Senior Backend Engineer

Hi, We’re Franki Franki is a startup transforming how people discover and choose where to eat, drink, and explore. Our platform is built on video recommendations from a passionate community of creators and dining enthusiasts who help people find the best experiences in their area. We’re a fast-moving, high-ownership team that values creativity and execution. The category is dynamic and fun, and we're building a brand that reflects that energy. If you're the kind of person who has strong ideas and makes them happen, we’d love to hear from you. About the Role Franki is looking for a Senior Backend Engineer to help build and scale the services that power our platform. This is a hands-on engineering role for someone who enjoys solving complex technical challenges, building scalable systems, and shaping the architecture behind a rapidly growing product. You'll work closely with Product, Design, Frontend Engineering, and fellow Backend Engineers to develop the infrastructure, APIs, and services that deliver exceptional experiences to our users. Beyond writing code, you'll help establish engineering best practices, influence technical direction, and mentor other engineers as we continue to scale. If you're passionate about building reliable cloud-native applications, enjoy working in startup environments, and want to have a meaningful impact on both product and engineering decisions, we'd love to hear from you. What you'll do: Design, build, and maintain scalable backend services using C#, .NET, and Microsoft Azure technologies. Architect and develop secure, reliable, and high-performance APIs that power Franki's products and user experiences. Collaborate with Product, Design, and Frontend teams to define technical solutions and deliver new features. Lead technical discussions and contribute to architectural decisions that support long-term scalability and maintainability. Conduct code reviews and help establish engineering standards, best practices, and development processes. Optimize application performance, reliability, and scalability across our platform. Troubleshoot complex technical issues and implement effective long-term solutions. Champion automated testing, CI/CD practices, and modern software development methodologies. Evaluate emerging technologies and recommend improvements that enhance engineering efficiency and product capabilities. Mentor fellow engineers and contribute to a collaborative, high-performing engineering culture. You're a good fit if you have... 7+ years of experience building modern, cloud-based web applications. Strong expertise in C#, .NET, and .NET Core. Deep experience with Microsoft Azure, including services such as Azure Functions, Cosmos DB, Azure DevOps, and SQL Server. Experience designing, building, and maintaining RESTful APIs. Strong understanding of scalable application architecture, software design patterns, and distributed systems. Experience implementing CI/CD pipelines and automated testing practices. Proficiency with SQL, data modeling, and performance optimization. Experience working within agile product development teams. Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to balance technical excellence with business priorities. Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across technical and non-technical teams. Bonus points if you have... Experience with CQRS, Mediator patterns, or MediatR. Experience building serverless applications and event-driven architectures. Familiarity with React and modern frontend development practices. Experience working in startup environments and shipping products with lean teams. Azure certifications such as Azure Developer Associate or Azure Solutions Architect. Experience building consumer-facing B2C products, marketplaces, social platforms, or recommendation engines. Compensation Additional compensation may include equity and performance-based incentives depending on experience and location. Perks & Benefits Remote work: Our team works remotely across the US but primarily PST time zone; we travel together several times a year for company kick-offs and mid-year meetings. PTO: 15 days per year, plus additional PTO between Christmas and the end of the year (25th Dec - 31st Dec). Additionally, we recognize 11 public holidays per year. Medical, dental & vision: We cover 100% of Medical, Vision, and Dental insurance costs for employees. 401(k) Equipment: Computer & technology equipment applicable to your role. Monthly Stipend: $20 (Tax-free) to cover home office expenses.