Senior Backend Engineer

Senior Backend Engineer

Location: Remote (US only)

Type: Full-Time

Compensation: Competitive Salary for a Startup + Equity

About the Role

We're looking for a Senior Backend Engineer who ships fast, thinks in systems, and operates with deep ownership.

This is a foundational engineering role at Upscale AI. You will have an outsized impact on a product used by fast-growing DTC brands to scale their video advertising.

You won't wait to be told what to build. You'll understand the business context, identify what matters most, and execute. You'll work closely with leadership and the engineering team, and your code will reach production quickly.

If you thrive in ambiguity, are energized by constraints, and want to build AI-native systems that solve real business problems in the adtech space, this role is for you.

About Us

Upscale AI is transforming how ecommerce and DTC brands use video and streaming TV to grow. Our platform combines:

AI-Driven Creative Generation: turning brand assets into TV-quality ads automatically

Performance Media Buying: buying streaming TV and YouTube like digital, with precision targeting

Advanced Attribution: proving ROI across ecommerce and retail channels

We've helped brands like Jones Road Beauty, Westmore Beauty, Branch Furniture, and Lalo scale video advertising that drives real business outcomes.

Backed by M12, NVP Capital, and Eniac Ventures, we're scaling fast and hiring foundational team members to reach the next stage of growth.

Key Responsibilities

Own backend features end-to-end, from domain modeling and API design to deployment and production support

Ship quickly while maintaining strong standards for reliability, observability, and maintainability

Design and implement LLM-powered workflows, including prompt pipelines, multi-step agents, structured outputs, and retrieval-augmented generation

Use AI coding tools such as Claude Code and Codex effectively. Break down problems, prompt well, review diffs carefully, and validate outputs with tests

Focus execution on what drives business impact, and push back on low-value work

Contribute to database design, async task systems, caching, and API architecture with clear trade-off reasoning

Communicate proactively with teammates and leadership. Surface blockers early and keep context tight

Take full ownership of what you ship. Monitor production, respond to issues quickly, and fix problems without being prompted

Qualifications Required

5+ years of backend engineering experience with strong Python expertise

Production experience with FastAPI or similar async Python frameworks

Strong PostgreSQL experience, including schema design, query performance, and migrations

Strong GCP experience, including Cloud Run, Cloud Tasks, AlloyDB, and serverless or event-driven architectures

Experience with Kubernetes or GKE in production environments

Experience integrating LLM APIs, including prompt design, chaining, structured outputs, and cost and latency trade-offs

Solid understanding of distributed systems, system design, and production reliability

Ability to write observable, well-tested code

Strong written and verbal communication. Clear, concise, and unambiguous in async environments

Collaborative team player. Shares context proactively and works effectively across teams

Strong analytical and debugging skills. Able to quickly identify root causes and get to the heart of complex problems

Strongly Preferred

Early-stage startup experience with broad ownership and minimal process

Daily use of AI coding assistants, with strong judgment in decomposition, code review, and output validation

Background in ad tech, ecommerce, social platforms, fintech, or other data-driven systems

Familiarity with video pipelines, programmatic advertising, or attribution

Mindset

Strong bias for action. You ship, learn, and iterate quickly

High ownership. You care about outcomes, not just completed tasks

Good judgment. You make pragmatic trade-offs based on business context

Comfortable with ambiguity and under-specified problems

Proactive by default. You identify gaps and act without waiting for direction

What We Offer

Competitive salary and meaningful early-stage equity

Fully remote, async-friendly team

Direct access to leadership and real influence over product direction

Fast feedback loop between what you build and real customer outcomes