Software Engineer, Backend

Job description

Profound is the marketing platform for the age of AI search. The way brands reach people is being rewritten — AI models like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Mode are now the answer layer between companies and their customers. We built the platform marketers use to understand, measure, and win in that world: the analytics, intelligence, and agent automation that turn AI search from a threat into a competitive advantage. We went from 0 to a $1B valuation in 18 months. Revenue grew 100x last year. Our customers include 15% of the Fortune 500 like Walmart, Wayfair and U.S. Bank, and innovators like Ramp, MongoDB, and Figma. We are backed by Sequoia, Kleiner Perkins, LSVP, and Khosla Ventures — and we are moving fast enough that the people joining now are building the playbook everyone who comes after them will run. As a Backend Engineer, you will build and optimize the infrastructure that powers our AI-driven insights. You will design scalable APIs, process large datasets efficiently, and ensure high-performance systems that help businesses take control of their AI presence. WHAT YOU’LL DO - Architect and develop high-performance backend systems that support AI-driven analytics - Build and maintain scalable APIs to power real-time insights and data retrieval - Optimize data processing pipelines to handle large-scale structured and unstructured data - Ensure system security, performance, and reliability at every level of the stack - Work closely with front-end engineers and data scientists to deliver seamless, high-impact features - Own key technical decisions, balancing speed with long-term maintainability WHO YOU ARE - A strong portfolio or GitHub showcasing backend development expertise - Proficient in Node.js, Python, or Rust, with experience in scalable backend architecture - Deep understanding of databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, or OLAP databases, and query optimization - Experience designing efficient data pipelines and working with distributed systems - Familiarity with cloud infrastructure such as AWS, GCP, or Azure and containerization including Docker and Kubernetes - Strong grasp of security best practices, API authentication, and performance tuning - Comfortable in a fast-moving, high-performance startup environment LOCATION This is an on-site role in our NYC, SF or Buenos Aires office, designed for builders who thrive on speed, iteration, and meaningful impact. We are happy to support visa sponsorship for qualified international candidates. For this role, the expected base salary range is $140,000 to $260,000 (NYC and SF). Comp may vary based on location. Profound’s total compensation package is designed to be competitive and includes base salary, equity, and a full range of benefits and perks. Final compensation will depend on factors such as your skills, experience, qualifications, and location, and will be determined during the interview process. Our recruiting team will share more details about the full compensation package and benefits as you move through hiring. #LI-DNI Note: All official communication from Profound will come from a @tryprofound.com email address. If you're contacted by anyone using a different domain, please disregard and report it as spam.