Senior Backend Engineer

Hi, we’re DuckDuckGo, the Internet privacy company for everyone who wants to take back their privacy now. For over a decade, we’ve been building our all-in-one product, developing new privacy technology, and working with policymakers to make online privacy simple and accessible for all.

Our browsers and extensions have been downloaded over 250 million times with our built-in private search engine, which has delivered over 100 billion searches and is the 2nd largest search engine on mobile in the United States and 17 other countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Germany, Poland, and Spain. Our private search engine is also 3rd in market share in the U.S. and over 20 major markets. Oh, and we’ve been profitable since 2014, with annual revenue exceeding $100 million!

The DuckDuckGo browser’s uniquely comprehensive privacy protections are used by tens of millions of people to protect their everyday online activities on Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android, from searching to browsing, emailing, and more. We also offer Privacy Pro, a three-in-one subscription service that includes a VPN, Personal Information Removal, and Identity Theft Restoration.

We’re looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to help shape our all-in-one privacy solution and join our mission to show the world that protecting your privacy online can be simple.

The Opportunity

In this role, you will lead complex projects across key company-wide objectives, writing pragmatic, testable code that’s performant and works consistently. You’ll collaborate remotely with your peers and take responsibility for solving product issues impacting our all-in-one privacy solution, whether large or small. In time, you’ll formally mentor other engineers, supporting their career growth and the growth of the Backend Team at DuckDuckGo.

What You Will Bring to DuckDuckGo

• 7+ years backend engineering experience, having worked on the backend side of at least one large application.
• A fundamental understanding of complex data structures and algorithms. You can develop and apply new solutions and confidently navigate and improve existing code. If you’re curious, we mostly use Perl.
• A creative approach to problem-solving. You like to take the initiative to push a project forward but know when to get others involved.
• Effective project management skills.
• Excellent communication skills. You can validate and communicate your decisions clearly.
• Previous experience leading and mentoring experienced engineers, supporting their career goals, and unlocking their potential.

How We Will Support You

Our core values — build trust, question assumptions, and validate direction — underpin how we work day-to-day and the support we give our team members. We strive to empower our team members to be self-directed and self-motivated in their work.

• Remote First, Always: We’ve always been a fully distributed company with team members all over the world. We trust you to get your work done wherever, whenever.
• Commitment to Personal Growth: Every team member has an annual budget of $1,250 USD to invest in their professional development. Every team member also has a dedicated Career Advisor, who serves as a guide to help you develop your strengths, identify your motivations, and understand your opportunities for growth.
• Leadership: We have many different types of leaders and possible combinations of leadership roles, so you can grow your career in a way that aligns best with your personal goals. You can seek additional leadership roles by being directly responsible for projects, taking ownership of areas of the company, developing and maintaining internal processes, or pursuing advisory roles.
• Work/Life Balance: Team members have the freedom and flexibility to organize their own work schedules. We want you to thrive both in and out of the office. We trust you to use good judgment and take the time off that you need to bring your best self to work.

Compensation

Annual compensation: $176,000 USD and stock options. Compensation is the same within a professional level, regardless of geographic location or functional area, and the compensation for each professional level is transparent across the organization.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

DuckDuckGo provides equal work opportunities to all team members and applicants, and it prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, caste, religion, age, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by our policies or federal, state, or local laws.

We want to ensure that our hiring process is accessible. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process because of a medical condition or disability, please send an email to [email protected] to let us know the nature of your request.

If you think you might thrive in this environment, we would love to hear from you.

Please note that

• Sometimes we meet up! Expect to travel at least two times a year: once for our all-hands meetup and again for a team retreat (each around 4-5 days). While extenuating circumstances may impact attendance, everyone is strongly encouraged to attend.
• While we offer a flexible work arrangement with no core hours, expect an average full-time commitment of 40 hours per week.
• A successful candidate will be subject to a background check and must receive satisfactory results of the same, as a condition of joining the team.
• By applying for this role, you confirm that all information submitted is accurate and complete. You further acknowledge that providing false or fraudulent information during the application process is cause for denial of an offer, revocation of any existing offer, or other adverse action, up to and including termination after the start of your commencement of work.

Apply now >