Sr Backend Developer (Python / Data Engineering / GCP)

The Role:

This is not a pure backend role, nor is it a "ticket-closing" position. It is a hands-on role focused primarily on Backend + Data Engineering (80%), where the engineer owns features end-to-end: from data ingestion, ETL processing, BigQuery, and APIs, all the way to shipping on the frontend (React/Next.js/TypeScript) using AI tools (Claude, Cursor, GitHub Copilot).

Responsibilities:

• Backend &
  • APIs: Build and maintain Python backend services, APIs, and asynchronous workflows in production.

• Data Engineering &
  • SQL: Design and optimize ETL pipelines, scheduled jobs, and complex BigQuery queries on large historical and real estate datasets (30,000+ ZIP codes).

• GCP Infrastructure: Manage Google Cloud Platform services (Compute Engine, BigQuery, Cloud Storage, Pub/Sub, monitoring, and load balancing).
• Optimization &
  • Caching: Precompute, package, compress, and cache data to serve high-traffic applications efficiently.

• AI-Enabled Full-Stack Development: Make frontend adjustments (React, Next.js, TypeScript) using AI assistants to connect backend APIs to the UI without needing a dedicated frontend developer.
• Product Ownership &
  • Analytics: Monitor features in production to evaluate user adoption and performance using product analytics (PostHog).

Requirements:

• Python &
  • APIs: Strong professional experience developing production backend systems and APIs in Python.

• BigQuery &
  • Advanced SQL: Deep expertise with BigQuery and advanced SQL working with large datasets (historical/geographic data).

• Production GCP: Direct experience managing GCP infrastructure (Compute Engine, Cloud Storage, Pub/Sub).
• ETL &
  • Async Processing: Experience building ETL pipelines, background jobs, queues, and asynchronous workflows.

• Functional Frontend Skills: Enough React / Next.js / TypeScript knowledge to productively work inside an existing frontend codebase.
• AI-Native Development: Daily hands-on use of AI coding tools (Claude, Cursor, Copilot) for refactoring, writing tests, and building frontend components.
• Communication &
  • Availability: Fluent English for daily 1:1 calls with the CEO and full availability during Central Time hours.

Nice-to-Haves:

• Experience with product analytics tools (PostHog, Mixpanel).
• Work with geographic (GIS) or time-series data.
• Caching and data packaging strategies for high-traffic applications.