Staff Software Engineer, Backend

GlossGenius is seeking a Staff Backend Engineer to serve as the technical anchor for our highest-innovation teams, setting architectural direction, validating options through proof-of-concepts, and turning ambitious initiatives into clear, buildable roadmaps. This is an individual contributor role with significant leadership responsibility, focused on both architecture and hands-on building. You will unblock engineers, make critical technical decisions, and set a new standard for backend engineering at GlossGenius.

Responsibilities will include:

• Architect and own the technical direction of AI-powered products and 0-to-1 builds, balancing long-term trade-offs and maintaining a backlog of build-ready work
• Integrate AI models and LLMs into customer-facing products as reliable, production systems
• Shape how GlossGenius builds with AI, making architectural decisions that define future product capabilities
• Write high-quality code and rapidly ship proof-of-concepts to validate architectural options and address technical challenges
• Partner with Product, Design, and Engineering leadership to translate business goals into well-architected initiatives with clear sequencing
• Proactively identify and resolve systemic technical debt, unblock engineers, and raise the quality bar for the team
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align on technical vision and ensure smooth execution
• Communicate complex architectural trade-offs clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders

You’re a great fit if you:

• Have 7+ years of professional engineering experience with a strong backend focus and a track record of owning system design and architectural choices for high-scale or high-growth products
• Are already building with AI as a core part of your workflow, including integrating LLMs into production systems and using AI tooling to accelerate development
• Ship fast and iterate, making architectural decisions with incomplete information and thriving in ambiguous, early-stage environments
• Have deep Kotlin expertise and strong intuitions about backend architecture, service design, and performance at scale (TypeScript experience is a plus)
• Possess solid command of modern cloud infrastructure, including AWS and Kubernetes
• Are a natural collaborator who can align teams around a shared technical vision and keep execution moving smoothly
• Communicate exceptionally well, making complex architectural trade-offs understandable to all stakeholders

Total Compensation

The starting base salary for this role in New York is between $241,000-$284,000 plus target equity and benefits. The base salary offered depends on skills, experience, and education, and may be modified in the future. This role is eligible to participate in GlossGenius’s equity plan and a range of health, wellbeing, and retirement benefits.

Additional benefits include:

• Competitive health and dental insurance options, effective on your first day of employment
• Flexible PTO
• In-office lunch twice per week for NYC and SF employees, plus late night dinner stipends
• Access to Wellhub, a corporate wellness platform with discounted gym memberships, fitness classes, and mental health resources
• Annual stipend for professional development and continued learning
• High performers at 5 years receive a generous stipend for personal recharge
• 401k benefit, with eligibility to contribute starting day 1 of employment
• Dependent Care FSA
• Paid parental leave
• Fertility and adoption benefits via Carrot and Kindbody

GlossGenius is committed to creating a workplace where all employees feel supported and empowered to do their best work and is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.