Staff Software Engineer, Backend at Harvey

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Harvey Logo
Not SpecifiedCompensation
Senior (5 to 8 years)Experience Level
Full TimeJob Type
UnknownVisa
Legal Tech, Artificial Intelligence, Professional ServicesIndustries

Requirements

  • 5+ years (post-BS/MS) of backend-focused software engineering experience on platform and/or product-oriented teams
  • Experience working across the stack to ship user-facing features with measurable impact
  • Strong knowledge of distributed systems, REST/gRPC APIs, databases, and scalable service architectures
  • Familiarity with or interest in enterprise SaaS patterns, such as role-based access control (RBAC), feature flag systems, and third-party integrations
  • Track record of shipping highly intuitive products, strong attention to detail
  • Experience building backend platforms that can support multiple product lines
  • Strong programming skills and general Computer Science knowledge
  • Valid Canadian work rights (no visa sponsorship)

Responsibilities

  • Design and build foundational backend infrastructure including authentication, permissions, feature flagging, notifications, and document management integrations
  • Build and evolve Harvey’s internal product platform, accelerating development across multiple product lines and engineering teams
  • Lead development of enterprise-facing features, such as secure multi-party collaboration, cross-organization workflows, and robust admin controls
  • Maintain high standards for security, privacy, and system reliability, particularly in handling sensitive legal data
  • Collaborate cross-functionally with product, AI, design, and GTM teams to deliver delightful, enterprise-ready experiences

Skills

Key technologies and capabilities for this role

Backend DevelopmentSystem DesignPermissions ManagementFeature FlagsNotificationsLLM IntegrationDistributed SystemsScalabilitySecurityEnterprise Software

Questions & Answers

Common questions about this position

What is the work location and arrangement for this role?

This role is based in Toronto, Canada, with a hybrid location type and an in-person work model. The company offers relocation assistance to new employees.

What experience is required for this Staff Backend Software Engineer position?

Candidates need 5+ years (post-BS/MS) of backend-focused software engineering experience on platform and/or product-oriented teams, plus experience working across the stack to ship user-facing features with measurable impact.

What is the compensation for this role?

The job description mentions competitive compensation, but no specific salary range or details are provided.

What does the team and company culture at Harvey look like?

Harvey has a world-class team hiring top talent from companies like DeepMind, Google Brain, Stripe, FAIR, Tesla Autopilot, Glean, Superhuman, and Figma. The company emphasizes scaling quickly with exceptional product-market fit, strategic investors, and partnerships like OpenAI.

What makes a strong candidate for this position?

Strong candidates have 5+ years of backend engineering experience on platform/product teams, can work across the stack to ship user-facing features, and are excited to design systems for secure infrastructure like authentication, permissions, and notifications while collaborating cross-functionally.

Harvey

Custom AI solutions for law firms

About Harvey

Harvey.ai builds custom Large Language Models (LLMs) specifically designed for top law firms to help them tackle complex legal challenges. These AI models are tailored to various legal practice areas and jurisdictions, allowing firms to enhance their efficiency and accuracy in legal work. Harvey.ai's technology includes an AI chatbot developed in collaboration with Allen & Overy, which demonstrates how their solutions can streamline operations and reduce manual workloads. The company operates on a business model that combines customization fees for developing these models with ongoing subscription fees for support and updates. Unlike many competitors, Harvey.ai focuses exclusively on the legal sector, ensuring that their products meet the unique needs of elite law firms. The goal of Harvey.ai is to transform the legal industry by providing advanced AI tools that improve decision-making and operational efficiency while maintaining high standards of data security.

San Francisco, CaliforniaHeadquarters
2022Year Founded
$200.4MTotal Funding
SERIES_CCompany Stage
Cybersecurity, LegalIndustries
201-500Employees

Risks

Over-reliance on partnerships could lead to strategic vulnerabilities if they dissolve.
LexLegis.ai's global expansion poses a competitive threat in legal research.
Rapid AI innovation and crowded CLM market may challenge Harvey's growth.

Differentiation

Harvey offers custom LLMs tailored for elite law firms' complex legal challenges.
The company provides a unified interface for legal workflows, enhancing efficiency.
Harvey's BigLaw Bench evaluates AI accuracy in legal tasks, setting industry standards.

Upsides

Partnership with Icertis enhances contract analysis and risk assessment capabilities.
Expansion into Japan with Mori Hamada Matsumoto opens new revenue streams.
Revamped GenAI Assistant improves user experience and output quality for legal professionals.

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