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Engineering Manager, Backend Platforms

Whatnot
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Hybrid (Remote (US))$280k - $330k + equityFull-timePosted 4w ago

About the role

Senior engineering leader responsible for strategy and execution of Whatnot's Backend Platforms, overseeing Python/Elixir backend cores, realtime services (Live/Auction), and storage/database layers. Manages senior ICs and multiple teams, shapes multi-workstream architecture, and partners with Reliability, Infrastructure, and product engineering to scale the platform.

Responsibilities

  • - Lead and grow a team of senior software engineers and, over time, other engineering managers. Hire well, develop leaders, and shape the org as it scales.
  • Own team strategy and execution. Empower senior ICs to define technical direction and architecture, while staying technically engaged to challenge decisions, unblock tradeoffs, and step in when course-correction is needed.
  • Shape the Backend Platforms roadmap, balancing investment across new capabilities, developer productivity, and platform-level tech debt.
  • Lead the team in evolving Whatnot's Python and Elixir backend cores: the Main Back End, async and messaging infrastructure, and the storage and database layer underneath.
  • Own the platforms behind Whatnot's realtime product surface, including Live Service and Auction Service, which power the livestream and bidding experience at the heart of the business.
  • Drive measurable improvements in platform reliability, performance, and developer ergonomics across the systems this team owns.
  • Partner with Reliability, Infrastructure, and product engineering teams to shape architecture and standards across Whatnot.
  • Build a culture of engineering and operational excellence: high code quality, clear ownership, disciplined deprecation, and accountability for production behavior.

Qualifications

  • - 10+ years of industry experience in platform or infrastructure engineering, with 7+ years managing engineering teams. Experience managing managers or leading multiple teams is strongly preferred.
  • - A high bar for both engineering and operational excellence. You're energized by building backend platforms the rest of engineering depends on, and you take pride in owning how those systems behave in production.
  • - Proven track record building and operating backend platforms or runtime services used by other engineering teams as customers.
  • - Strong technical grounding in backend systems at scale, including high-traffic realtime or event-driven platforms. Whatnot's backend runs on Python and Elixir, with Go used for performance-sensitive components. Direct experience with any of these is a plus; equally strong candidates from other modern backend stacks who are eager to learn are welcome.
  • - Demonstrated ability to steward technical direction across multiple workstreams and guide senior ICs through complex architectural decisions and platform migrations.
  • - Exceptional communication and leadership skills, with the ability to influence technical direction across teams and at the executive level.

Skills

Required:Backend platform leadershipArchitecture & roadmap planningPeople managementCommunication
Nice to have:PythonElixirGo

Benefits

  • - Flexible Time off Policy and Company-wide Holidays (including a spring and winter break)
  • - Health Insurance options including Medical, Dental, Vision
  • - Work From Home Support
  • - Care benefits
  • - Retirement; 401k offering for Traditional and Roth accounts in the US (employer match up to 4% of base salary) and Pension plans internationally
  • - Monthly allowance to dogfood the app
  • - Parental Leave
Last updated Oct 21, 2026. Interested? Apply on the company site.
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About Whatnot

Whatnot is the largest livestream shopping platform in the U.S.

Whatnot is the largest livestream shopping platform in the U.S., connecting buyers and sellers in real-time across any category – from collectibles like trading cards to comics, fashion, sneakers, and more.

marketplacee-commerce
Company profileWebsite

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