Senior Backend Engineer (Python) at Scribd

San Francisco, California, United States

Scribd Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Digital Media, Online PublishingIndustries

Requirements

  • 5+ years of experience building event-driven, distributed, and scalable systems in Python
  • Deep understanding of AWS services such as Lambda, ECS, and other relevant technologies
  • Experience designing and optimizing large-scale data and service pipelines
  • Strong knowledge of machine learning and LLM-based components
  • Ability to work closely with cross-functional teams to design reliable backend services
  • Experience with metadata extraction, enrichment, and content understanding
  • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Responsibilities

  • Design and optimize large-scale data and service pipelines running on AWS
  • Develop and maintain reliable backend services that integrate machine learning models and LLM-based components
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to design and deploy scalable ML and LLM-powered solutions in production
  • Work on cutting-edge generative AI and metadata enrichment problems at a truly global scale
  • Contribute to the development of metadata extraction, enrichment, and content understanding systems
  • Participate in the design and implementation of scalable and efficient data processing systems
  • Ensure the high-quality and reliability of backend services and systems

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

PythonBackend EngineeringProblem-solvingCollaboration

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the work arrangement or location policy for this role?

Scribd offers Scribd Flex, a flexible work benefit where employees partner with their manager to choose the work-style that best suits their needs, balancing individual flexibility with community connections. Occasional in-person attendance is required for all employees to build collaboration, culture, and connection, regardless of location.

What is the company culture like at Scribd?

Scribd supports a culture where employees can be real and bold, debate and commit while embracing plot twists, and are empowered to take action prioritizing the customer. They emphasize GRIT—Goals, Results, Innovation, and Team collaboration—and create intentional in-person moments to build culture and connection.

What does the team structure look like for this role?

The role is on the ML Data Engineering team, which powers metadata extraction, enrichment, and content understanding across all Scribd brands, processing hundreds of millions of documents and billions of images to deliver high-quality metadata at massive scale for millions of users worldwide.

What qualities make a strong candidate for this Senior Backend Engineer role?

Strong candidates demonstrate GRIT: the ability to set and achieve Goals, deliver Results in their responsibilities, contribute Innovative ideas and solutions, and positively influence the Team through collaboration and attitude.

What is the salary or compensation for this position?

This information is not specified in the job description.

Scribd

Digital library and e-book subscription service

About Scribd

Scribd is a digital library and e-book subscription service that provides users with access to a wide variety of reading materials, including e-books, audiobooks, magazines, and documents. Users pay a monthly subscription fee to enjoy unlimited access to this extensive library, which features bestsellers, classic literature, and academic papers. Scribd stands out from competitors like Amazon's Kindle Unlimited and Audible by offering a more diverse range of content types and a user-friendly interface that enhances the reading experience. Additionally, Scribd fosters community engagement through features like ScribdChat, allowing interaction between authors and readers, as well as curated reading lists that highlight relevant content. The company's goal is to serve a broad audience of readers, from casual readers to professionals, by providing a rich and varied digital content library.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters
2007Year Founded
$102.9MTotal Funding
LATE_VCCompany Stage
Consumer Software, EntertainmentIndustries
201-500Employees

Benefits

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion - A robust Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program that includes company-wide training, equitable hiring best practices, Employee Resource Groups, and company-wide goals.
Scribd flex - We embrace flexibility as a key principle and will allow employees, in partnership with their manager, to choose the workstyle that best suits their individual needs and preferences.
Health, Dental, Vision, Life & Disability - We offer comprehensive healthcare plans and cover premiums for employees at 100%. PPO, HMO, and High Deductible Health Plans are available so you can choose whichever coverage supports your lifestyle best.
Matching 401(k) - Easily save for retirement with our 401(k) plan and take advantage of up to 3% company match with no waiting period.
Paid Time Off - A generous paid time off program that includes vacation time, personal days, sabbaticals, volunteer time, winter break, sick time, and more.
Paid parental leave - We provide paid time away from work for our new biological, adoptive, or foster parents.
Wellbeing - Resources, workshops & events to support your wellbeing journey: Mind, Body & Soul.
Curated Career Paths and Continuous Learning - The power to explore career paths & possibilities, and the tools to support your growth. From continuing education, degrees, or certifications, we support our employee’s career journeys.

Risks

Credit-based model may alienate users preferring unlimited access.
Spotify's competitive pricing could draw subscribers away from Scribd.
New CEO may disrupt Scribd's current business model and market position.

Differentiation

Scribd offers a diverse range of content types beyond just e-books.
The platform includes features like ScribdChat for author-reader interaction.
Scribd's user-friendly interface enhances the overall reading experience.

Upsides

Tony Grimminck's appointment as CEO suggests potential strategic expansions.
The credit-based model could attract users seeking flexible content access.
Growing audiobook demand presents a market opportunity for Scribd.

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