Backend Platform Software Engineer

We are looking for a Software Engineer to join our Core Backend Team! This team is responsible for building and maintaining the underlying systems and tools our developers and customer support rely on every day.

Our team thrives on a deep understanding of our technology and direction, and collaborates with people across the company to build the foundation they need to be successful. With autonomy and data-driven iteration, you'll play a critical role in building and maintaining Top Hat's backend systems and tools, empowering developers to build products that spark better teaching and learning for a brighter world.

Our Purpose and Reach, Your Opportunity

Top Hat is transforming higher education. Professors rely on our platform to create engaging, active learning environments, improving attendance, grades, and the overall lecture experience. With over 750 universities and 3 million students already using Top Hat, we’re setting our sights on reaching all 4,000+ post-secondary institutions across North America. As part of our growing Engineering team, you’ll help design and build the technology that will shape classrooms worldwide.

What you’re looking for:

• A role for a developer's developer. You'll be working on tools and systems that help other developers in the company. This role is all about creating and maintaining tools and services that make daily tasks easier, boost workflow, and improve processes.

• Responsibility to keep the most important systems in a company working well and make them even better. You'll be solving problems related to improving and contributing to the largest systems that have the most significant impact behind the scenes.

• People to learn from and share with all the time. Since our work covers the whole codebase, you'll get to learn about different systems, tools, and architectures. You'll get to work with some of the smartest people out there, gaining a deep understanding of systems and technology and applying it to real-world systems at scale.

• The freedom to shape your own projects and work in a way that suits you best. We trust you to take the lead and make decisions that matter. It’s all about giving you the space to be creative and do your best work.

What we’re looking for:

• Our tools feature Python (FastAPI and Django), TypeScript (React), and PostgreSQL. While experience with these technologies is preferred, we are open to candidates with strong systems programming experience who are interested in working with them full-time and can demonstrate their ability to use them effectively during our hiring process.

• Experience: Four (4) or more years of industry experience, or two (2) or more years of industry experience with a relevant research-based master's or PhD degree. At least two (2) of those years must have been spent working with large code bases (roughly one million lines or more) featuring complex algorithms and data structures, such as those found in content management systems, high-frequency trading systems, database engines, web browsers, game engines, operating systems, and other performance-sensitive systems.

• Knowledge: You possess a deep understanding of web fundamentals, including TCP/TLS/HTTP protocols, cache architectures, queuing theory, concurrency primitives, database internals, information security, and Linux/POSIX systems programming.

• Strong Analytical Skills: Your ability to quickly navigate and understand large, unfamiliar code bases to identify key components and implement effective solutions.

• Autonomous Problem Solving: You can independently break down problems with clear outcomes but limited direction into manageable steps to solve, seeking and incorporating feedback to guide your approach and refine your deliverables.

• Data Orientation: You focus on data and efficient operations when designing solutions, rather than on code structures. You use measurements and data to improve the design of new and existing solutions.

• Desire to Dive Deep: A proven ability to remove abstractions and work at lower levels to maximize the performance and reliability of the systems you work on.

• Strong Communication Skills: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, active listening skills, and the ability to bridge the gap between technical and non-technical audiences.

A Commitment to Quality: You take pride in writing reliable, tested, and well-documented code. You take full responsibility for the quality of your work and the existing code you work on. You actively engage with the feedback of others during code reviews and pay close attention to detail when providing feedback on others' work.

Why team members love working at Top Hat:

• A noble mission that creates meaningful, fulfilling work

• A team that cares deeply for customers and for each other

• Flexible, remote first work environment

• Professional learning and development for all role levels

• An awesome and welcoming Toronto HQ

• Competitive health benefits that start on day one

• A management team focused on performance, growth, engagement and connection

• Our winning strategy and market potential

• Innovative PTO policy with lots of time and space for self-care

• Passionate customers that believe in us—and what we do

• A chance to work with new tech like generative AI—and see the customer impact