Senior Backend Software Engineer

Who you are

• This is a highly visible role for an engineer who enjoys solving ambiguous problems, owning meaningful technical decisions, and raising the bar for the people around them
• 7+ years of professional backend software engineering experience, including 2+ years working directly on programmatic advertising systems such as SSPs, DSPs, ad exchanges, ad servers, or header bidding solutions
• Hands-on experience with OpenRTB and the mechanics of programmatic auctions, including bid request/response flows, timeouts, floor pricing, and deal types
• Applied knowledge of Ad Tech ecosystem concepts including identity and cookie synchronization, audience targeting, measurement, and the end-to-end lifecycle of an ad request
• Proven ability to design, build, and operate high-throughput, latency-sensitive distributed systems at scale, with strong instincts for service boundaries, API design, asynchronous processing, and failure modes
• Track record of improving system performance and reliability through effective instrumentation, monitoring, load testing, and performance analysis (e.g., reducing latency, error rates, or improving availability)
• Experience integrating complex external platforms and partners, with attention to versioning, data inconsistencies, operational dependencies, and graceful degradation
• Demonstrated ability to independently investigate ambiguous problems across multiple services, identify root causes, and evaluate solution tradeoffs
• Experience leading major technical initiatives from architecture through production delivery, including influencing technical roadmaps and driving cross-team alignment
• Strong mentorship and knowledge-sharing skills, with a history of raising the technical bar of a team through code review, documentation, and architectural guidance
• Ability to connect engineering decisions to business outcomes such as revenue, ad delivery, reach, and customer needs, and communicate effectively with Product and non-technical stakeholders

What the job involves

• As our Senior Software Engineer, Backend, you’ll have the opportunity to shape the technology behind a rapidly evolving adtech company. You’ll tackle complex, high-impact engineering challenges where strong technical judgment can meaningfully influence the scalability of our platform, the performance of our products, and the growth of the business
• You’ll have the autonomy to make an impact while partnering closely with a talented, collaborative team that values thoughtful engineering, continuous learning, and building things the right way
• Lead backend architecture and strategic engineering initiatives across Chicory’s programmatic advertising platform, including ad serving, OpenRTB, SSP/DSP integrations, auction systems, identity and signal flows, and related backend services
• Independently drive complex backend projects from concept through delivery, , balancing scalability, reliability, performance, and maintainability while meeting high technical standards
• Serve as a technical subject-matter expert on programmatic advertising and translate industry standards and emerging technologies into engineering decisions
• Design, implement, and troubleshoot integrations with SSPs, DSPs, exchanges, and other external advertising platforms
• Optimize high-throughput, latency-sensitive systems, including auction and ad-serving workflows, while maintaining reliability and scalability
• Mentor backend engineers, fostering technical growth and a culture of engineering excellence within the team
• Proactively identify architectural improvements, performance optimizations, and system enhancements
• Trace and optimize the end-to-end lifecycle of an ad opportunity across Chicory's backend systems and external programmatic partners
• Engage closely with Engineering, Product, Campaign Management, and other stakeholders to align technical solutions with business objectives
• Conduct rigorous code reviews, establishing and enforcing standards of high-quality software development
• Innovate on backend tooling, infrastructure automation, and process improvements to optimize engineering productivity
• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure backend solutions integrate seamlessly across the broader technology ecosystem
• Champion best practices in software design, performance engineering, and reliability engineering
• Monitor developments in programmatic advertising standards, protocols, identity solutions, and industry practices and translate relevant changes into technical strategy
• Build upon team and company culture and act as a champion of the Chicory Principles

Benefits

• Comprehensive healthcare benefits, including dental + vision plans
• Flexible paid time off policy for vacation, sick days, mental health days, and more!
• 14 paid holidays + flexibility to take paid time off for any other holidays you observe
• Employer-paid membership to One Medical
• Free ClassPass membership
• Annual learning & development stipend
• Flexible remote and hybrid work style arrangements
• Fun and friendly office in NYC stocked with free snacks
• Virtual and in-person outings and fun activities with our amazing team
• Dog-friendly workplace
• Competitive compensation package, including base salary + stock options
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) + Health Spending Account (HSA)
• 401k retirement plan
• Commuter benefits
• Discounted pet insurance