Backend Software Engineer (Python)

Position Overview

Join Scribd Inc., where our mission is to spark human curiosity and empower the exchange of ideas. We are seeking a Software Engineer II with deep experience building event-driven, distributed, and scalable systems in Python. In this role, you will design and optimize large-scale data and service pipelines on AWS and work closely with cross-functional teams to integrate machine learning models and LLM-based components. At Scribd, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package, which includes competitive equity ownership and a comprehensive benefits package.

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 deploy resilient, high-performance systems.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver backend solutions that power ML-driven features.
• Optimize and refactor existing systems for scalability, reliability, and performance.
• Ensure system health and data integrity through robust monitoring and automated testing.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience in Python or distributed systems development.
• Strong proficiency in Python with a proven track record in designing event-driven, distributed systems.
• Hands-on experience with AWS services (ECS, Lambda, SQS, SNS, CloudWatch, etc.).
• Experience with infrastructure-as-code tools like Terraform and a solid understanding of system performance and optimization.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent professional experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with data processing frameworks such as Spark or Databricks and workflow orchestration tools like Airflow.
• Experience with Scala and integrating ML or LLM-based models into production systems.

Benefits & Perks

• 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, and more
• Mental Health support & resources
• Free subscription to the Scribd Inc. suite of products
• Referral Bonuses and Book Benefit
• Sabbaticals, company-wide events, and team engagement budgets
• Vacation & Personal Days, Paid Holidays (+ winter break), and Flexible Sick Time
• Volunteer Day and Employee Resource Groups promoting an inclusive workplace
• Access to AI Tools: Free access to best-in-class AI tools to boost productivity and drive innovation