Lead Software Engineer, Backend Services

#WeAreParamount on a mission to unleash the power of content... you in?We've got the brands, we've got the stars, we've got thepowerto achieve our mission to entertain the planet - now all we're missing is... YOU! Becoming a part of Paramount means joining a team of passionate people who not only recognize the power of content but also enjoy a touch of fun and uniqueness. Together, we co-create moments that matter - both for our audiences and our employees - and aim to leave a positive mark on culture.SummaryWe're looking for a Lead Software Engineer who has genuinely changed how they work because of AI - someone for whom Claude, Cursor, and coding agents aren't novelties but a fundamentally different way of thinking about software development. You will build and enhance the services for our Enterprise Platform. This includes our centralized management tool, middleware, and backend services. These services oversee data access, event management, authentication, and integration with external systems.This is a hands-on leadership role. You'll architect and ship software, raise the bar through code review and mentorship, and help the team transition fast without sacrificing reliability. You'll also be expected to leverage AI tooling (Claude, Cursor, etc.) as a natural part of your workflow and build AI-driven features using platforms like Vertex (Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform) and Databricks Genie. You'll write code, make architectural calls, guide a distributed team through code reviews and technical direction, and own what you ship end to end.What You'll Do:This is a critical role with a wide range of responsibilities, including:Design, implement, and deploy AI-driven applications. Use Vertex AI (Gemini) and Databricks Genie. Treat output verification and failure handling as important engineering tasks. They are not just afterthoughts.Design, implement and deploy scalable and secure Golang and Node.js servicesDesign and maintain data intensive high throughput gRPC and RESTful APIsDesign APIs for event-driven systems, integrating with Kafka, Pub/Sub, or similar messaging platformsDesign, build, and maintain high-performance, scalable APIs. Create front-end systems to support content, personalization, and collaboration experiences. This will help with real-time decision-making and quick responses.Define and implement API standards and best practices, including versioning, contract design, and backward compatibilityCollaborate with frontend, backend, data, and platform teams to ensure clean, reliable system integrationsEvolve existing content management and metadata APIs to support dynamic, personalized experiencesContribute to CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and release processes to ensure safe and proficient deploymentsParticipate in architecture discussions, RFCs, and cross-team technical initiativesLead code reviews that go beyond style - catching subtle errors, missed edge cases, and performance traps that automated tools do not surfaceMentor engineers and promote best practices in API design and system development Required Qualities / Experience:We believe the right individual will have the following skills and experience in order to be successful in this role:BS degree or higher in Engineering, Computer Science, or a related field required8+ years of professional software engineering experience, with 2+ years in a technical lead or senior engineering role3+ years of experience developing application services using Golang, Node, and front-end frameworks/libraries like React3+ years of experience with cloud platforms (AWS or GCP) and containerized environments (Docker, Kubernetes)3+ years of experience with Linux systems or shell scripting3+ years of experience with writing and using APIs to consume data and push data to MongoDB3+ years of experience building highly scalable, performant and responsive web applications2+ years of daily hands-on AI-assisted development using Claude, Cursor, or similar development toolsSolid experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and data modelingSolid knowledge of event-driven architectures (Kafka, Pub/Sub, Kinesis) and asynchronous API patternsSolid skills in API design, including knowledge of REST and GraphQL. Experience with contract-first development and OpenAPI/Swagger is required, along with insight into versioning strategies.Experience designing APIs for high-scale, low-latency systemsExperience integrating APIs with data pipelines, content systems, and real-time servicesSolid experience with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing, and API validation strategiesExemplary communication skills and ability to drive technical alignment across teamsExperience integrating with external systems across a distributed enterprise environmentExperience working within a globally distributed team Desired Qualities / Experience:Experience designing agentic or multi-step AI workflows - going beyond single-model calls to context-aware, multi-stage systems on platforms such as Vertex AI or Databricks GenieKnowledge with 3rd party authorization and authentication APIs and softwareVOD Streaming experienceExperience with multi-region or multi-tenant architecturesInfrastructure as code and deployment tooling (Helm, ArgoCD, Terraform)Comfortable working with observability and monitoring platforms (Grafana, Prometheus, Datadog, or similar)Experience with Redis (caching, RediSearch) and NoSQL data storesKnowledge of OAuth2/OIDC authentication and authorization patternsExperience building reliable, well-tested systems at scale - including integration testing with TestContainers and E2E testing with Playwright or similar#LI-TG1Paramount Streaming, a division within Paramount Global, is the home to the company's direct-to-consumer services spanning free and paid in the form of Pluto TV and Paramount+. Pluto TV is the global leader in free ad-supported TV, delivering more than 1,400 global channels and an extensive library of streaming content, including live and original channels. Paramount+, digital subscription video-on-demand and live streaming service, combines live sports, breaking news, and A Mountain of EntertainmentTM. Paramount+ features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including SHOWTIME.ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONHiring Salary Range: $157,000.00 - 200,000.00.The hiring salary range for this position applies to New York, California, Colorado, Washington state, and most other geographies. Starting pay for the successful applicant depends on a variety of job-related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, market demands, experience, training, and education. The benefits available for this position include medical, dental, vision, 401(k) plan, life insurance coverage, disability benefits, tuition assistance program and PTO or, if applicable, as otherwise dictated by the appropriate Collective Bargaining Agreement. This position is bonus eligible.What We Offer:Attractive compensation and comprehensive benefits packages. Check out our full list of benefits here: https://www.paramount.com/careers/benefitsGenerous paid time off.An exciting and fulfilling opportunity to be part of one of Paramount's most dynamic teams.Opportunities for both on-site and virtual engagement events.Unique opportunities to make meaningful connections and build a vibrant community, both inside and outside the workplace.Explore life at Paramount: https://www.paramount.com/careers/life-at-paramountParamount is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) including disability/vet.At Paramount, the spirit of inclusion feeds into everything that we do, on-screen and off. From the programming and movies we create to employee benefits/programs and social impact outreach initiatives, we believe that opportunity, access, resources and rewards should be available to and for the benefit of all. Paramount is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship status, marital status, disability, gender identity, gender expression, and Veteran status.