Backend Software Engineer (Python)

Job description

Backend Software Engineer (Python)

Apply to join Scribd, Inc.

About The Company

At Scribd (pronounced scribbed), our mission is to spark human curiosity.

We create a world of stories and knowledge, democratize the exchange of ideas and information, and empower collective expertise through our four products: Everand, Scribd, Slideshare, and Fable.

We support a culture where our employees can be real and be bold; where we debate and commit as we embrace plot twists; and where every employee is empowered to take action as we prioritize the customer.

When it comes to workplace structure, we believe in balancing individual flexibility and community connections.

It’s through our flexible work benefit, Scribd Flex, that employees – in partnership with their manager – can choose the daily work‑style that best suits their individual needs.

A key tenet of Scribd Flex is our prioritization of intentional in‑person moments to build collaboration, culture, and connection.

For this reason, occasional in‑person attendance is required for all Scribd employees, regardless of their location.

So what are we looking for in new team members?

We hire for “GRIT”.

The textbook definition of GRIT is demonstrating the intersection of passion and perseverance towards long term goals.

At Scribd, we are inspired by the potential that this can unlock, and ask each of our employees to pursue a GRIT‑ty approach to their work.

In a tactical sense, GRIT is also a handy acronym that outlines the standards we hold ourselves and each other to.

Here’s what that means for you: we’re looking for someone who showcases the ability to set and achieve G oals, achieve R esults within their job responsibilities, contribute I nnovative ideas and solutions, and positively influence the broader T eam through collaboration and attitude.

About The Team

The ML Data Engineering team powers metadata extraction, enrichment, and content understanding across all Scribd brands.

We process hundreds of millions of documents, billions of images, and deliver high‑quality metadata to enable content discovery and trust for millions of users worldwide.

Our systems operate at massive scale, supporting diverse datasets like user‑generated content (UGC), ebooks, audiobooks, and more.

We work at the intersection of machine learning, data engineering, and distributed systems, collaborating closely with applied research and product teams to deploy scalable ML and LLM‑powered solutions in production.

Role Overview

We’re seeking a Software Engineer II with deep experience building event‑driven, distributed, and scalable systems in Python.

In this role, you’ll design and optimize large‑scale data and service pipelines running on AWS, supporting Scribd’s content enrichment and metadata systems.

You’ll work closely with cross‑functional teams to design reliable backend services that integrate machine learning models and LLM‑based components when needed.

This role offers the opportunity to work on cutting‑edge generative AI and metadata enrichment problems at a truly global scale.

Tech Stack

• Python (core language)


• AWS services: Lambda, ECS, SQS, ElastiCache, CloudWatch, SNS, etc.
  
  


• Airflow, Spark, Databricks for orchestration and data processing


• Infrastructure‑as‑code: Terraform


• Monitoring & observability: Datadog

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 design and deploy resilient, high‑performance systems.
  
  


• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to deliver backend solutions that power ML‑driven features.
  
  


• Optimize and refactor existing backend systems for scalability, reliability, and performance.
  
  


• Ensure system health and data integrity through monitoring, observability, and automated testing.
  
  

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional software engineering experience on Python or distributed systems development.
  
  


• Strong proficiency in Python (3+ years).
  
  Experience with Scala is a plus.
  
  


• Proven experience designing and building event‑driven, distributed, and scalable systems.
  
  


• Hands‑on experience with AWS services (ECS, Lambda, SQS, SNS, CloudWatch, etc.).
  
  


• Experience with infrastructure‑as‑code tools like Terraform.
  
  


• Solid understanding of system performance, profiling, and optimization.
  
  


• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent professional experience.
  
  


• Bonus: Familiarity with data processing frameworks (Spark, Databricks) and workflow orchestration tools.
  
  


• Bonus: Experience integrating ML or LLM‑based models into production systems.
  
  

Compensation

Base salary ranges based on location: In San Francisco: $126,000–$196,000.

Outside California: $103,500–$186,500.

In Canada: CAD 131,500–174,500.

Eligibility for competitive equity, comprehensive benefits.

Benefits, Perks, and Wellbeing at Scribd

• 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 & programs


• Quarterly stipend for Wellness, WiFi, etc.
  
  


• Mental Health support & resources


• Free subscription to the Scribd suite of products


• Referral Bonuses


• Book Benefit


• Sabbaticals


• Company‑wide events


• Team engagement budgets


• Vacation & Personal Days


• Paid Holidays (+ winter break)


• Flexible Sick Time


• Volunteer Day


• Company‑wide Employee Resource Groups and inclusive workplace programs


• Access to AI Tools: free access to best‑in‑class AI tools for productivity and innovation

Working at Scribd, Inc.

Employees are expected to have their primary residence in or near one of the following cities: United States (Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Chicago, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington D.C.) or Canada (Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver) or Mexico (Mexico City) .

Occasional in‑person attendance is required for all Scribd employees, regardless of location.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We want our interview process to be accessible to everyone.

Inform us of any reasonable adjustments by emailing Scribd is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, and believe that a diversity of perspectives and experiences create a foundation for the best ideas.

Come join us in building something meaningful.

Required Skill Profession

Arquitectura Y Diseño De Software