Job Description
Senior Backend Engineer (Security & Fleet Platform)
What We're Looking For
We need a senior backend engineer with 5+ years of experience building production systems who has deep expertise in security, cryptography, and cloud infrastructure. You should be comfortable owning a platform end-to-end in a small, fast-moving team and have a track record of shipping secure, scalable backend services from scratch.
Bonus points if you have experience with IoT, telematics, or fleet management systems where hardware communicates with cloud services.
What You'll Do
Architect, develop, and maintain the complete Secure Fleet & Financing Management System — backend APIs, web application, and supporting infrastructure — from the ground up.
Design and implement secure authentication, authorization, and encryption mechanisms to protect sensitive vehicle and financing data.
Collaborate with embedded and electrical teams to integrate backend services with physical on-vehicle hardware (IoT/telematics).
Define and operate cloud infrastructure, CI/CD pipelines, and deployment processes as the sole owner of the backend platform.
Integrate backend services with mobile and web-based tools for end users, internal administrators, and merchant/point-of-sale systems.
Provide technical leadership on architecture decisions, framework choices, and long-term platform strategy.
Establish best practices for code quality, testing, logging, and system observability as the platform scales.
Tech Stack
Go
TypeScript
AWS
GCP
Azure
Docker
CI/CD
MQTT
WebSockets
REST APIs
Cryptography
IoT
Compensation & Benefits
Salary: $170K – $240K
Equity Competitive equity
Benefits
Comprehensive medical insurance
Dental insurance
Vision insurance
401(k) plan with company match
Flexible PTO policy
Paid holidays
Relocation assistance
Location & Work Authorization
Location: Alameda, CA
On-Site Work Policy
On-site in Alameda, CA. Some flexibility may be discussed (e.g., 3 days in-person) for strong candidates where commute is a factor, but default expectation is full-time on-site given hardware integration needs.
Visa Sponsorship
Visa sponsorship is not available for this role. Candidates must have legal authorization to work in the United States.
Hiring Count
Looking to hire 1 candidate for this role.
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Requirements
Seniority
5+ years of experience building and shipping production backend systems.
Work Experience
Built production backend systems from 0 to 1.
Experience with security-critical or fintech infrastructure.
Designed and shipped APIs for mobile/web clients.
Prior early-stage startup or high-ownership role.
IoT, telematics, or hardware-cloud integration experience.
Education
BS in Computer Science or equivalent practical experience.
Hard Skills
Expert proficiency in Go or TypeScript.
Authentication, encryption, and applied cryptography expertise.
Cloud infrastructure (AWS/GCP/Azure), containers, and CI/CD.
Data modeling and database design (relational/NoSQL).
MQTT, WebSockets, or real-time data processing.
Hardware identity, key provisioning, or secure device onboarding.
Miscellaneous
Interest in EVs, motorcycles, or emerging markets.
Traits to Avoid
Candidates with no security/cryptography background whatsoever.
Why Candidates Should Join
Build from Scratch with Full Ownership
You'll own the entire backend platform — architecture decisions, tech stack choices, security design, and deployment. There's no existing backend team or legacy code. You're building 0 to 1 and shaping everything.
Startup Autonomy with Financial Stability
Part of a larger holding company with $200M+ in fund backing and a $6M+ allocated budget. The parent organization already has ~80 people and thousands of active loans. You get the high-ownership startup experience without the funding uncertainty typical of early-stage startups.
Real-World Hardware + Security Challenge
This isn't another CRUD app. You're building a secure fleet management system that talks to physical electric motorcycles — integrating cryptography, device locking, IoT communication, and financing logic into one platform.
Tangible Social Impact in Emerging Markets
The product unlocks credit access for people who've never had a bank account. You're enabling first-time vehicle ownership for thousands of customers in Mexico and eventually broader Latin America.
Strong Compensation + Equity
$170K–$240K salary plus equity in a company that's already launching retail locations in Mexico City.
Leadership Team
MIT and McKinsey alumni with 10+ years of hands-on EV development and emerging market experience.
Company Overview
A San Francisco Bay Area-based electric motorcycle manufacturer focused on revolutionizing personal transportation in developing markets. The company designs and builds purpose-built electric motorcycles with integrated secure locking technology, enabling affordable financing solutions for underserved populations in Latin America.
The Problem Being Solved
In markets like Mexico, approximately 50% of potential motorcycle customers lack even a bank account, making traditional financing inaccessible. The company solves this challenge through secure locking technology integrated directly into the motorcycle. If a borrower does not make payments, the vehicle can be disabled remotely, significantly reducing fraud risk and expanding lending access.
Startup Agility, Enterprise Stability
While operating with the agility and ownership culture of an early-stage startup (~5 employees), the business benefits from over $200M in backing and a $6M+ allocated budget. Operations have already begun in Mexico, including retail locations in Mexico City.
Leadership
The leadership team consists of MIT and McKinsey alumni with over ten years of hands-on experience in EV development, production, and emerging market operations.
Team & Industry
Team Size
5 employees
Industry
Hardware
Transportation
Manufacturing
Fintech
Finance
Financial Services
Security
Cybersecurity
Logistics
Founded
2011
Total Funding
$200M
Office Location
Alameda, CA
Priority Target Companies
Fleet / Mobility
Uber
Samsara
Motive
Geotab
Lytx
Verizon Connect
OnFleet
Automotive / EV
Rivian
Tesla
Lucid
Waymo
Cruise
Zoox
Security-Focused Technology
Coinbase
Plaid
Stripe
Square
Crypto and fintech startups
IoT / Access Control
August
Verkada
Latch
Brivo
Particle.io
Fintech Startups
Modern lending platforms
Payment companies
Avoid legacy banks due to outdated technology stacks and lower ownership expectations.
Key Screening Signals
Dealbreakers (Reject Immediately)
No security/cryptography background whatsoever.
Cannot work on-site in Alameda, CA.
Requires visa sponsorship.
Under 3 years of experience.
Strong Positive Signals
Built a backend system from scratch (0 to 1).
Production security experience (authentication, encryption, key management, cryptography).
Strong Go proficiency.
IoT or hardware-cloud integration experience.
Early engineer at a startup or shipped systems end-to-end with significant ownership.
Nice-to-Haves
Fleet management domain experience.
MQTT, WebSockets, real-time data pipelines.
Hardware identity or secure device onboarding.
CS degree from a strong program.
Interest in EVs, motorcycles, or emerging markets.
Evaluation Nuances
Language Flexibility
Do not hard-filter on Go or TypeScript. Strong engineers with backgrounds in Python, Rust, Java, or similar languages are viable if they possess strong security and distributed systems expertise.
Education
A CS degree is strongly preferred but not mandatory. Strong industry credentials and a proven track record can compensate.
Startup Experience
Not required. The key requirement is demonstrated ownership of building and operating services end-to-end without relying on separate infrastructure teams.
On-Site Expectation
Position the role as on-site in Alameda. Some flexibility may be available for exceptional candidates but should not be advertised upfront.
Relocation
Relocation assistance is available.
Current Hiring Challenge
The primary challenge is finding candidates who combine strong backend engineering and implementation skills with deep security expertise. Pure backend engineers without security awareness are unlikely to succeed in this role.
