Senior Software Engineer, Backend (Go/PHP, Distributed Systems)

Mercari is a leading marketplace dedicated to simplifying buying and selling, boasting over 50 million downloads in the U.S. and nearly 500,000 new daily listings. Our mission is to make selling easier than buying. We are seeking a Senior Software Engineer to develop complex, mission-critical backend systems that scale to millions of users.

This role is pivotal in building and optimizing our marketplace platform's backend services. You will design and develop scalable, high-performance microservices, ensuring production quality, reliability, and security. This position requires deep expertise in Go, PHP, distributed systems, and microservices architecture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of complex backend features, including payment processing and inventory management systems.
• Design and implement scalable backend architectures and patterns, such as microservices and event-driven systems.
• Drive technical decisions and best practices for backend development, covering coding standards, performance budgets, and testing strategies.
• Mentor and guide other engineers in backend development practices through code reviews and technical presentations.
• Collaborate closely with product and frontend teams to define technical requirements and assess feature feasibility.
• Optimize backend performance and scalability, focusing on database optimization, caching strategies, and load balancing.
• Contribute to backend platform technology and strategic roadmap decisions, including technology evaluation and technical debt reduction.
• Lead technical discussions and architectural reviews for major features and system changes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, or equivalent experience.
• At least 8 years of experience in backend development.
• Expert knowledge of Go and PHP ecosystems.
• Experience with large-scale distributed systems handling millions of users.
• Experience with microservices architecture and service mesh.
• Experience with performance optimization at scale, including database optimization and caching strategies.
• Experience with modern backend build tools and deployment strategies (Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform).
• Deep understanding of backend performance optimization techniques.
• Strong architectural and system design skills.
• Excellent knowledge of Agentic AI tools and workflows.
• Excellent mentoring and technical leadership abilities.

Total Rewards and Compensation

Mercari offers a comprehensive total compensation package including equity and a full range of physical, financial, and well-being benefits. This role is eligible for remote work from anywhere in the US.

• Expected Base Salary Ranges (Annual):
• Zone 1 (e.g., San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, New York City): $168,000–$252,000
• Zone 2 (e.g., Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles): $151,200–$226,800
• Zone 3 (e.g., Miami, St. Louis, Houston): $134,400–$201,600

Why Join Mercari?

• Flexibility: Work remote from anywhere in the US and receive flexible time off.
• Wellbeing: Access to top-notch insurance plans, best-in-class new parent offerings, and wellness apps.
• Growth: Expanding career opportunities, access to new tools, technologies, and learning opportunities.
• Teamwork: A supportive environment that celebrates collaboration and recognition.