Software Engineer, Platform Engineering at WhatNot

San Francisco, California, United States

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$190,000 – $260,000Compensation

Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level

Full TimeJob Type

UnknownVisa

E-commerceIndustries

Requirements

7+ years of backend engineering experience (10+ for Staff-level)
Strong experience with large-scale backend systems, ideally Python, but experience in other stacks (Java, Go, Elixir, etc.) welcome
Deep expertise with storage systems (Postgres, DynamoDB, Planetscale)
Proven experience building or scaling messaging, notification, or caching systems
Background in refactoring large codebases for scale, performance, and maintainability
Hands-on with runtime and platform optimization such as concurrency models, async patterns, and memory tuning
Familiarity with service reliability and observability practices such as metrics, tracing, circuit breakers, and failure isolation
Comfortable operating in a cloud-native environment such as AWS or GCP with Kubernetes, Docker, and Terraform
Known for setting strong technical standards and for building patterns that other engineers adopt
Bonus: prior experience in a hyper-growth environment

Responsibilities

Evolve the Python runtime and stack by improving performance, concurrency, memory use, and dependency management
Build and scale core platform services that provide the foundation for reliability, scalability, and developer velocity across engineering
Optimize storage systems for consistency, scale, and performance
Embed observability and reliability patterns into the platform by default
Refactor and modularize large-scale codebases to maintain developer velocity and ensure primary codebases remain productive at scale
Partner with product and infra teams to deliver platform APIs and abstractions that balance velocity and long-term stability
Lay the groundwork for future platform needs, from global expansion to enabling new product capabilities
Own the foundations of main backends, real-time services, and storage systems, ensuring they evolve to support rapid product growth while remaining reliable and scalable

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

PythonBackend EngineeringPlatform EngineeringStorage SystemsObservabilityScalabilityPerformance OptimizationConcurrencyMemory ManagementDependency ManagementRefactoring

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the salary range for the Software Engineer, Platform Engineering role?

The salary range is $190K - $260K.

Is this position remote or does it require working from an office?

This is a remote co-located team with hubs in the US, UK, Germany, Ireland, and Poland.

What skills and experience are required for this Platform Engineer role?

Candidates need 7+ years of backend engineering experience (10+ for Staff-level), strong experience with large-scale backend systems ideally in Python, deep expertise with storage systems like Postgres, DynamoDB, and Planetscale, proven experience building or scaling messaging/notification/caching systems, and background in refactoring large codebases.

What is the company culture like at Whatnot?

Whatnot is inspired by innovation and anchored in values, with a remote co-located team building the future of online marketplaces together, emphasizing bold, forward-thinking problem solvers.

What makes a strong candidate for this Platform Engineer position?

A strong candidate has 7+ years (10+ for Staff) of backend experience, expertise in Python and storage systems like Postgres and DynamoDB, experience scaling messaging/caching systems, and a track record in refactoring large codebases for performance and maintainability.

WhatNot

Online marketplace for authentic collectibles

About WhatNot

Whatnot.com operates as an online marketplace dedicated to collectibles, particularly focusing on items like Funkos and FiGPiNs. The platform ensures that every collectible listed is 100% authentic through a rigorous verification process that includes hand authentication, providing trust and security for both buyers and sellers. It caters to collectors and enthusiasts who seek a reliable space to buy and sell rare and exclusive items from popular franchises such as Marvel Comics and Star Wars. Whatnot.com distinguishes itself from competitors by charging low fees on sales and offering seller protection, which guarantees prompt and secure payments. The company's goal is to create a trusted environment for the growing community of collectible enthusiasts, facilitating safe and easy transactions for unique items.

Marina del Rey, CaliforniaHeadquarters

2019Year Founded

$728.7MTotal Funding

SERIES_ECompany Stage

Consumer Software, Consumer GoodsIndustries

501-1,000Employees