Senior Software Engineer - Web API Platform

Scribd, Inc. is a leading digital media company.

About the Team

The Web Platform team is part of our Developer Platform organization and supports our broader Web Modernization efforts. Our mission is to help product teams move faster by providing a scalable, well‑designed API foundation that supports modern web architectures.

About the Role

We are hiring a Senior Software Engineer, Web API Platform to help establish a company‑wide API platform that accelerates web modernization at Scribd. In this role, you will design, build, and own new product‑facing web APIs that span our full web product surface across Scribd and Everand. These APIs will serve as the primary interface between modern web applications and existing backend systems, enabling teams to evolve toward more scalable, maintainable frontend architectures.

You will work closely with frontend and backend teams to define integration patterns, guide API usage, and ensure the platform scales with real‑world data volumes and access patterns.

Key Attributes

• Strong ownership mindset, owning API design and implementation from initial design through production, iteration, and long‑term maintenance.
• Pragmatic approach to system design, balancing ideal architecture with real‑world constraints.
• Ability to design performance‑aware APIs with intentional constraints that scale safely.
• Strong collaborator who works with frontend & backend teams toward better performance and integration outcomes.
• Long‑term perspective on maintainability, extensibility, and developer experience.

Experience We Value

• 6+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a strong backend or platform focus.
• Proven experience designing APIs for high‑volume or data‑intensive product workflows.
• Experience implementing and integrating APIs with a Ruby on Rails application.
• Familiarity with modern API paradigms (REST, GraphQL, gRPC) and their performance and operational tradeoffs.
• Experience with query patterns, caching, pagination, and common performance pitfalls.
• Experience designing APIs with explicit contracts, versioning, and testing strategies.
• Experience working with modern web frontends (React, Next.js, or similar).
• Strong communication skills and experience championing API design across teams.
• Hands‑on experience incorporating AI‑assisted tools into development workflows.

What Sets You Apart

• Designed APIs where performance characteristics were explicit and intentional.
• Considered observability, failure modes, and system health as part of API design.
• Placed thoughtful constraints on API consumers to protect scalability and developer experience.
• Treated APIs and developer tooling as products, not just infrastructure.
• Cared deeply about how backend and API decisions impact end users.
• Enjoyed greenfield work while navigating integration with existing systems.
• Brought informed opinions and refined them through discussion and iteration.

Compensation and Benefits

• Base salary range varies by location and level.
• Competitive equity ownership and comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

• Scribd Flex (flexible work model)
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision coverage
• Mental health support and disability coverage
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick time, holidays, winter break, volunteer time, and sabbaticals
• Paid parental leave and family support benefits
• Retirement matching and employee equity
• Learning and development programs and professional growth opportunities
• Wellness and home office stipends
• Complimentary access to the Scribd, Inc. suite of products
• Enterprise access to leading AI tools

Location Requirements

Employees must have their primary residence in or near one of the following cities.

• United States: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Chicago, Houston, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Phoenix, Portland, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington D.C.
• Canada: Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver.
• Mexico: Mexico City.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Scribd, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply, and believe that a diversity of perspectives and experiences creates a foundation for the best ideas.