Engineering Manager, Backend Platforms

Whatnot
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle
Workplace: RemoteFull timeUSD 280,000 - 330,000 annuallyFunction: Software EngineeringExperience: 10+ yearsSkills: ["Leadership","Communication","Engineering excellence","Operational excellence","Technical decision-making"]

Lead the Backend Platforms team in Whatnot’s Infrastructure org, owning strategy and execution for the backend powering livestreams and auctions. Manage and grow senior engineers (and engineering managers over time), shape the roadmap, and drive platform reliability, performance, and developer ergonomics. Stay technically engaged—review designs, pressure-test architecture, debug production issues, and write code when needed—while partnering with Reliability, Infrastructure, and product engineering.

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FursaFursa
Whatnot
Whatnot
3 months ago

Engineering Manager, Backend Platforms

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Last checked: 1 hour agoStatus: Live

Job Summary

Lead the Backend Platforms team in Whatnot’s Infrastructure org, owning strategy and execution for the backend powering livestreams and auctions. Manage and grow senior engineers (and engineering managers over time), shape the roadmap, and drive platform reliability, performance, and developer ergonomics. Stay technically engaged—review designs, pressure-test architecture, debug production issues, and write code when needed—while partnering with Reliability, Infrastructure, and product engineering.
Location: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle
Workplace: Remote
Employment Type: Full time
Job Function: Software Engineering
Seniority: Manager level

Key Responsibilities

  • •Lead and grow a team of senior software engineers and, over time, other engineering managers, including hiring and developing leaders.
  • •Own team strategy and execution by empowering senior ICs on technical direction and architecture while unblocking tradeoffs and guiding course-correction.
  • •Shape the Backend Platforms roadmap across new capabilities, developer productivity, and platform-level tech debt.
  • •Lead evolution of Whatnot’s Python and Elixir backend cores, including async/messaging infrastructure and storage/database layer.
  • •Own the realtime platforms behind Live Service and Auction Service, and drive measurable improvements in reliability, performance, and developer ergonomics.

Pay and Benefits

Salary: USD 280,000 - 330,000 annually
Equity and Bonus:Equity
Perks:Paid LeaveHealth InsuranceDentalVisionRemote WorkHome OfficeCell PhoneInternetWellness StipendChildcare401kRetirementParental Leave

Key Requirements

  • •10+ years of industry experience in platform or infrastructure engineering, with 7+ years managing engineering teams.
  • •Experience managing managers or leading multiple teams is strongly preferred.
  • •Proven track record building and operating backend platforms or runtime services used by other engineering teams.
  • •Strong technical grounding in backend systems at scale, including high-traffic realtime or event-driven platforms.
  • •Demonstrated ability to steward technical direction across multiple workstreams and guide senior ICs through architectural decisions and platform migrations.
Experience:10+ yearsPlatform engineeringInfrastructure engineeringRealtimeEvent-driven
Skills:LeadershipCommunicationEngineering excellenceOperational excellenceTechnical decision-making
Tech Stack:PythonElixirGo

Company Brief

Whatnot
Whatnot is a live-stream shopping marketplace connecting sellers and collectors for trading cards, toys, and collectibles. The platform hosts live auctions and interactive streams, enabling creators and small businesses to sell directly to engaged communities.
Industry: Online Marketplaces
Company Size: Large (251 to 1,000 employees)
Growth: Scaleup
Valuation: Unicorn (USD 1B+)
Funding: Series D
Headquarters: United States
Founded: 2019
WebsiteLinkedIn