Backend Engineer - Music

Summary

Spotify is a music streaming company building tools and services for music creators and fan experiences. The Backend Engineer will build and operate scalable backend systems, APIs, Java services, and Scio data pipelines that improve music video discovery and listening experiences for millions of users. The role also involves collaborating with product, design, data, and engineering partners while contributing to system design, reliability, code quality, and experimentation with AI tools.

Responsibilities

• Build and run production backend systems that improve how listeners discover and enjoy music videos
• Design, develop, and evolve scalable backend services and APIs that support high-traffic parts of the Spotify app
• Develop and maintain Java services and Scio data pipelines used by millions of listeners every day
• Partner with product managers and engineers to solve complex problems and create smooth, enjoyable experiences for listeners
• Contribute to system design, code quality, and reliable, well-run systems as part of an autonomous, cross-functional squad
• Explore and experiment with AI tools available at Spotify to improve how we build and ship

Skills

• You have experience with Java or another JVM language, and familiarity with (or interest in learning) data pipeline tools like Scio, Apache Beam, or similar
• You've built and operated distributed, high-volume services in production, ideally on a cloud platform such as Google Cloud Platform
• You're comfortable with system design, data structures, and algorithms, and use data to inform how you design systems and make decisions
• You work directly with partners to understand their needs and turn them into scalable backend systems, APIs, and pipelines
• You enjoy working in teams where experimentation and iteration are part of everyday work
• You care about code quality, reliability, and maintainability, and take pride in shipping well-crafted work
• You bring a collaborative mindset and are comfortable working across team boundaries
• Experience in data engineering or machine learning is a bonus, not a requirement

Qualifications

Must Haves

• You have experience with Java or another JVM language, and familiarity with (or interest in learning) data pipeline tools like Scio, Apache Beam, or similar
• You've built and operated distributed, high-volume services in production, ideally on a cloud platform such as Google Cloud Platform
• You're comfortable with system design, data structures, and algorithms, and use data to inform how you design systems and make decisions
• You work directly with partners to understand their needs and turn them into scalable backend systems, APIs, and pipelines
• You enjoy working in teams where experimentation and iteration are part of everyday work
• You care about code quality, reliability, and maintainability, and take pride in shipping well-crafted work
• You bring a collaborative mindset and are comfortable working across team boundaries

Nice to Haves

• Experience in data engineering or machine learning is a bonus, not a requirement

Benefits

• Equity
• Health insurance
• Six-month paid parental leave
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Monthly meal allowance
• 23 paid days off
• Paid flexible holidays
• Paid sick leave
• Flexibility to work from home