Senior Staff Software Engineer, Distributed Systems

About the Role

The day-to-day entails a mix of technical leadership, strategic planning, and hands-on development. You will be part of a complex, dynamic system, figuring out what it needs to become to meet the evolving demands of Webflow's clients, from entrepreneurs to global enterprises. Your expertise in distributed systems will be crucial in architecting and evolving high-throughput systems and APIs that can ingest, process, and serve large volumes of data with low latency and high availability.

The role reports to the Director of Engineering, emphasizing the strategic and impactful nature of this position. It's a chance to not only lead the technical direction of a critical component of Webflow's offerings but also to influence the broader technical strategy of the company.

What You Will Do

• Set the long-term technical vision and architecture for backend systems powering experimentation, personalization, analytics, and conversion optimization across Webflow.
• Architect and evolve high-throughput distributed systems and APIs that ingest, process, and serve large volumes of visitor and event data with low latency, high availability, and strong consistency guarantees.
• Lead foundational platform investments and the data infrastructure that supports them, unlocking new product capabilities for years to come.
• Partner closely with data scientists, ML engineers, and product engineers to productionize statistical and AI/ML capabilities into reliable, real-time backend infrastructure.
• Lead complex, multi-team, multi-quarter technical initiatives end-to-end, ensuring alignment with company goals and delivering tangible results.
• Collaborate with senior leaders across Engineering, Product, and Design to turn the vision into actionable plans and shipped products.
• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of Webflow's technology stack, identifying areas for improvement and proposing innovative solutions.
• Mentor and guide junior engineers, sharing knowledge and expertise to help them grow professionally.
• Stay abreast of industry trends and emerging technologies, assessing their potential impact on Webflow's products and services.

What We Are Looking For

• A strong background in software engineering, particularly in distributed systems, with a minimum of 8 years of experience in the field.
• Experience in leading technical teams or projects, with a proven track record of successful outcomes.
• Expertise in one or more programming languages, such as Java, Python, or C++, and experience with relevant development frameworks and tools.
• In-depth knowledge of distributed systems, including their design principles, scalability, and fault tolerance.
• Experience with cloud platforms such as AWS or Google Cloud, and containerization using Docker.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and version control systems like Git.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a remote environment.
• A bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

Nice to Have

• Experience with machine learning or artificial intelligence, particularly in productionizing ML models.
• Knowledge of Webflow's suite of products and familiarity with the company's technology stack.
• Participation in open-source projects or personal projects that demonstrate your technical expertise and passion.
• Experience with DevOps practices and tools, such as continuous integration and continuous deployment.

Benefits and Perks

• Competitive salary, tailored to the cost of labor in different geographic markets.
• Participation in Webflow's company-wide bonus program, with target amounts as a percentage of base salary.
• Comprehensive health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Generous PTO policy, encouraging work-life balance and time for personal projects.
• Remote stipend to support your home office setup and productivity.
• Access to the latest tools and technologies, as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.
• A dynamic, remote-first work environment with a team of talented and motivated professionals.
• Equity in a company that is pioneering the future of digital experience platforms.

• Ensure your resume and online profiles (like LinkedIn) highlight your experience with distributed systems and any relevant technical leadership roles.
• Prepare examples of complex systems you've designed or significantly contributed to, focusing on scalability, latency, and availability.
• Brush up on the latest trends and technologies in distributed systems and AI/ML, as these will be key areas of discussion during the interview process.
• Be ready to talk about your experience with agile development methodologies and how you've handled version control in large-scale projects.
• Consider including a personal project or contribution to an open-source project that demonstrates your technical expertise, especially if it's related to Webflow's technology stack or interests.
• Don't hesitate to ask about the company culture, team dynamics, and how the role contributes to Webflow's overall mission during the interview.