Senior Software Engineer (Backend)

Hey there!

Bird launched micromobility. Now we’re shaping its future.

We’re Bird, and we’re on a mission to transform the way the world moves one ride at a time. Our products, services, and people share one common goal: to make cities more livable by empowering people and communities everywhere to move freely, discover new possibilities, and create a cleaner, more connected future. To cleaner air. To calmer streets. To cities built for people.

Who We Are

Bird is a global leader in micromobility, dedicated to shaping the future of urban movement. Our cleaner, affordable, and on-demand mobility solutions are available in over 200 cities worldwide.

We take a collaborative, community-first approach to micromobility. Bird partners closely with the cities in which it operates, leveraging our experience and safety-first technology to help them meet their shared mobility and climate goals and provide a reliable, affordable, and responsible transportation option for people who live and work there.

Our award-winning electric vehicles have empowered more than eighty-seven million rides in cities around the world and helped riders take carbon-free trips in more than 200 cities globally. And our teams are constantly pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo in pursuit of a brighter future.

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Senior Software Engineer specializing in backend development to join our dynamic engineering team. In this role, you will be instrumental in designing, developing, and maintaining scalable, reliable, and efficient backend systems that power our software applications and services. You will lead initiatives to build robust APIs, optimize database performance, and ensure seamless data flow, supporting the stability and performance of our technology stack.

As a Senior Engineer, you will work as part of a world-class, multi-disciplinary team to develop high-quality software solutions across various stacks that operate and administer a global transportation network. You will have the opportunity to lead the design and development of new complex products or maintain and scale existing systems. You will also play a key role in shaping system architecture with a focus on scalability, stability, and long-term maintainability.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain backend APIs and comprehensive documentation.
• Collaborate closely with business partners, including mobile, firmware, and UI/UX teams, to ensure seamless integration and delivery.
• Lead architecture design initiatives with a focus on scalability, performance, and future maintainability.
• Write well-crafted functional tests and ensure code quality across backend services.
• Build and optimize large-scale data processing systems to respond to user behavior and drive operational efficiency.
• Proactively troubleshoot and resolve issues to ensure smooth operation of our backend systems.
• Design and implement fault-tolerant, highly available systems to guarantee uptime and stability.
• Participate in a 24/7 support rotation for critical systems, ensuring fast response times and minimal disruption.

Must Haves

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience in STEM with 6+ years of relevant professional experience.
• Strong understanding of computer science fundamentals, data structures, and algorithms.
• Expertise in object-oriented design and large-scale application development.
• Experience building internal tools using React.
• Proven experience with SQL and databases (e.g., Postgres, MySQL, Redis, MongoDB).
• Proficiency in Java, Kotlin, or other JVM-based languages (e.g., Scala, Clojure, Groovy, JRuby).

Highly Desired

• Hands-on experience with real-time streaming systems such as Flink.
• Knowledge of frameworks and tools such as Dropwizard, Dagger, AWS, Terraform, Kafka, and Redis.
• Familiarity with integrating distributed APIs in a fault-tolerant and resilient manner.
• Experience mentoring and leading junior engineers.

Target Hiring Salary Range: $165,000 - $190,000

Why Bird Matters

Every time you hop on a Bird, you’re helping build a more livable city. We focus on four core pillars that reflect the impact of every ride:

• Freedom: We're the bridge that connects you to every experience—simple, convenient, and stress-free. We give you the freedom to move without limits.
• Exploration: We turn everyday trips into memorable experiences, sparking discovery and wonder as you connect with the world around you.
• Community: Taking a Bird is an act of citizenship. We create a sense of belonging and unity, knowing that the richer our communities become, the richer our lives become.
• Sustainability: Our electric vehicles reduce gas-powered car usage and lower carbon emissions. We enable responsible choices, creating tangible impact and driving progress toward a cleaner future.

Culture at Bird

We're an ambitious, smart, and open-minded team that is passionate about our mission. Each day is unlike the last, as we’re constantly moving forward, challenging each other, and working together to create the future of micro-mobility.

Perks Up!

We want you to succeed and thrive here, so we offer a few sweet perks:

• Plenty of time off to relax and recharge, plus a wellness resource to help you wind down.
• A work-from-home stipend.
• An employer-paid healthcare package.
• Of course, Bird ride credits to get you where you need to be!

Bird is the world

Bird stands for a culture of inclusion. We celebrate different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives —encouraging everyone to bring their authentic selves to work. We have a diverse environment that empowers our team to feel comfortable when they voice their opinions.

For these reasons and more, Bird is a proud equal employment opportunity employer. We welcome everyone regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or genetics, and we are dedicated to providing an inclusive, open, and diverse work environment.

Sound like a place you’d like to work? Sweet. Let’s chat.