Backend Software Engineer

Join to apply for the Backend Software Engineer (Python) role at Scribd, Inc. Overview 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. We build at scale with machine learning, data engineering, and distributed systems, collaborating with applied research and product teams to deploy scalable ML and LLM-powered solutions in production. About The Company At Scribd (pronounced “scribbed”), our mission is to spark human curiosity. We aim to democratize the exchange of ideas and information, empowering collective expertise through our four products: Everand, Scribd, Slideshare, and Fable. We value a culture where employees can be real and bold, debate and commit, and take action with the customer in mind. Scribd Flex enables flexible daily work styles, with occasional in-person attendance to foster collaboration, culture, and connection. 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 on AWS, supporting Scribd’s content enrichment and metadata systems. You’ll work 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 global scale. Tech Stack Our backend systems are primarily built in Python, leveraging AWS services such as Lambda, ECS, SQS, and ElastiCache for event-driven and distributed processing. We also use Airflow, Spark, Databricks, Terraform, and Datadog for orchestration, data processing, and observability. 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 and Employment Details At Scribd, base pay is one part of total compensation and is determined within a range based on location and other factors. Salary ranges vary by geography. This position is eligible for a competitive equity offering and a comprehensive benefits package. Working at Scribd Employees must have their primary residence in or near one of the listed cities in the United States, Canada, or Mexico, within a typical commuting distance. We encourage applicants from multiple locations and may adjust compensation accordingly. Benefits, Perks, and Wellbeing Benefits/perks listed may vary by location. 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 Learning & Development allowance and programs Wellness, WiFi, and other stipends Mental health resources Free Scribd product subscriptions Referral bonuses and book benefit Sabbaticals and team engagement budgets Vacation, personal days, paid holidays, and flexible sick time Volunteer day and employee resource groups Access to AI tools for productivity and innovation Additional information : We are committed to equal employment opportunity and encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply. For interview accessibility accommodations, please email #J-18808-Ljbffr