Role Overview

The Backend Engineer (Events Team) at Zapier is a critical role on our mission to democratize automation. You'll join a tight-knit team responsible for the core Events system and queueing solutions that underpin all of Zapier's services. Operating at massive scale, these systems handle billions of events daily, ensuring reliability and performance for millions of users.

Zapier builds automation tools that connect apps like Gmail, Slack, and Salesforce without code. Your work will enhance the backbone of these integrations, focusing on event streaming with Kafka (MSK), Avro serialization, and AWS infrastructure. This is a remote position across the Americas (NAMER), perfect for engineers in the US, Canada, Mexico, and beyond who value flexibility and impact.

Expect to tackle challenges like achieving 99.99% uptime, scaling to petabyte-level data streams, and innovating with cutting-edge tech. If you love distributed systems, high availability, and team collaboration, this Backend Engineer career at Zapier is your next step.

Key Responsibilities

1. Architect and implement scalable event-driven systems using Kafka and Avro for Zapier's core products.
2. Maintain and optimize queueing services utilized by internal teams for high-throughput processing.
3. Design highly available AWS infrastructure with Terraform to support mission-critical services.
4. Collaborate on code reviews, pair programming, and brainstorming sessions to solve complex problems.
5. Research emerging technologies in streaming and events, proposing and prototyping solutions.
6. Prioritize and manage multiple workstreams in a fast-paced, remote environment.
7. Ensure system resiliency through monitoring, alerting, and chaos engineering practices.
8. Advocate for user needs by building intuitive, reliable backend APIs and services.
9. Deliver well-tested, production-ready code with comprehensive CI/CD pipelines.
10. Troubleshoot production incidents and lead root-cause analyses for continuous improvement.
11. Integrate with Zapier's microservices ecosystem to enable seamless automation workflows.
12. Mentor junior engineers on best practices for event systems and cloud architecture.
13. Contribute to open-source projects or internal tools that enhance team productivity.

These responsibilities highlight the breadth of this role, blending deep technical work with collaborative leadership.

Qualifications

To succeed as a Backend Engineer (Events Team) at Zapier, you need:

• 4+ years in software development with Python, Go, or TypeScript; 2+ years in event/streaming at scale.
• Hands-on experience with Kafka (MSK), Avro, and event architectures for production systems.
• Proven track record designing/maintaining HA cloud infra in AWS or similar (Terraform expertise required).
• Strong collaboration skills: code reviews, pairing, team problem-solving.
• Versatility in exploring undefined problems, researching tech, and driving implementations.
• Task prioritization in fast-paced settings while balancing reliability and speed.
• Empathy for end-users, advocating for design that powers intuitive automations.
• Alignment with Zapier's values: default to action, play longer term, be helpful vs. heroic.

Senior-level experience is essential; this isn't for juniors. Bonus: contributions to open-source streaming projects or prior work at scale like Netflix or Uber.

Salary & Benefits

Competitive compensation for Backend Engineer (Events Team) at Zapier ranges from $160,000 - $220,000 USD yearly, based on experience and location. Total rewards include equity, bonuses, and perks tailored to remote life.

• Unlimited PTO to recharge and maintain balance.
• Top-tier health coverage (medical, dental, vision) for you and family.
• 401(k) with generous matching.
• $1,500+ annual learning stipend for conferences, courses (e.g., AWS certs).
• Remote setup: $200 office stipend, internet reimbursement.
• Paid parental leave (16+ weeks), fertility benefits.
• Wellness: Headspace, fitness credits, mental health days.
• Company retreats in beautiful locations.
• Volunteer PTO and donation matching.
• Stock options in a profitable, bootstrapped unicorn.
• Transparent culture with no layoffs in company history.
• AI collaboration guidelines for innovative work.

This package positions Zapier as a top employer for remote backend engineers.

Why Join Zapier?

Zapier isn't just a job; it's a mission to make work more human. As a fully remote company since 2011, we've mastered distributed teams with 500+ Zappers across 40+ countries. Our Events Team powers the magic behind 5 billion+ tasks monthly.

Enjoy ownership from day one, paired with deep trust. No micromanagement—focus on outcomes. We're profitable, with $140M+ ARR, ensuring stability. Culture emphasizes values like 'Play Longer Term' for sustainable growth.

Backend Engineers here ship fast: weekly deploys, real user impact. Grow with us through mentorship, hack weeks, and tech talks on Kafka scaling or Go optimizations. Join a team that's reinventing automation in the AI era.

Testimonials: 'Zapier gave me freedom to build at scale while staying human.' – Senior Engineer. Perfect for Americas-based talent seeking remote Backend Engineer jobs with purpose.

How to Apply

Ready to power Zapier's Events system? Submit your resume, GitHub, and a note on your favorite streaming project. Use AI responsibly per our guidelines. We review applications weekly; top candidates interview in 1-2 weeks (technical screen, system design, behavioral).

No agencies. Zapier is an equal-opportunity employer valuing diversity. Let's automate the future together!