Senior Backend Engineer
- Salary
- $160,000 - $185,000
- Level
- Senior
- Work type
- Remote
Not stated in the posting: visa.
Open. First seen 3 October 2026.
About the role
Sphinx Defense's standard text
ABOUT SPHINX
Sphinx builds software to solve complex national security problems in Space. Founded by engineers and technologists with deep experience across commercial and defense technology, we were frustrated by the outdated and insecure technology America's service members are forced to rely on. We're here to do better.
We’re focused on building modern, scalable products with an emphasis on using open source technologies. Expect talented, motivated, and interesting colleagues who emphasize collaboration, transparency, and individual responsibility.
ABOUT THE ROLE
Sphinx is hiring a Senior Backend Engineer to join our team, building the next generation of mission planning and command and control software for space communications programs. This team is charged with creating modern, resilient services and capabilities to service the US Government for the next decade and beyond.
As a Senior Backend Engineer, you will play a key role in building a cutting-edge communications platform for US government satellites. Sphinx is hiring a Senior Backend Engineer to join our Space Communications team, building a ground communications and data-transport platform for US government satellites. As a Senior Backend Engineer, you will lead the development of core platform services and design and build technology to support the operations of various US government satellites. You'll work as both an individual contributor and a lead for more junior engineers.
You will have an outsized role in determining what we build and how we work. You'll work as both an individual contributor and a lead for more junior engineers.
What you will be focusing on:
- Building multi-tenant services on public cloud platforms like AWS
- Building, architecting, and consuming APIs and backend services as part of the platform ecosystem with an emphasis on automation, testing, and security
- Advocating for improvements to product quality, security, and performance that have a particular impact on your team and others
- Supporting junior engineering talent with mentorship or technical guidance
- Interacting with customers and partners to help them integrate with our services
- Scale the services and solve interesting Space Communication challenges
Sphinx Defense's standard text
You might be a good fit if you have:
- 5+ years of progressively responsible software engineering experience
- Have extensive experience with Python, FastAPI, Postgres, AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, and Terraform*
- Demonstrable in-depth knowledge of at least one commercial cloud platform and its associated services
- Led the architecture, development, and building of backend services and APIs to ensure performance, security, and reliability
- An ability to successfully own technical problems end-to-end
- Made enough mistakes and booked enough wins to know what not to build and what good looks like
- Excellent communication skills, working with end-users to design and build solutions to their needs, a habit of self-directed learning of new technologies, and the ability to learn quickly and adapt to a fast-paced environment
LOCATION
This is a fully remote role. All work must be completed in the United States. Occasional travel may be required, such as client visits, semiannual company gatherings, and other project related travel as needed may be required.
COMPENSATION
This role is between $160,000 - $185,000 base salary.
BENEFITS
Compensation includes competitive salary, meaningful equity ownership, profit sharing, employer 401(k) contribution, and 100% employer covered medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents.
EEO STATEMENT
Sphinx Defense's standard text
At Sphinx Defense, we are devoted to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. Sphinx Defense is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
CLEARANCE ELIGIBILITY - This position requires eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance. For more information about U.S. Security Clearances: click here.
To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a (i) U.S. citizen or national, (ii) U.S. lawful, permanent resident (aka green card holder), (iii) Refugee under 8 U.S.C. § 1157, or (iv) Asylee under 8 U.S.C. § 1158, or be eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State. Learn more about the ITAR here.
What this role asks for
Standard for backend roles
PostgreSQL
Common in backend postings at any company.
In most of Sphinx Defense's ads
AWS · Kubernetes · Python
Named in most of its open postings, whatever the role.
80% of this description is written for the role. The rest is Sphinx Defense's standard text, folded away below.
Read against Sphinx Defense's other open postings on this site.
The team: Engineering
This role is one of 15 open in Engineering.
WHAT THE TEAM WORKS WITH, ACROSS ITS POSTINGS
Kubernetes (14 of 15), Python (13 of 15), AWS (9 of 15), Docker (9 of 15), Terraform (9 of 15), Test Automation (6 of 15), Angular (5 of 15)
OTHER ROLES ON THIS TEAM
- Full Stack Engineer posted Sep 2
- Senior Full Stack Engineer posted Aug 25
- Senior Full Stack Engineer posted Aug 25
- Senior Full Stack Engineer posted Aug 25
- Senior Full Stack Engineer posted Aug 25
- Associate DevOps Engineer posted Aug 4
- Senior Network Engineer posted Aug 4
- DevOps Engineer posted Jul 30
- Senior DevOps Engineer posted Jul 30
- Senior Infrastructure Architect posted Jul 9
- Senior Backend Engineer posted Jul 6
- Backend Engineer posted Jul 6
- Backend Engineer posted Jul 6
- DevOps Engineer posted Jun 23
From the team and dates on Sphinx Defense's own job board.
Salary context
51 other open postings titled Senior Backend Engineer state a salary: median USD 170,000 to USD 225,000 a year.
See Backend Engineer salaries in Remote →
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