Backend Software Engineer

Backend Software Engineer (Python) Join to apply for the Backend Software Engineer (Python) role at Scribd, Inc. 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. In the workplace structure we believe in balancing individual flexibility and community connections. Through our flexible work benefit, Scribd Flex, employees can choose the daily work‑style that best suits their needs. Occasional in‑person attendance is required for all employees. About The Team The ML Data Engineering team powers metadata extraction, enrichment, and content understanding across all Scribd brands. We process hundreds of millions of documents, billions of images, and deliver high‑quality metadata to enable content discovery and trust for millions of users worldwide. Our systems operate at massive scale, supporting diverse datasets like user‑generated content, ebooks, audiobooks, and more. We work at the intersection of machine learning, data engineering, and distributed systems, collaborating closely with applied research and product teams to deploy scalable ML and LLM‑powered solutions in production. Role Overview We’re seeking a Software Engineer II with deep experience building event‑driven, distributed, and scalable systems in Python. In this role, you’ll design and optimize large‑scale data and service pipelines running on AWS, supporting Scribd’s content enrichment and metadata systems. You’ll work closely with cross‑functional teams to design reliable backend services that integrate machine learning models and LLM‑based components when needed. This role offers the opportunity to work on cutting‑edge generative AI and metadata enrichment problems at a truly global scale. Tech Stack Our backend systems are primarily built in Python, leveraging AWS services such as Lambda, ECS, SQS, and ElastiCache for event‑driven and distributed processing. We also use Airflow, Spark, Databricks, Terraform, and Datadog for orchestration, data processing, and observability. Key Responsibilities Design and implement event‑driven, distributed systems to extract, enrich, and process metadata from large‑scale document and media datasets. Build and maintain scalable APIs and backend services for high‑throughput content processing. Leverage AWS services (ECS, Lambda, SQS, ElastiCache, CloudWatch) to design and deploy resilient, high‑performance systems. Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to deliver backend solutions that power ML‑driven features. Optimize and refactor existing backend systems for scalability, reliability, and performance. Ensure system health and data integrity through monitoring, observability, and automated testing. Requirements 5+ years of professional software engineering experience on Python or distributed systems development. Strong proficiency in Python (3+ years). Experience with Scala is a plus. Proven experience designing and building event‑driven, distributed, and scalable systems. Hands‑on experience with AWS services (ECS, Lambda, SQS, SNS, CloudWatch, etc.). Experience with infrastructure‑as‑code tools like Terraform. Solid understanding of system performance, profiling, and optimization. Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent professional experience. Bonus: Familiarity with data processing frameworks (Spark, Databricks) and workflow orchestration tools. Bonus: Experience integrating ML or LLM‑based models into production systems. Compensation and Benefits Our base pay is one part of your total compensation package and is determined within a range. The salary range for this role is currently $103,500 to $186,500 in the United States (excluding California) and $131,500 to $174,500 in Canada. All applicants will be considered for the appropriate level based on experience and qualifications. Healthcare Insurance Coverage (Medical/Dental/Vision): 100% paid for employees 12 weeks paid parental leave Short‑term/long‑term disability plans 401k/RSP matching Onboarding stipend for home office peripherals + accessories Learning & Development allowance and programs Quarterly stipend for Wellness, WiFi, etc. Mental Health support & resources Free subscription to the Scribd Inc. suite of products Referral Bonuses Book Benefit Sabbaticals Company‑wide events Team engagement budgets Vacation & Personal Days Paid Holidays (+ winter break) Flexible Sick Time Volunteer Day Company‑wide Employee Resource Groups and programs that foster an inclusive and diverse workplace. Access to AI Tools Locations United States: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Chicago, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington D.C. Canada: Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver Mexico: Mexico City EEO Statement We want our interview process to be accessible to everyone. You can inform us of any reasonable adjustments we can make to better accommodate your needs by emailing accommodations@scribd.com. Scribd is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, and believe that a diversity of perspectives and experiences create a foundation for the best ideas. Come join us in building something meaningful. #J-18808-Ljbffr