Backend Engineer, Music
WFA Digital Insight
The demand for skilled backend engineers in the music streaming industry has skyrocketed, with a growth rate of over 25% in the last two years. As a leader in the market, Spotify is at the forefront of innovation, and this role offers a unique chance to contribute to the development of cutting-edge music promotion systems. With the rise of remote work, professionals with expertise in Java, data, and machine learning are in high demand. Before applying, candidates should be prepared to showcase their technical skills, passion for music, and ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams. With the industry expected to continue its rapid growth, this role is an exciting opportunity for professionals looking to make a meaningful impact.
Job Description
About the Role
The Backend Engineer, Music position at Spotify is a key role in the development of the company's music promotion systems. As a member of the OASIS team, you will be responsible for building and operating the systems that power promotion delivery and optimization within Discovery Mode. This role is critical to the success of Spotify's music streaming service, as it enables artists, labels, and licensors to grow their audience while maintaining a high-quality listener experience.The OASIS team is a distributed and highly collaborative group of engineers who work closely with the Personalization team to serve high-quality promotion signals. As a Backend Engineer, you will be part of a small, impactful group of engineers who own a core piece of infrastructure that enables promotion delivery at scale.
What You Will Do
- Own and evolve backend systems that deliver promotion scores to personalization systems
- Build and maintain services that support promotion allocation and delivery at scale
- Collaborate closely with machine learning engineers and data engineers to improve signal quality and system performance
- Contribute to system design decisions that impact a critical part of Spotify's discovery ecosystem
- Improve reliability, scalability, and observability of existing infrastructure
- Partner with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration with personalization workflows
- Gradually expand your scope into adjacent areas such as data pipelines or ML-adjacent systems
- Develop and maintain technical documentation for backend systems
- Participate in code reviews and ensure that the codebase is clean, efficient, and well-documented
What We Are Looking For
- Experience building backend systems using Java or similar languages
- Comfort working across systems and interest in learning beyond pure backend (e.g., data or ML systems)
- Drive to leverage AI to improve our systems, and eagerness to find practical ways to apply it
- Experience working with or exposure to Scala, Python, or data/ML workflows
- Ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, including personalization and data partners
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail
- Ability to take ownership and responsibility for evolving critical systems
- Experience with agile development methodologies and version control systems (e.g., Git)
Nice to Have
- Experience with cloud-based technologies (e.g., AWS, GCP)
- Knowledge of containerization (e.g., Docker) and orchestration (e.g., Kubernetes)
- Familiarity with music streaming services and the music industry
- Experience with data analytics and data visualization tools
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary and equity package
- Comprehensive health insurance
- Six months paid parental leave
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Monthly meal allowance
- 23 paid days off
- 13 paid flexible holidays
- Paid sick leave
- Flexible work arrangements and remote work options
- Access to cutting-edge technology and tools
- Opportunities for professional growth and development
- Collaborative and dynamic work environment
- Recognition and reward programs
How to Stand Out
- Make sure to highlight your experience with Java and data skills in your resume and cover letter.
- Be prepared to showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams during the interview process.
- Familiarize yourself with Spotify's music promotion systems and Discovery Mode to demonstrate your interest and knowledge of the company's products.
- Create a portfolio that showcases your technical skills and experience with backend systems, data, and machine learning.
- Be prepared to discuss your experience with agile development methodologies and version control systems.
- Research the company culture and values to ensure you are a good fit for the role and the company.
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