Senior Backend Engineer (DevOps)

ABOUT GUIDEBOOK:

Guidebook is a simple yet powerful event management software that lets you promote your event, manage registration and create an app in four easy steps with no technical skills required.

Thousands of organizations across the globe use Guidebook to create mobile applications for events, university campus open houses, venue guides, onboarding for associations, corporate training, and so much more. These apps help people stay organized, connect with their peers, and access more information - but it doesn’t stop there.

Our mission is to support the people who bring people together - event organizers. Events have never felt more important in building connections and helping shape and change minds in today’s fractured world. We are a driven team on a mission to elevate event experiences for everyone – and believe we can accomplish that while highly valuing balance, togetherness, and fun!

ABOUT THE JOB:

We are hiring a Senior Backend Engineer to work primarily on our internal systems and applications, with occasional contributions to product features. This role is highly backend-focused and centers around Python, Django, Postgres, and AWS, with an emphasis on security, reliability, and operational excellence.

You will play a key role in designing, implementing, and maintaining backend services and internal tooling that powers our business. This includes writing production-grade Python code, designing database schemas and migrations, managing cloud infrastructure, and supporting CI/CD pipelines and deployments.

In addition to backend development, this role includes light-to-moderate AWS DevOps responsibilities. You will help manage deployments, improve CI/CD pipelines, and iterate on cloud infrastructure as needed. While this is not a pure DevOps role, the ideal candidate is comfortable wearing that hat part-time and understands how backend systems behave in production.

Security is a core expectation for this role. You should be familiar with OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities and mitigations, and comfortable building systems that move toward SOC 2 / ISO 27001 readiness. You will also be expected to write observable code, implementing logging, tracing, and monitoring to support rapid incident response.

This role offers significant ownership, autonomy, and influence over backend architecture and operational practices.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Design, implement, and maintain backend services in Python / Django / Postgres.

• Support internal systems and operational tooling.

• Occasionally contribute to product-facing backend features.

• Write and maintain CI/CD pipelines.

• Manage deployments and environments within AWS.

• Support containerized (ECS/EKS) and/or serverless workloads.

• Collaborate on infrastructure design and improvements.

• Build systems with security-first principles.

• Participate in security reviews and incident response.

• Improve system reliability and incident response workflow.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• 5+ years of professional backend engineering experience.

• 1+ years production experience managing AWS environments and infrastructure.

• Strong experience building and debugging backend systems in Python and Django.

• Familiar with PostgreSQL.

• Experience designing and maintaining CI/CD pipelines.

• Solid understanding of backend security best practices (OWASP Top 10).

• Can work independently and own systems end to end.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Must be comfortable working within Pacific Time (PST/PDT) office hours.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Proficient in Python and Django.

• Strong understanding of scalable backend architecture and distributed system design.

• Built and operated production workloads using ECS, EKS, or AWS Lambda.

• Designed and managed infrastructure using Terraform, CloudFormation, or CDK.

• Implemented and maintained observability solutions such as Datadog.

• Developed and supported ETL pipelines using tools like EMR and Glue.

• Set up and maintained CI/CD pipelines using tools like GitHub Actions and Fastlane.

• Understanding of SOC 2 / ISO 27001 readiness and audit requirements.

• Exposure to Google Cloud Platform environments.

WITHIN 3 MONTHS YOU WILL:

• Onboard into backend services, internal systems, and AWS environments.

• Learn existing Python codebases, Postgres schemas, and deployment workflows.

• Review CI/CD pipelines, security posture, and observability setup.

• Take ownership of a small set of initial bugs and fixes to become familiar with the systems.

WITHIN 6 MONTHS YOU WILL:

• Own backend services and internal systems more independently.

• Continue delivering backend features and fixes in Python.

• Address high-priority security or observability gaps.

• Begin upgrading systems to latest supported versions, including AWS clusters and Lambda functions.

• Collaborate with the team on infrastructure improvements.

WITHIN 12 MONTHS YOU WILL:

• Take ownership of key backend systems or internal platforms.

• Help define or evolve backend architecture and infrastructure.

• Improve observability, security posture, and operational readiness.

• Support larger initiatives (internal or product-facing) as needed.

• Contribute to long-term backend and infrastructure roadmap.

ABOUT YOU:

• 5+ years of experience working as a backend developer.

• 1+ years production experience managing AWS environments and infrastructure.

• A strong communicator, who can clearly explain technical concepts and tradeoffs to teammates and stakeholders.

• Values shared ownership, and works effectively across engineering, product, and QA.

• Pragmatic and able to balance ideal solutions with real-world constraints, timelines, and risk.

• A strong sense of responsibility for systems from design through long-term maintenance.

• Willing to guide, support, and elevate other engineers while remaining open to feedback and mentorship from peers.

• Brings a low-ego mindset and contributes to a respectful, inclusive team environment.

• A continual learner who adjusts to change, and operates autonomously when needed.

• Comfortable working primarily within Pacific Time (PST/PDT) business hours.

PERKS

• 100% paid benefits: medical, dental, and vision.

• Short term and long term disability.

• Unlimited vacation time.

• 401k program with matching benefits.

• Stock options.

• A company culture built on balance, community, and shared success.

• MacBook and accessories for comfortable remote work.

• Awesome annual retreats.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

At Guidebook, we're committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for everyone – and we know that's best achieved, in part, with a diverse workforce. We're working on increasing diversity across the company. If you're looking to join a team that is smart, highly motivated, and also values work/life balance, we can't wait to hear how you can add to our growing culture!

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

COMPENSATION:

A competitive salary of $120,000-160,000, depending on relevant experience.