Sr./Staff Backend Engineer

About favorited

At favorited, we believe that digital communities should be more than just spaces to watch content. Our platform is a place to connect, engage, and play, and empowers creators by enhancing audience participation and fostering deeper connections.

Our work culture is intense and isn't for everyone. But, if you're a self-starter eager to shape the future of social interaction with a team that holds itself to the highest standards, this is the place for you. We value open, yet respectful communication and real-time feedback to help each other grow quickly. If you're passionate about gaming and have a knack for gamifying everyday life, you'll thrive in our fast-moving, collaborative environment.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Senior/Staff Backend Engineer with expertise in TypeScript, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), event-driven architectures, and audio/video APIs. In this role, you will design and build cutting-edge applications that power real-time media processing, scalable cloud infrastructure, and high-performance event-driven systems. You'll also be responsible for building the foundation to support gamification and anticipating interactive features that could be layered into livestreaming, mobile, and MMO experiences in the future.

Responsibilities

• Architect, build, and optimize scalable backend services and APIs powering real-time livestreaming experiences.

• Design, implement, and maintain high-performance systems using TypeScript, , and GCP services (Cloud Run, Cloud Functions, Pub/Sub, Cloud Spanner, BigQuery).

• Work with Kubernetes, Spark, and related platforms to support 24/7 real-time operations.

• Integrate third-party platforms into the backend ecosystem.

• Collaborate with frontend, mobile, and infrastructure teams for seamless integration and feature delivery.

• Ensure reliability, scalability, and maintainability with proactive monitoring, alerting, and rigorous testing.

• Understand the gaming ecosystem and game mechanics, applying these insights to livestreaming, mobile, and MMO environments while anticipating possible gamification and interactive features that could be built in the future.

• Debug complex issues, identify performance bottlenecks, and provide sustainable solutions for high-traffic consumer apps.

• Participate in architecture reviews, code reviews, and mentor junior engineers to foster technical excellence.

• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation to support team knowledge sharing.

• Stay current on emerging technologies, frameworks, and best practices to improve backend infrastructure.
  

What We're Looking For

• 7+ years of professional backend development experience.

• Passion for gaming, live streaming, and building systems that enhance interactive digital experiences.

• Strong expertise in event-driven architectures (e.g., Pub/Sub or similar message queues).

• Hands-on experience with GCP services (Cloud Functions, Spanner, BigQuery, Cloud Run, etc.).

• Deep understanding of real-time media streaming technologies (WebRTC, HLS, low-latency audio/video).

• Proficiency in backend optimization techniques to ensure high performance.

• Experience with microservices architecture and API design.

• Familiarity with CI/CD pipelines and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes).

• Bonus: Experience with machine learning and AI-driven media processing.

Salary & Benefits

Compensation: $150k – $230k base salary + options.

Benefits Include:

• Unlimited PTO & paid company holidays.

• 401(k) plan with company matching to invest in your future.

• Comprehensive health insurance to support your well-being.

• Stipends for learning, fitness, and books.

• Competitive salary that values your expertise and contributions.
  

Where You'll Work: This is a full-time, on-site position in Santa Monica.