Lead Backend Engineer

Job Description

Job Description
Lead Backend Engineer
We're a higher-ed startup backed by $38M from top investors including Khosla Ventures, Lightspeed, Karman Ventures, and Forerunner. Our founding team previously scaled Duolingo to hundreds of millions of learners worldwide and is now taking on the multi-trillion-dollar higher education market that's long overdue for disruption.

Our mission: Building a higher education experience which is more affordable, accessible, and effective for millions of students globally.

-Please note: this position requires 3 days a week on-site in LA, or 5 days a week on-site in SLC-

Position Overview:

We're searching for a Lead Backend Engineer to architect and scale our backend systems from the ground up. You'll own API design, define our backend architecture, and build a team around it.

Stack & Focus: Node, Python, or TypeScript (your choice)

Requirements:

• 8+ years of backend engineering experience
• Strong background in system architecture and designing scalable backend systems
• Proven experience owning API design and backend service boundaries
• Experience refactoring prototypes into production-ready systems
• Familiarity with Cloudflare Workers and serverless edge computing
• Ability to set technical direction and establish engineering best practices
• Comfortable building 0-1 in fast-paced, ambiguous startup environments
• Higher education application experience a plus

Benefits

Health, Dental, Vision, Equity, PTO, etc.
- For this position, you must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need for sponsorship for a non-immigrant visa. CyberCoders will consider for Employment in the City of Los Angeles qualified Applicants with Criminal Histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring (Ban the Box) Ordinance.This job was first posted by CyberCoders on 12/30/2025 and applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled or closed.CyberCoders is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, genetic information, registered domestic partner status, marital status, status as a crime victim, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. CyberCoders will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local law, including but not limited to the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the California Fair Chance Act. CyberCoders is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with physical and mental disabilities. Individuals needing special assistance or an accommodation while seeking employment can contact a member of our Human Resources team at to make arrangements.