Senior Backend Engineer (Platform and API) at Buffer

About Buffer

Buffer builds social media and brand building software for small businesses, creators, and individuals. We are a fully distributed, mission-driven company that values transparency, thoughtful engineering, and a remote-first culture. Buffer hires worldwide and encourages in-person get-togethers once or twice per year to strengthen team connections.

Role Summary

We are hiring a Senior Backend Engineer to join the Channels and Platform team and lead development of our public API and platform infrastructure. You will design, implement, and maintain public APIs, backend services, and developer tooling that enable a future plugin ecosystem and scale content creation workflows.

What You Will Do

• Lead backend development for the Buffer Platform and Public API, including core features and partner-facing endpoints.
• Design data models, shape API contracts, and deliver high performance, reliable systems that scale.
• Improve internal systems, consolidate services into a monorepo, and enhance tooling, observability, and developer experience.
• Collaborate across product, design, web, and mobile teams to scope work and deliver iteratively with strong feedback loops.
• Participate in an on-call rotation and handle maintenance tasks such as bug fixes, security patches, and incident follow-ups.
• Share knowledge, review code, mentor others, and help shape engineering culture and best practices.

Required Qualifications

• Significant backend engineering experience, typically 7+ years, with strong systems thinking and the ability to lead projects end to end.
• Practical experience designing, implementing, and operating public APIs, extensibility platforms, or plugin ecosystems.
• Deep familiarity with modern backend stack components such as Node.js, TypeScript, GraphQL, and MongoDB, and experience working with cloud and orchestration tools.
• Track record of improving system reliability, performance, data modeling, and internal tooling.
• Comfort working in remote, asynchronous environments with clear written communication and generous context sharing.

Helpful Skills and Experience

• Experience with Node.js, TypeScript, GraphQL, and MongoDB, plus familiarity with PHP legacy systems is a plus.
• Experience with AWS, Kubernetes, Docker, and observability tooling.
• Familiarity with frontend technologies such as React and an understanding of collaborative, multi-user features.
• Practical use of AI tools to augment developer workflows is valued.
• Prior experience building products in content creation, creator tools, or social publishing is a strong plus.

Interview Process

1. Application - submit your resume and tell us why Buffer is the right fit for you.
2. Hiring manager conversation to align expectations and fit.
3. Asynchronous 30-minute code review assignment to evaluate your communication and code reasoning.
4. Technical interviews with engineering team members, and leadership conversations for senior roles.
5. Meet the CEO for final alignment on values and strategy.
6. Two-day paid collaboration period working on a real project with the team to assess fit.
7. Offer and final alignment.

Compensation and Benefits

Compensation range: $156,500 - $202,300 USD annually. Buffer also offers equity and a benefits package. We aim for transparent, fair, and generous compensation that maps to cost of living and experience.

Perks and benefits include:

• Four day workweeks.
• Health insurance for international and US teammates.
• Home office stipend for setup.
• Growth and learning budget.
• Flexible time off and generous family leave, including fully paid parental leave.
• Company savings plan with a 3% match and profit sharing when the company performs well.
• AI tools stipend, new laptop, and other support to help you do your best work.

Why Buffer

At Buffer you will work remotely with a small, thoughtful team building developer-focused platform features that power content creators at scale. If you care about high quality engineering, systems thinking, and shipping products that help people create and publish, we encourage you to apply.

How to Apply

Apply via the job link. Please include an updated resume and, if available, examples of systems or APIs you have built. We welcome candidates with a range of backgrounds and encourage underrepresented applicants to apply.