Senior Backend Engineer

About this role

<div class="content-intro"><p><em>Quidient is a deep tech AI company pioneering advancements in Generalized (5D) Scene Reconstruction (GSR). GSR is poised to become one of the world’s great digital product categories (think GPS, MRI, and LMM). Our flagship GSR product, Quidient Reality®, is a powerful API that enables anyone with a mobile device to virtualize, visualize, and measure anything. Words relevant to Quidient include Generative AI, Physics-Informed AI, Large Scene Models (LSMs), Large World Models (LWMs), and API-First.</em></p></div><h2>Overview</h2> <p>Quidient is hiring a Senior Backend Software Engineer to own the backend systems and cloud infrastructure that power our GSR Platform. You will take full ownership of the API layer, cloud architecture, and backend services that move complex 3D scene data from mobile capture through processing and delivery via Quidient Reality®.</p> <p>This is a hybrid position, meaning that you will need to live within easy driving distance to our Technology Center in Columbia, Maryland.</p> <h2>What You’ll Do</h2> <h3>API &amp; Backend Architecture</h3> <ul> <li>Own and evolve the backend API layer that enables commercial partners and internal applications to integrate with Quidient’s 3D reconstruction and processing platform.</li> <li>Design and maintain microservice architectures that handle the flow of 3D scene data from mobile capture through cloud-based processing and delivery.</li> <li>Build and operate cloud infrastructure on AWS — including compute, storage, networking, and serverless components — with a focus on reliability, security, and cost efficiency.</li> <li>Implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines, containerized deployments (Docker), and infrastructure-as-code to streamline the software delivery process.</li> </ul> <h3>Platform Reliability &amp; Operations</h3> <ul> <li>Monitor system performance, troubleshoot backend and cloud issues, and maintain platform uptime for production workloads.</li> <li>Design and implement systems for computational offloading — moving high-performance, low-latency processing from edge devices to cloud infrastructure.</li> <li>Implement security best practices including IAM policies, encryption at rest and in transit, and authentication protocols (OAuth/OpenID).</li> </ul> <h3>System Contribution &amp; Collaboration</h3> <ul> <li>Contribute production-quality code in Python and/or Node.js across backend services and infrastructure.</li> <li>Work closely with the platform engineering manager and cross-functional teams to prioritize backend work that unblocks product delivery.</li> <li>Identify and resolve technical debt, performance bottlenecks, and scalability gaps in the backend stack proactively.</li> </ul> <h2>What You Bring</h2> <h3>Must-Have Qualifications:</h3> <ul> <li>Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field — or equivalent demonstrated experience.</li> <li>4+ years of professional experience building and maintaining backend systems and APIs in production environments.</li> <li>Solid backend architecture skills — you can design APIs, data models, and service boundaries that hold up under real production load.</li> <li>Strong experience with AWS at the application layer — Lambda, API Gateway, S3, EC2, ECS/EKS, CloudFormation, or equivalent services.</li> <li>Hands-on experience with Docker, containerized deployments, and microservice architecture.</li> <li>Strong Python and/or Node.js skills in a production backend context.</li> <li>Experience with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and infrastructure-as-code.</li> <li>This position is not eligible for H-1B sponsorship.</li> <li>Willingness to work on-site in Columbia, MD, in a hybrid capacity.</li> <li>Meet Quidient, customer, and government security requirements, which may include, but are not limited to a background check, citizenship verification, and Criminal Justice Information Services verification.</li> </ul> <h3>Nice-to-Have Qualifications:</h3> <ul> <li>Familiarity with serverless architecture (AWS Lambda) and event-driven backend design.</li> <li>Solid understanding of networking concepts.</li> <li>Knowledge of security best practices including IAM, encryption, and OAuth/OpenID implementation.</li> <li>Background in 3D imaging, computer vision, or graphics processing pipelines.</li> <li>Experience with high-performance computing or low-latency data processing.</li> <li>Experience at an AWS consulting partner, service company, or in an AWS-heavy product engineering environment.</li> </ul> <h2>What We Offer</h2> <h3>Compensation:</h3> <ul> <li>Salary Range: $100,000 - $120,000.</li> <li>Annual bonus and equity as appropriate.</li> </ul> <h3>Benefits:</h3> <ul> <li>Health insurance</li> <li>HSA</li> <li>401(k) with company match</li> <li>Life &amp; disability insurance</li> <li>Paid holidays &amp; generous PTO</li> <li>Opportunities for bonuses, equity, and career growth</li> </ul> <h2>Equal Opportunity Employer Statement</h2> <p>Quidient is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Quidient will consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other classification protected by applicable state, federal, or local laws.</p>