Staff Backend Engineer, Hub (East Coast)

Responsibilities

Distributed Systems & Backend Engineering

• Architect, build, and operate high-scale distributed systems powering Docker Hub’s registry platform-spanning artifact storage, metadata services, indexing workflows, and performance-critical APIs.
• Lead the design and implementation of backend services with a strong emphasis on scalability, correctness, resilience, and performance.
• Drive major initiatives around multi-region replication, caching strategies, request-path optimization, and core registry reliability.

Data Infrastructure & Storage

• Design, optimize, operate the data and storage layers - for both Relational and NoSql as well as object storage and related technologies.
• Develop schemas and data models to support high-throughput, large-volume workloads.
• Own systems end-to-end-from storage-layer behavior to API design, deployment workflows, and production monitoring.

Operations, Observability & Scale

• Improve the performance and reliability of one of the world’s largest repositories of container images.
• Develop and enhance observability through metrics, traces, alerting, and dashboards.
• Lead improvements to deployment and operational tooling (e.g., Argo CD, GitHub Actions).
• Participate in on-call rotations as part of supporting critical production services.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Mentor engineers and lead design and architecture reviews.
• Partner with Product, Design, SRE, and Platform teams to deliver high-impact projects.
• Engage with open-source communities, cloud-native partners, and the broader ecosystem.
• This role may require participation in an on-call rotation to provide support outside of standard business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as needed.

Qualifications

Required

• 8+ years backend engineering experience with deep expertise in distributed systems and large-scale backend architectures.
• Strong production experience with Golang, including designing and operating large Go-based services in cloud environments.
• Strong production experience with Kubernetes, including operating services at scale.
• Experience designing and running high-scale storage systems (PostgreSQL, DynamoDB, or equivalent) in production.
• Experience building and operating cloud-based services (AWS preferred).
• Experience with event-driven or streaming systems, such as Kafka, SNS/SQS, or equivalent.
• Strong foundation in software engineering best practices: design documentation, testing strategies, CI/CD, code review, observability.
• Comfortable functioning autonomously in a fully distributed, remote-first team and working effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience

Nice to Have

• Experience with OCI registries, artifact stores, or large-scale content distribution systems.
• Familiarity with search/indexing systems or metadata-rich architectures.
• Contributions to cloud-native or open-source ecosystems.

What We’re Looking for

• An engineer with deep experience in distributed systems and large-scale storage
• Someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment and consistently optimizes for reliability, automation, and performance.
• A technical leader who takes ownership of complex systems and drives long-term architectural direction.
• An engineer energised by the challenges of operating a global developer platform at massive scale.

Docker considers visa sponsorship on a case-by-case basis based on business needs.

• Compensation & Equity
• United States: $170,350 - $275,550 + equity
• POSTING INFORMATION
• Open vacancy: This posting is for an existing open role.
• AI in hiring: Docker may use AI-assisted tools during our recruiting process.
• Interview recordings: Candidates will be invited to opt in to interview recordings to support interviewer calibration and consistent evaluations. Recordings are optional and require explicit consent.

Perks & Benefits

• Remote-first by design - Work from your home, with offices in Seattle and Paris for connection and collaboration.
• Flexibility that fits your life - We trust you to manage your schedule while delivering great work.
• Time to recharge - Generous PTO, designated quarterly Whaleness Days, and a designated end-of-year Whaleness break.
• Home office support - Set up your workspace for comfort and success.
• Technology stipend - Equivalent to US$100 net per month to help support your work.
• Learning & development - Annual stipend for conferences, courses, certifications, and continued learning.
• Parental leave - 16 weeks of paid parental leave after six months of employment.
• Equity for all full-time employees - Share in Docker's long-term success as we continue to grow.
• Comprehensive benefits - Medical, retirement, and paid holidays vary by country.
• Docker swag - Because representing the whale never gets old.

#LI-REMOTE