Senior Backend Engineer (SDE - 2)

We’re hiring a remote, contract-based Backend & Infrastructure Engineer who can build and run production systems end-to-end.

You will build and scale high-throughput backend services in Golang and Python, operate ClickHouse-powered analytics at scale, manage Linux servers for maximum uptime, scalability, and reliability, and drive cost efficiency as a core engineering discipline across the entire stack.

What You Will Do:

Backend Development (Golang & Python)

• Design and maintain high-throughput RESTful/gRPC APIs — primarily Golang, Python for tooling and supporting services
• Architect for horizontal scalability, fault tolerance, and low-latency at scale
• Implement caching (Redis/Memcached), rate limiting, efficient serialization, and CI/CD pipelines

Scalable Architecture & System Design

• Design and evolve distributed, resilient backend architecture that scales without proportional cost increase
• Make deliberate trade-offs (CAP, cost vs. performance) and design multi-region HA with automated failover

ClickHouse & Analytical Data Infrastructure

• Deploy, tune, and operate ClickHouse clusters for real-time analytics and high-cardinality OLAP workloads
• Design optimal table engines, partition strategies, materialized views, and query patterns
• Manage cluster scaling, replication, schema migrations, and upstream/downstream integrations

Cost Efficiency & Cost Optimization

• Own cost optimization end-to-end: right-sizing, reserved/spot capacity, storage tiering, query optimization, compression, batching
• Build cost dashboards, budgets, and alerts; drive a culture of cost-aware engineering

Linux Server Management & Infrastructure

• Administer and harden Linux servers (Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS/RHEL) — patching, security, SSH, firewalls
• Manage VPS/bare-metal provisioning, capacity planning, and containerized workloads (Docker, Kubernetes/Nomad)
• Implement Infrastructure-as-Code (Terraform/Pulumi); optionally manage AWS/GCP as needed

Data, Storage & Scheduling

• Optimize SQL schemas and queries (PostgreSQL, MySQL); manage data archival, cold storage, and lifecycle policies
• Build and maintain cron jobs, scheduled tasks, and batch processing systems

Uptime, Reliability & Observability

• Own system uptime: zero-downtime deployments, health checks, self-healing infra, SLOs/SLIs
• Build observability stacks (Prometheus, Grafana, Datadog, OpenTelemetry); structured logging, distributed tracing, alerting
• Drive incident response, root cause analysis, and post-mortems

Required Qualifications:

Must-Have (Critical)

• Deep proficiency in Golang (primary) and Python
• Proven ability to design and build scalable, distributed architectures
• Production experience deploying and operating ClickHouse at scale
• Track record of driving measurable cost efficiency and cost optimization
• 5+ years in backend engineering and infrastructure roles

Also Required

• Strong Linux server administration (Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS/RHEL) — comfortable living in the terminal
• Proven uptime and reliability track record across production infrastructure
• Strong SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL); experience with high-throughput APIs (10K+ RPS)
• VPS/bare-metal provisioning, Docker, Kubernetes/Nomad, IaC (Terraform/Pulumi)
• Observability tooling (Prometheus, Grafana, Datadog, OpenTelemetry)
• Cron jobs, batch processing, data archival, cold storage management
• Networking fundamentals (DNS, TCP/IP, load balancing, TLS)

Nice to Have

• AWS, GCP, or other major cloud provider experience
• Message queues / event streaming (Kafka, RabbitMQ, SQS/SNS)
• Data pipelines (Airflow, dbt); FinOps practices
• Open-source contributions; compliance background (SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR)

What We Offer

• Remote, contractual role
• Flexible time zones (overlap for standups + incident coverage)
• Competitive contract compensation + equity
• Long-term engagement opportunity based on performance

Key Responsibilities

Platform Build & Architecture

• Refactor an existing Python-based prototype into a modular, production-grade platform

• Define clear service boundaries (API layer, orchestration, agent runtime, data access)

• Build reusable components that allow extension without exposing core engine logic Agent Framework & Orchestration

• Design and implement frameworks for AI agents and reporting workflows

• Build orchestration for multi-step execution (deterministic + AI-driven)

• Ensure outputs are traceable, auditable, and suitable for financial reporting Developer Enablement

• Enable internal/client developers to: o build and deploy reporting agents o reuse approved components o access platform capabilities via APIs (without direct code access)

• Implement access controls and abstraction layers Full Stack Development

• Lead development across: o Backend: Python, FastAPI o Frontend: Next.js o Real-time: WebSockets

• Build simple internal interfaces for: o job execution o monitoring o output review Code Governance & DevOps

Own development workflows in Azure DevOps • branching strategy, PRs, code reviews, merges • Set up CI/CD pipelines, environments (dev/test/prod), and release processes • Ensure code quality, testing, and maintainability standards Team Leadership (Near-term) • Act as the technical anchor o shore • Mentor and guide future hires as the team scales • Establish best practices across code, documentation, and delivery

