Lead Backend Engineer

Quick Highlights

• Role: As a Lead Backend Engineer at Richpanel, you will drive the performance and scalability of our backend systems, ensuring low latency and high throughput. You'll identify and refactor inefficient code, optimize database performance, and establish a robust observability stack.
• Product: We're transforming customer support with AI employees — enabling businesses to manage customer service with just one person instead of 100+.
• Reports to: Head of Engineering
• Stage: Team of 30 people. Multi-million ARR business with 100% year-over-year growth. Backed by Sequoia Capital and already profitable.
• Compensation:
• INR 30-50L per annum
• Equity: 0.1-0.5% with additional milestone-based grants
• Why now: We're at an inflection point — with proven product-market fit, strong growth, and an ambitious, exciting roadmap. We're seeking someone who loves building products and is passionate about shipping features users love.

Requirements

About the Role

As a Lead Backend Engineer at Richpanel, you'll play a critical role in building and optimizing applications that power customer support for thousands of brands. You'll balance speed, quality, and efficiency to ensure an exceptional user experience while taking features from concept to production.

You Will Be a Great Fit If You ...

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field
• Extensive experience in backend engineering, especially in optimizing API performance
• Strong system design skills focusing on scalability and maintainability
• Proficiency in backend development languages and frameworks
• Excellent problem-solving abilities and experience with complex issue resolution
• Strong knowledge of database systems and experience with database migrations
• Experience maintaining high test coverage and code quality
• Proven ability to lead and mentor a team of engineers
• Excellent communication skills for cross-functional collaboration
• Ability to anticipate and address potential system issues proactively
• Analytical mindset for diagnosing and solving technical problems

Key Responsibilities

• Enhance API performance and ensure low latency and high throughput. Design scalable backend systems to handle high traffic and large datasets
• Identify and refactor inefficient code to improve performance and maintainability
• Establish and maintain a comprehensive observability stack
• Work with product managers, customers to plan and launch new features fast
• Write and update documentation around codebase, tech specs.
• Maintain high test coverage for the backend codebase
• Optimize database performance for high-speed data operations
• Mentor and guide backend developers, fostering a culture of high performance

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Typical Week as a Lead Backend Engineer @ Richpanel

• Prioritising tasks for the sprint - tasks could vary around API performance improvements, refactor existing code, shipping new features.
• Start with planning and tech specs. Great planning is 60% of the job. Strive to create plans in the form of docs that can be executed by anyone in the company.
• Have a bias for impact. For that establish clear KPIs and end goals for all your projects. Announce these publicly and allow people to cheer you for your contribution after you have achieved the end goals.

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What Success Looks Like

• Ship 1-2 high-quality features monthly with 90%+ test coverage.
• Take ownership from concept to production without supervision.
• Balance rapid delivery with maintainable, scalable code.
• Solve complex problems efficiently, addressing root causes rather than symptoms.
• Improve key metrics that directly impact the user experience.

Benefits

Why Join Our Engineering Team

• Impactful Work: Be part of a small but powerful engineering team with immense ownership.
• Cutting-Edge Tech: Work with the latest technology, and contribute to improving performance at scale.
• AI-Driven Efficiency: Use powerful tools like Cursor, Copilot, and AI automation to enhance your productivity and ship faster.
• Fast Growth: Richpanel is rapidly scaling, and your contributions will directly impact thousands of businesses.
• Strong Engineering Culture: You'll collaborate with experienced engineers who value craftsmanship, code quality, and learning.

Why work at Richpanel

• Opportunity for Impact: If you want to make a significant impact at a high-stakes startup and have a front-row seat to rapid growth, this is the place for you.
• Autonomy: You are your own boss and will be given a ton of autonomy and freedom to execute.
• Fun & motivated co-workers: One of the best things about working at Richpanel is the team. We hire driven, down-to-earth, and kind people. You'll make some of your best friends here, and they'll encourage you to be your best self.
• Wealth creation: We are already generating a few millions in ARR, are profitable, and have turned down a Series A offer. Our mission is to create opportunities for our team members to build long-term wealth by awarding them ESOPs at fair valuations with significant upside potential.
• Don’t take our word for how awesome we are. You should check:
• Working at Richpanel
• How he hit $2m ARR in 24 months for e-commerce support SaaaS, Raised at $20m valuation
• The Evolution of Customer Support CRMs | Amit RG | CEO @Richpanel
• Richpanel Office (Koramangala, Bangalore)

Our Core Values

We look for and nurture these values in every team member:

• Customer obsession: Always do what's right for the customer.
• Curiosity: We value individuals who are passionate about their field and eager to learn and grow.
• Drive: We value people who are self-motivated and push through challenges to achieve results.
• Ethics: We value people who consistently do the right thing, even when it's difficult.

Perks and Benefits

• 0.1% to 0.5% equity grant (4-year vest, 1-year cliff)
• Comprehensive health insurance
• 21 paid days off annually
• Learning & development allowance.

Interview Process

We aim to complete the interview process within two weeks:

1. Initial screening call with Engineering Lead.
2. Technical coding assessment (Live coding or take-home challenge).
3. System design interview focusing on architecture and performance.
4. Final round with CEO and key stakeholders.

Ready to build the future of customer support with us? Apply now.

Richpanel is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.