About this role.
Oddball is hiring a Backend Engineer to build and maintain Go-based APIs and backend services supporting Healthcare.gov enrollment and health-coverage tools. The role combines Go service development, Python ETL work, PostgreSQL, REST API design, and AWS data-processing services such as S3, Lambda, Step Functions, and Glue. The engineer will work remotely in an Agile, cross-functional team while supporting both new feature delivery and ongoing production operations. U.S. work authorization is required, and some work may require U.S. citizenship and eligibility for a federal background investigation or security clearance. Familiarity with healthcare interoperability standards such as FHIR and federal compliance requirements is advantageous.
Role DNA
A quick view of the complexity, pace, ownership and collaboration implied by the job description.
Job Complexity
4/5Pace & Pressure
4/5Autonomy Level
4/5Communication Load
4/5Salary analysis
Estimated compensation compared with the broader US market for similar roles.
Core skills
Skills and capabilities most closely associated with this opportunity.
Sample interview questions
I would begin with clear resource contracts, versioning expectations, authentication and authorization requirements, and documented error semantics. I would favor additive changes, such as optional fields and new endpoints, over breaking changes, then use contract tests and deprecation timelines for any unavoidable changes. For healthcare data, I would also apply least-privilege access, auditability, validation, and careful handling of sensitive data.
I would separate extraction, transformation, validation, and load stages, using Python and Pandas or PySpark according to data volume. Transformations would include schema normalization, data-quality checks, deduplication, and explicit handling of missing or invalid records. I would orchestrate the workflow with AWS Step Functions or Glue, store durable inputs and outputs in S3, and implement monitoring, retries, and traceable failure handling.
I use explicit interfaces, context-aware request handling, structured logging, robust error wrapping, timeouts, retries only where safe, and health checks. I write unit, integration, and API contract tests, and I monitor latency, error rates, resource use, and dependency health after deployment. I also use database migrations, rollback plans, and incremental releases to reduce operational risk.
I would first use metrics, slow-query logs, and EXPLAIN ANALYZE to identify the actual bottleneck. Depending on findings, I might add or refine indexes, reduce unnecessary joins or data returned, address N+1 query patterns, paginate results, and tune connection management. Any change would be tested against representative data and monitored for regressions in latency and database load.
I communicate progress, risks, and decisions clearly in planning sessions, written updates, and code reviews. I keep work visible through well-scoped tickets, document important technical decisions, and seek early feedback from product, design, and engineering partners. In reviews, I focus on constructive, actionable feedback and align recommendations with reliability, maintainability, and user impact.
Oddball believes that the best products are built when companies understand and value the things they are working on. We value learning and growth and the ability to make a big impact at a small company. We believe that we can make big changes happen and improve the daily lives of millions of people by bringing quality software to the federal space.
We’re looking for a Backend Engineer to join our CMS team, building and maintaining the APIs and backend services that power Healthcare.gov tools used by millions of Americans enrolling in and exploring health coverage — including third party enrollment platforms.
What you’ll be doing:
- Develop, enhance, and maintain backend services and APIs in Go supporting healthcare marketplace features
- Build and maintain ETL pipelines using Python to clean, transform, and move data across the healthcare data ecosystem
- Design and build REST APIs backed by PostgreSQL with a focus on reliability and backward compatibility
- Work with AWS services including S3, Lambda, Step Functions, and Glue to support data processing and pipeline workflows
- Write clean, well-tested code with a focus on performance, maintainability, and security
- Support ongoing operations and maintenance of existing digital products alongside new feature development
- Contribute to code reviews and help uphold engineering standards across the team
What you’ll bring:
- Hands-on experience writing backend services in Go (Golang)
- Experience with Python for data cleaning, manipulation, and ETL workflows
- Familiarity with Pandas and/or PySpark is a strong plus
- Familiarity with FHIR or healthcare interoperability standards is a plus
- Proficiency with PostgreSQL or similar relational databases and SQL
- Experience with AWS services including S3, Lambda, Step Functions, or Glue
- Experience designing and building REST APIs in production environments
- Familiarity with federal security and compliance requirements is a plus
- Thrives in a remote, collaborative Agile environment and genuinely enjoys working closely with a cross-functional team
- Communicates clearly and openly, whether in a code review or a cross-team planning session
- Performs other related duties as assigned
Requirements:
- Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. In alignment with federal contract requirements, certain roles may also require U.S. citizenship and the ability to obtain and maintain a federal background investigation and/or a security clearance.
Education:
- Bachelor’s Degree
Benefits:
- Fully remote
- Tech & Education Stipend
- Comprehensive Benefits Package
- Company Match 401(k) plan
- Flexible PTO, Paid Holidays
Oddball is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against applicants based on race, religion, color, disability, medical condition, legally protected genetic information, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions), age, veteran status or other legally protected characteristics. Any applicant with a mental or physical disability who requires an accommodation during the application process should contact an Oddball HR representative to request such an accommodation by emailing hello@Oddball.io
Compensation:
At Oddball, it’s important each employee is compensated competitively and fairly. In alignment with state legal requirements. A range for the included position is listed below. Be advised, actual offer details are determined by job category, job location, and candidate skill level.
United States Wage Range: $100,000 – $135,000
Upload your resume now
- To unlock remote work opportunities and be discovered by global employers.
This job listing has been manually reviewed by the Jobicy Trust & Safety Team for compliance with our posting guidelines, including verification of the company's legitimacy, accuracy of job details, clarity of remote work policy, and absence of misleading or fraudulent content.