Required Skills

• Strong experience in Python backend development (FastAPI or similar)

• Experience with React / Next.js

• Familiarity with WebSockets or real-time systems

• Experience building APIs and scalable backend systems

• Hands-on experience with Azure DevOps (repos, pipelines, PR workflows)

• Understanding of modular architecture, access control, and system design • Ability to operate in an early-stage, fast-evolving environment

• 3+ years of experience in the Development in JAVA technology.
• AWS or cloud Experience
• Strong Java Basics
• SpringBoot or Spring MVC
• Hands on experience on Relationl Databases (SQL query or Hibernate) + Mongo (JSON parsing)
• Proficient in REST API development
• Messaging Queue (RabitMQ or Kafka)
• Microservices
• Any Caching Mechanism
• Good at problem-solving

Good to Have Skills:

• 3+ years of experience in using Java/J2EE tech stacks
• Good understanding of data structures and algorithms.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
• Ability to work in a fast paced internet start-up environment.
• Experience in technical mentorship/coaching is highly desirable.
• Understanding of AI/ML algorithms is a plus.

Title: Python Developer

Job Type: Full-time

Responsibilities:

• Developing and maintaining Python-based applications.
• Writing clean, maintainable, and efficient code.
• Integrating user-facing elements developed by front-end developers with server-side logic.
• Identifying and fixing bottlenecks and bugs.
• Participating in code reviews.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to design, develop and implement new features.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science or a related field.
• Strong proficiency in Python and its frameworks such as Django or Flask.
• Understanding of fundamental design principles behind a scalable application.
• Familiarity with code versioning tools such as Git.
• Knowledge of databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL or MongoDB.
• Good problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Desired Candidate Profile

• Join a team of great technical professionals that work hard but have fun and enjoy developing state of the art product-based applications and websites. 
• Use best practice coding standards and implement each deliverable.
• Write and manage program and Bug Fixes
• Construct and support integrations that are easy to manage, maintain, customize and configure; ensure overall reliability, availability, and high-performance code.
• Analyze system issues and problems and implement solutions rapidly.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously varying in sizes and scope
• Work in a fast-paced cross-functional team environment. Effectively handle time-critical issue and appropriately escalate at-risk items.

• Laravel/ Zend/ CakePHP/ CodeIgniter/ Symfony, or equivalent.
• Strong knowledge of OOPs Concepts.
• Computer Science/Software Engineering Bachelor’s degree or higher education.
• Experience in writing high performance and high scalable code using best practice and coding standards. 
• Excellent written and spoken communication skills. 
• Excellent organizational and attention to detail. 
• Good to have familiarity with NoSql DB, web servers (e.g. Apache), caching (Memcache / Redis), Cloud, NodeJs, Microservices architecture Familiar with agile software development methodologies (e.g. SCRUM / Agile / Kanban)
• Must have knowledge of MVC design patterns, XHTML/HTML5, PHP, CSS3, XML, MySQL/MSSQL, JavaScript jQuery, json objects, API, AJAX functionality and client-side validation.
• Understanding accessibility and security compliance.
• Understanding fundamental design principles behind a scalable application
• Knowledge of using version control software such as SVN or GIT will be preferable.
• Experience in either Mobile application or Data Integration with other apps would be preferred.

• 2-4 years of demonstrable hands-on work in web-based application development experiences in a professional environment, including interaction design for dynamic, data-driven applications (not HTML based website) delivered via the web, or the equivalent.

About the Company:

Progcap is a Fintech and AI company that pioneers alternative credit scoring for small businesses using proprietary data from non-traditional sources. We aim to fuel credit to 100 million under-banked SMEs in the emerging markets worldwide with an initial focus on India.

Progcap is Sequoia-backed Series A startup, comprising of top tier talent from finance, technology, data science and operations. The Company is the recipient of the World Bank's "SME Product Innovation of the year", 2018 award, Madrid.

What you will be doing:

• Lead and provide first level supervision to project teams and ensures successful delivery of tasks assigned to the team along with sharing of project updates & related communication with stakeholders.
• Writing and ensuring reusable, testable, and efficient code.
• Managing data across multiple databases and providing analysis to stakeholders.
• Design and implementation of low-latency, high-availability, and performant applications.
• Implementation of security and data protection (permission classes and middleware.)
• Implementation of user authentication and authorization across multiple systems, servers, and environments.

What you bring:

• Should have minimum 4 years of experience in development using Python and 1 year in leading Python based projects.
• Strong experience in Application lifecycle management – development, testing and deployment.
• Strong understanding and experience with code version control tools (git, svn, etc.)
• Expert in Python with working experience on Django, AWS, Lambda, RDS, NoSQL, Docker, Kubernetes.
• Integration of data storage solutions redis, postgresql, mysql (big query, big table, pubsub, appengine).
• Strong in data structures and algorithms
• Preferably candidates with Financial/lending Applications development experience with any Fintech Co.