> Markdown version of [/jobs/ext/2718695-staff-software-engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/jobs/ext/2718695-staff-software-engineer). Every page supports `.md` or `Accept: text/markdown`. Links point to the HTML versions so they work for humans too. Agent guide: [/agents.md](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/agents.md). --- # Staff Software Engineer - **Company:** Whatnot Inc. - **Location:** Los Angeles, CA, United States (Remote available) - **Experience:** Expert - **Contract:** Permanent contract - **Skills:** JavaScript (Programming Language), Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), Artificial Intelligence, Programming Tools, Distributed Systems, Python (Programming Language), Service-Oriented Architecture, Software Engineering, Real Time Systems, Backend, Event Driven Architecture, Front End Software Development, Data Pipelines, Elixir - **Published:** September 4, 2026 - **Apply:** https://startup.jobs/staff-software-engineer-whatnot-com-7864081 ## About the Role People who do well at Whatnot tend to be comfortable figuring things out as they go, biased toward action, and genuinely curious about what they're building. They care more about outcomes than credit and stay close to the product and the people using it., * 8+ years of full-time software engineering experience, including experience at high-growth technology companies that saw significant year-over-year user or revenue growth. * A proven track record of leading large technical initiatives in fast-scaling environments. * Experience designing and evolving distributed systems at scale such as service-oriented architectures, event-driven systems, real-time systems, high-throughput APIs, data pipelines. * A strong foundation in backend and frontend development. You're comfortable moving between layers and integrating systems end-to-end across a variety of languages and technologies (we primarily use Python, Elixir, JavaScript). * A strong sense of urgency and ownership. You move quickly, unblock teams, and know when to dive deep versus drive alignment. * Demonstrated ability to act as the technical lead of a team or initiative without direct people management responsibility. * Experience influencing architecture and technical strategy across multiple teams. * Excellent product instincts. You understand how technical decisions translate into user and business impact. * The ability to operate effectively in ambiguity, defining problems clearly and bringing structure to complex spaces. * A track record of mentoring engineers and elevating engineering quality through design rigor and thoughtful feedback. ## Description We're hiring Staff Software Engineers across multiple engineering pillars at Whatnot - including Buyer Growth, Seller Growth, Trust & Risk, Discovery & Personalization, Search, AI Developer Tools, and Customer Experience. As a Staff Engineer at Whatnot, you will operate as a technical leader within and across teams. You'll partner with Engineering, Product, Data, Design, and Leadership to define architectures, drive large cross-functional initiatives, and build the distributed systems that power one of the fastest-growing marketplaces in the world. This is a high-impact role for engineers who thrive in fast-moving environments and want to shape systems that directly influence millions of buyers and sellers. What You'll Do: * Lead the design and evolution of large, distributed systems that power live auctions, payments, search, recommendations, trust systems, growth funnels, and more. * Own ambiguous, high-leverage technical problems from inception to production - and set the long-term architectural direction. * Act as the technical lead for major initiatives, driving alignment across multiple teams without formal management authority. * Balance urgency and technical excellence, making principled trade-offs that unlock rapid iteration without sacrificing long-term scalability. * Raise the engineering bar through design reviews, mentorship, and hands-on contributions to critical systems. * Partner with leadership to identify the highest-impact investments for scaling reliability, performance, and developer velocity. * Help Whatnot scale through its next phase of hypergrowth, ensuring our systems remain resilient as we expand globally. ## Related Videos - [Why and when should we consider Stream Processing frameworks in our solutions](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1085-why-and-when-should-we-consider-stream-processing-frameworks-in-our-solutions) - [Developing the Backend with Stefan Lingler, CTO at Shpock](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/100360-developing-the-backend-with-stefan-lingler-cto-at-shpock) - [Bringing digital education to refugee and host communities in remote regions of Africa](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/644-bringing-digital-education-to-refugee-and-host-communities-in-remote-regions-of-africa) - [Coffee with Developers - Adam Wiggins](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/919-coffee-with-developers-adam-wiggins) - [Python-Based Data Streaming Pipelines Within Minutes](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1233-python-based-data-streaming-pipelines-within-minutes) - [Nest.js - TypeScript in the backend can also be clean](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/videos/1033-nest-js-typescript-in-the-backend-can-also-be-clean) ## Related Articles - [Fully Remote Software Engineer Jobs](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/447-fully-remote-software-engineer-jobs) - [Find a Developer Job: 12 Best Job Sites For Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/165-find-a-developer-job-12-best-job-sites-for-developers) - [The Best X (Twitter) Accounts for Developers](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/294-the-best-x-twitter-accounts-for-developers) - [Top Characteristics of a Software Engineer](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/166-top-characteristics-of-a-software-engineer) - [Is Software Engineering Over-Saturated?](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/418-is-software-engineering-over-saturated) - [How to Answer the Interview Question: “Why Do You Want to Be a Software Engineer?”](https://www.wearedevelopers.com/magazine/392-how-to-answer-the-interview-question-why-do-you-want-to-be-a-software-engineer)