShort-term and long-term disability plans401(k)/RSP retirement matching programOnboarding stipend for home office peripherals and accessoriesLearning and Development allowance and programsQuarterly stipends for wellness, WiFi, and related needsMental health support and resourcesFree subscription to Scribd’s suite of productsReferral bonuses and book benefitsSabbaticals and company-wide eventsTeam engagement budgets and volunteer daysVacation, personal days, paid holidays, and winter breakFlexible sick time policiesAccess to AI tools to enhance productivity and innovation Equal Opportunity Scribd is committed to creating an inclusive environment and is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law. We believe that diverse perspectives and experiences enrich our workplace and contribute to our success. We encourage qualified individuals from all backgrounds to apply and join us in building meaningful and innovative solutions.