Staff Software Engineer, Backend – Equipment Edge

Rivian and Volkswagen Group Technologies

. Provide technical leadership and guidance to a team of engineers .

Posted 9/15/2026full-timePalo Alto • California • United StatesLead💰 $186,000 - $255,000 per yearWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in backend development, architectural design, and integration of manufacturing systems, with a strong focus on scalability, performance, and security. Proven ability to lead teams, mentor engineers, and communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Backend DevelopmentArchitectural DesignGolang ProgrammingRESTful API DevelopmentIndustrial Communication Protocols

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Backend DevelopmentArchitectural DesignGolangRESTful APIsGRPCSQL DatabasesNoSQL DatabasesFirmware DevelopmentIndustrial Communication ProtocolsData Processing Techniques

Soft Skills

Technical LeadershipMentoringCollaborationCommunication

Tools & Technologies

DockerKubernetesCI/CD PipelinesMessage QueuesReal-Time Operating Systems

Industry Keywords

Manufacturing SystemsEquipment IntegrationPerformance OptimizationSecurity Best PracticesEmbedded Systems

Tech Stack

Tools & technologies

DockerGRPCKafkaKubernetesNoSQLRabbitMQRTOSSQLGo

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Provide technical leadership and guidance to a team of engineers
Drive architectural decisions and ensure the quality of the team's output
Design and architect complex backend systems for equipment integration
Consider scalability, performance, security, and maintainability in system design
Mentor and coach engineers while fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing
Tackle complex technical challenges and develop innovative solutions to optimize manufacturing processes
Champion code quality standards and best practices
Conduct code reviews and ensure code is well-documented and testable
Identify and address performance bottlenecks in backend systems
Optimize backend systems for speed and efficiency
Communicate technical concepts and decisions to technical and non-technical stakeholders
Take ownership of projects and initiatives through successful completion
Report to the Sr. Manager, Equipment and Execution Platform
Engineer scalable manufacturing applications that bridge shop-floor equipment and enterprise systems
Ensure seamless data flow, real-time control, and intelligent production insights across the manufacturing ecosystem

Requirements

What you’ll need

10+ years of professional software development experience with a strong focus on backend development
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, or a related technical field, or equivalent practical experience
Familiarity with industrial communication protocols such as CIP, Modbus, MQTT, and OPC UA
Experience integrating with factory equipment, including Programmable Logic Controllers and robot controllers
Experience designing and developing firmware or software for resource-constrained embedded systems
Familiarity with hardware interfaces, real-time operating systems (RTOS), and debugging at the hardware level
Experience designing and developing RESTful APIs and gRPC, including API documentation and versioning
Extensive experience with Golang, including concurrency, networking, and data structures
Strong understanding of data processing techniques and experience with message queues and stream processing such as NATS, Kafka, and RabbitMQ
Knowledge of security best practices for backend systems and industrial environments
Proficiency in SQL and NoSQL databases
Experience with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and monitoring tools
Experience with edge computing platforms and technologies, including Docker and Kubernetes
Ability to work in the United States; application asks about current US work authorization

Benefits

Comp & perks

Annual company performance bonus program; annual bonus target of 15%
Equity in the form of Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)
Health coverage
Retirement savings
Time off
Family planning programs
Hybrid work arrangement