Back End & Data Engineer (Rust) — United States

Senior Backend & Data Engineer (Rust/Python)

Remote (US) or NYC

$175k to $220k (NYC) / $157.5k to $198k (remote) + a generous options package.

Please note, this business is ITAR compliant, so you must be a US Citizen, Green Card Holder, or ITAR compliant via any other eligible route.

Petabytes of data. An in-house vector database holding billions of vectors. A bunch of distributed databases that all need to stay fast, cheap and up.

That’s the job.

This role is on the data platform team at a public safety tech company. They’re not building a database product. They need someone who’ll keep the data layer fit for what the business actually needs. Their own description is “glorified plumbers”, and they mean it as a compliment. Without you the whole system fails.

What you’d be doing:

• Running and tuning the in-house vector DB plus the rest of the deployed databases

• Ingestion, indexing and object storage access patterns, every day

• Finding bottlenecks in Python services and pipelines, then fixing them with better architecture in Rust or a Rust extension where it counts

• Moving TBs of hot data between storage backends for migrations and analysis

• Keeping cross-AZ costs in check before they turn into a finance problem

What they’re after:

• 4+ years in backend, data or platform engineering

• Real depth in the Python data ecosystem

• Hands-on time with high-performance distributed databases, and a feel for the access patterns that make or break them

• Message queues and the usual data formats (Arrow, Parquet, Protobuf and friends)

• An ops-minded, product-minded way of working. You care how it runs in prod more than how clever it looks in review.

On Rust: you don’t need to be an expert. You do need to want to get good at it. If you’re a strong data platform engineer with a bit of Rust, they want to hear from you.

Probably not for you if you want to spend your days on formal verification or writing nothing but Rust. There’s a sister role for that one. Ask me.

Bonus points for vector indexes (Faiss, HNSW, Qdrant), Python extensions in Rust or C++, and a GitHub that shows you like to tinker.

Process is super simple: an intro call with the hiring lead, then a one-hour session where you present the work you’re proudest of. After that, a three-hour on-site covering backend, system design and behavioural, plus a chat with the CEO.

Package: Up to $225k base dependent on location, plus generous options vesting over four years. Medical, dental, vision, 401(k) match, unlimited PTO, and team meetups twice a year.

Sound like you? DM me or apply. 🦀