GammaSoftware Engineer, Distributed Systems - Infra
Gamma is hiring a Software Engineer, Distributed Systems - Infra in San Francisco, United States. It pays $180k-$310k a year and Level rates it ; you can apply on Gamma.
Level's read on this job
- On Level's scale, this software engineer role is Little AI ●○○○: aI is not part of the work.
- Pay on this posting starts 8% higher than the typical software engineer posting on Level.
- The posting mentions Node.js, Python and PostgreSQL among its tools and skills.
- Level classes it as a mid-level role.
- Gamma has 19 other open roles on Level.
AI in this role
Build and scale backend application and data infrastructure for real-time collaborative systems.
You'll build and scale the application and data infrastructure that supports 70M+ users creating millions of gammas every day. This means working on real-time collaborative editing, databases, public APIs, and high-volume event pipelines while helping define and evolve the core data model and storage systems powering Gamma's business. You'll ship backend systems that directly impact growth metrics and user experience, balancing long-term technical investments with rapid shipping velocity.
As Software Engineer on the Platform team, you'll collaborate across frontend, product, and data teams in a fast-paced, product-led environment. You'll bring a product-minded approach, understanding how technical decisions impact user experience and business metrics while thriving in an environment where shipping quality directly impacts growth.
Our team has a strong in-office culture and works in person 4–5 days per week in San Francisco. We love working together to stay creative and connected, with flexibility to work from home when focus matters most.
What you'll do
Design and implement scalable APIs, distributed systems, and data infrastructure that serve millions of users
Help define and evolve the core data model and storage systems powering Gamma's business
Ship backend systems that directly impact growth metrics and user experience
Work on real-time collaborative editing, databases, public APIs, and high-volume event pipelines
Balance long-term technical investments with rapid shipping velocity
Collaborate across frontend, product, and data teams to deliver high-quality solutions under tight timelines
What you'll bring
3–5+ years of backend engineering experience building scalable systems
Strong proficiency in backend technologies (Node.js, Python, or similar) and databases (PostgreSQL, Redis)
Experience with high-traffic production systems and performance optimization
Track record shipping high-quality, complex applications under tight timelines
Product-minded approach with understanding of how technical decisions impact user experience and business metrics
Thrives in fast-paced, product-led environments where shipping quality directly impacts growth
Experience with real-time collaboration systems, event pipelines, or AI-powered applications (Nice to have)
Compensation range:
The base salary for this full-time position, which spans multiple internal levels depending on qualifications, ranges between $180K - $310K plus benefits & equity.
Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to experience and expertise in the requirements listed above.
If you're interested in this role but you don't meet every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway! We're always excited about meeting great people.
How we rate this
Software Engineer, Distributed Systems - Infra at Gamma rates 0 out of 100 for how much of the daily work is AI. That makes it Little AI (AI Level 1 of 4). The level is about AI in the job, not seniority.
Little AI. AI is not part of the work.
- ●●●● Builds AI80 to 100
- ●●●○ Works on AI60 to 79
- ●●○○ Uses AI40 to 59
- ●○○○ Little AI0 to 39
Levels come from how often the tools, models and workflows of the role are named in the posting itself. Read the description and count the AI tools, models and workflows it names.
Prepare for this job
Built from this posting and from similar jobs on Level.
Skills and AI tools this role asks for
Also common in software engineer jobs at this level
Pay
- This job starts at
- $180k
- Typical software engineer job
- $167k
This posting starts 8% above the typical software engineer job. See software engineer jobs
Questions you could be asked
- Tell me about a project where distributed systems was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where backend engineering was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where api design was part of your work. What did you do?
- Tell me about a project where database management was part of your work. What did you do?
- Walk me through how you've used Node.js in your day-to-day work.
Adapt your resume
- List these exact terms on your resume: Distributed Systems, Backend Engineering, API Design, Database Management, and Node.js. An applicant tracking system matches the wording, not the idea.
- Attach one line of real, concrete experience to at least one of them. A tool named with nothing behind it rarely survives a human read.
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