Backend Software Engineer - Defense

Palantir Palantir · Enterprise · Palo Alto, CA · Dev

Backend Software Engineer at Palantir building mission-critical products for the defense sector. The role involves developing and maintaining high-performance, scalable backend services that support operational data and AI systems, designing robust APIs, optimizing applications for speed and scalability, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to improve user workflows. The position requires experience in backend development, data structures, system architecture, and distributed systems, with a strong focus on user-oriented solutions and working in a CI/CD environment. Eligibility for a US Security clearance is also required.

What you'd actually do

  1. Architecting, developing, and maintaining high-performance, scalable backend services that underpin our our operational data and AI systems
  2. Maintaining high coding standards through the development of guidelines, active participation in code reviews, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing among your team
  3. Building robust APIs for use by front-end developers and interfacing external systems, and collaborating with front-end developers to integrate user-facing elements with server-side logic
  4. Designing efficient data structures and algorithms to manage large-scale and high throughput data
  5. Optimizing applications for speed and scalability through performance analysis

Skills

Required

  • Experience in designing and developing features and improvements, as well as supporting and maintaining, live backend systems
  • In-depth understanding of data structures, system architecture, API development for microservices frameworks, distributed systems and other backend-related concepts and best practices
  • Engineering background in Computer Science, Mathematics, Software Engineering, Physics or similar field
  • Strong coding skills with demonstrated proficiency in programming languages, such as Java, C++, Python, Rust, or similar languages
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to iterate quickly with teammates, incorporating feedback and holding a high bar for quality
  • Eligibility and willingness to obtain a US Security clearance

Nice to have

  • Deep understanding of server-side logic, efficient data handling, and distributed systems
  • Strong focus on creating user-oriented workflows and solutions, crossing product boundaries to deliver cohesive and solid user workflows that ensure a seamless and intuitive user experience
  • Experience building high-quality software in a fast-paced CI/CD development environment
  • Ability to work collaboratively in teams of technical and non-technical individuals and understand how technical decisions impact the people who will use what you're building
  • Skill and comfort working in a constantly evolving environment with dynamic objectives and iteration with users

What the JD emphasized

  • mission-critical products
  • high-performance, scalable backend services
  • operational data and AI systems
  • robust APIs
  • large-scale and high throughput data
  • speed and scalability
  • user workflows
  • live backend systems
  • data structures
  • system architecture
  • API development for microservices frameworks
  • distributed systems
  • backend-related concepts and best practices