Backend Engineer (Node.js, Java)
Sundayy · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $180,000 / year
- United States
Job highlights
- Design and build internet-scale backend infrastructure.
- Develop and deploy robust features end-to-end.
- Optimize system performance and scalability.
- Collaborate on technical roadmaps and decisions.
- Work with cutting-edge AI and search technologies.
About the role
About The Company
Linkup is at the forefront of revolutionizing the way artificial intelligence systems access and utilize web-based information. With a clear vision of building the agentic web, the company aims to reconstruct the internet into a structured knowledge layer that seamlessly integrates verified facts and rich context for AI agents. Committed to delivering the world's freshest and most trusted knowledge to AI systems, Linkup is dedicated to transforming web search from a human-centric tool into an AI-centric resource. The organization thrives on innovation, speed, ownership, teamwork, and humility, fostering a dynamic culture that emphasizes continuous learning and impactful contributions. Led by experienced founders with backgrounds in autonomous vehicles, open-source search engines, audio search, and digital transformation, Linkup is a small but highly skilled technical team working collaboratively to shape the future of AI-powered applications.
About The Role
We are seeking a top-tier Staff Backend Engineer to join our innovative tech team. In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in designing and building internet-scale, high-performance infrastructure that supports our mission of creating a structured knowledge layer for AI systems. Your core responsibilities will include developing, deploying, and maintaining robust features end-to-end, ensuring the scalability and efficiency of our systems. You will collaborate closely with the CTO and cross-functional teams, including Software and Machine Learning, to drive technical roadmaps and make critical decisions that influence the company's technological direction.
The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in building and operating large-scale distributed systems, with a passion for optimizing system performance and exploring AI technologies. You will take ownership of large cross-functional initiatives, conduct thorough code reviews, and foster a culture of knowledge sharing within the team. Your expertise will directly impact our ability to index hundreds of millions of web pages daily, stream multimodal search capabilities, and streamline embedding streams—all while minimizing compute costs. This role offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of AI-powered web search and contribute to groundbreaking products in a fast-paced environment.
Qualifications
- Minimum of 6 years of experience in backend development and operations of large-scale distributed systems
- Proficiency in Node.js / NestJS, Python, Java, and related backend technologies
- Experience with PostgreSQL, OpenSearch, Vespa, and Apache Storm
- Strong understanding of infrastructure, CI/CD best practices, and cloud-native development (Kubernetes, GitHub Actions, Terraform)
- Hands-on experience with high-performance system optimization, including GPU utilization
- Familiarity or strong curiosity about AI technologies and continuous learning mindset
- Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced environment
- Experience with indexing, search, and data streaming projects is a plus
Responsibilities
- Design and develop internet-scale, high-performance backend infrastructure
- Build and maintain robust, scalable features from conception to deployment
- Optimize system performance, reducing latency and enhancing efficiency
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams on product roadmaps and technical decisions
- Own large, complex initiatives, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery
- Conduct code reviews, mentor team members, and promote best practices
- Stay current with AI advancements and incorporate relevant technologies into our systems
- Implement and improve CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure automation, and monitoring
- Participate actively in knowledge sharing and fostering a collaborative engineering culture
Benefits
- Flexible remote work policy to support work-life balance
- Opportunity to work on cutting-edge AI and search technologies
- Collaborative and innovative company culture
- Professional growth and continuous learning environment
- Competitive compensation package
- Participation in impactful projects shaping the future of AI-powered web search
Equal Opportunity
Linkup is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or any other protected characteristic. We believe that diverse teams foster innovation and drive success, and we welcome applications from all qualified candidates who are passionate about advancing AI technology.
Key skills/competency
- Staff Backend Engineer
- Distributed Systems
- Node.js
- Java
- Python
- PostgreSQL
- OpenSearch
- Kubernetes
- CI/CD
- AI Technologies
Skills & topics
- Staff Backend Engineer
- Backend Development
- Distributed Systems
- Node.js
- Java
- Python
- PostgreSQL
- OpenSearch
- Kubernetes
- CI/CD
- AI
- Web Search
- Infrastructure
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight your experience with large-scale distributed systems, Node.js, Java, and AI technologies to match the Staff Backend Engineer role.
- Showcase your impact: Quantify your achievements in previous roles, especially concerning system optimization, feature development, and CI/CD implementation.
- Prepare for technical interviews: Be ready to discuss distributed systems design, algorithms, data structures, and practical problem-solving scenarios.
- Demonstrate AI curiosity: Express your interest and understanding of AI technologies, even if not directly from a past role.
- Research Linkup's mission: Understand their vision for the agentic web and how your skills contribute to building a structured knowledge layer.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What are the primary programming languages used for the Staff Backend Engineer role at Linkup?
- The primary programming languages for this Staff Backend Engineer position are Node.js (with NestJS), Java, and Python. Proficiency in these languages is essential for developing and maintaining the company's high-performance backend infrastructure.
- What kind of experience is Linkup looking for in a Staff Backend Engineer candidate?
- Linkup is seeking candidates with a minimum of 6 years of experience in backend development and operations of large-scale distributed systems. Experience with specific technologies like PostgreSQL, OpenSearch, Kubernetes, and CI/CD best practices is also highly valued.
- How does Linkup approach work-life balance for its backend engineers?
- Linkup offers a flexible remote work policy to support work-life balance. This allows engineers to work from a location that best suits their needs while contributing to impactful projects.
- What opportunities for professional growth are available for a Staff Backend Engineer at Linkup?
- The Staff Backend Engineer role at Linkup offers significant opportunities for professional growth through continuous learning, exposure to cutting-edge AI and search technologies, and participation in shaping the future of AI-powered web search.
- Can you describe the company culture at Linkup for technical roles?
- Linkup fosters a collaborative and innovative company culture that thrives on speed, ownership, teamwork, and humility. They are a small but highly skilled technical team focused on continuous learning and impactful contributions in the AI space.
- What is the significance of 'agentic web' in Linkup's mission?
- The 'agentic web' refers to Linkup's vision of reconstructing the internet into a structured knowledge layer. This layer will allow AI agents to seamlessly access and utilize verified facts and rich context, transforming web search into an AI-centric resource.
- What specific data infrastructure technologies are mentioned for the Staff Backend Engineer role?
- For this role, Linkup utilizes technologies such as PostgreSQL, OpenSearch, and Apache Storm. Experience or familiarity with these is beneficial for managing large-scale data indexing and streaming.