Senior Backend Software Engineer - Application Development

The Role

Backend Software Engineers at Palantir build software at scale to transform how organisations use data. Our Software Engineers are involved throughout the product lifecycle, from idea generation, design, prototyping, and production delivery. You will collaborate closely with technical and non-technical teammates to understand our customers' problems and build products that solve them.

Your day-to-day workflow will vary, adapting to the requirements of our users and the technical challenges that arise. One day, you may find yourself collaborating with other engineers to architect a new system that enables a novel workflow, the next you could be fine-tuning performance to enable low-latency operational outcomes.

Frontline

Foundry Software Engineers may be offered the opportunity to Frontline, an exclusive program involving being embedded with customers. Frontliners work in small teams to own the end-to-end execution of high-stakes projects, ranging from discussing architecture and building custom web apps to conducting workshops with users and strategizing with customer executives.

Core Responsibilities

• Leading the architecture, development, and maintenance of high-performance, scalable backend services that underpin operational data and AI systems.
• Maintaining high coding standards through the development of guidelines, active participation in code reviews, and fostering continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
• Building robust APIs for use by front-end developers and interfacing external systems, collaborating to integrate user-facing elements with server-side logic.
• Designing efficient data structures and algorithms to manage large-scale and high throughput data.
• Optimizing applications for speed and scalability through performance analysis.
• Actively improving user workflows by collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless experiences across product boundaries.

Qualifications

What We Require

• 6+ years of experience in designing, developing, and leading features and improvements, as well as supporting and maintaining live backend systems.
• In-depth understanding of data structures, system architecture, API development for microservices frameworks, distributed systems, and backend best practices.
• Engineering background in Computer Science, Mathematics, Software Engineering, Physics, or a similar field.
• Strong coding skills with demonstrated proficiency in programming languages such as Java, C++, Python, Rust, or similar languages.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to iterate quickly with teammates, incorporating feedback and holding a high bar for quality.

What We Value

• A deep understanding of server-side logic, efficient data handling, and distributed systems.
• Strong focus on creating user-oriented workflows and solutions across product boundaries.
• Experience building high-quality software in a fast-paced CI/CD development environment.
• Ability to work collaboratively in teams of technical and non-technical individuals.
• Active US Security clearance, or eligibility and willingness to obtain a US Security clearance is beneficial but not necessary.