Senior Backend Software Engineer (USA Remote)

About This Role

Turnitin LLC is seeking a talented Senior Backend Software Engineer to join our remote team. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced software engineer to make a significant impact on a platform used by millions of educators and students worldwide. As a senior-level engineer, you'll take on leadership responsibilities while continuing to grow your technical expertise in a collaborative, innovative environment.

In this role, you will architect and develop robust backend systems, mentor junior engineers, and contribute to critical product decisions that shape Turnitin's technological direction. You'll work on challenging problems at scale, designing systems that handle millions of requests daily while maintaining exceptional reliability and performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and deploy scalable backend services and APIs using modern technologies and best practices
• Lead technical initiatives and serve as a subject matter expert for backend architecture and system design
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including product managers, frontend engineers, and data scientists to deliver high-impact features
• Mentor and support junior engineers, conducting code reviews and sharing technical knowledge
• Optimize database performance, improve system reliability, and implement monitoring and logging solutions
• Participate in architectural decisions and contribute to platform-wide technical strategy
• Write clean, maintainable, well-documented code that follows established coding standards and best practices
• Troubleshoot complex issues in production environments and implement long-term solutions
• Stay current with emerging technologies and industry trends in backend development

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional backend software engineering experience
• Strong proficiency in at least one modern programming language (Java, Python, Go, Node.js, or similar)
• Deep understanding of distributed systems, microservices architecture, and API design
• Experience with relational and non-relational databases (SQL, MongoDB, Redis, etc.)
• Solid grasp of software engineering principles, design patterns, and SOLID principles
• Experience with version control systems (Git) and CI/CD pipelines
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to think critically about complex technical challenges
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively in a remote, distributed team
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent professional experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with cloud platforms (AWS, Google Cloud Platform, or Azure)
• Familiarity with containerization technologies (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Background in educational technology or SaaS products
• Experience with machine learning or AI integration in backend systems
• Knowledge of security best practices and compliance frameworks (GDPR, COPPA, etc.)
• Open source contributions or portfolio demonstrating technical expertise

Why Join Turnitin?

Turnitin is a leader in academic integrity and educational technology, serving institutions globally. You'll be part of a mission to support educators and promote honest learning. The company offers:

• 100% remote work flexibility—work from anywhere
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package
• Professional development and learning opportunities
• Collaborative culture with talented engineers from around the world
• Impact—your work directly influences millions of users in education
• Modern tech stack and opportunities to work on cutting-edge problems

Working at Turnitin

Turnitin values diversity, inclusion, and innovation. The engineering team is distributed globally, creating a dynamic environment where you'll collaborate with talented professionals across different time zones. You'll have autonomy in your work while being supported by a strong engineering culture that emphasizes code quality, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.

This is an ideal role for someone seeking a senior-level position with significant technical responsibility, room for growth, and the ability to influence product and engineering strategy at a company impacting the education sector globally.

💰 Compensation not publicly listed. Market estimate for similar roles: from $120K, varying by experience and location.