Senior backend engineer

Sequencing is building the interface between humanity and its DNA. Using clinical-grade whole genome sequencing, AI, and a rapidly expanding ecosystem of genomic applications, we help people better understand themselves, their health, and their future through their DNA. The human genome is one of the most valuable and underutilized resources in the world. Our mission is to transform the human genome into a lifelong source of personalized guidance and build the trusted home for every genome on Earth.

As the world’s largest direct-to-consumer whole genome sequencing platform, Sequencing is helping define the future of AI-powered personalized health. We’re a profitable, venture-backed, fully remote company building category-defining products that help people better understand themselves through their DNA.

The opportunity

As a Senior Backend Engineer, you'll build and improve the distributed backend systems behind our genomics platform. At its core, this platform is a high-throughput data processing and retrieval system with an AI-powered natural language interface - you'll work with our AI Backend Architect on the services and pipelines that make genetics-based guidance fast, accurate, and reliable. When you do this well, people can have meaningful conversations with their DNA and receive trustworthy guidance that evolves alongside advances in science and AI.

What you'll own

• Develop and maintain high-performance and fault-tolerant distributed backend services.
• Build and optimize data processing pipelines over large genomic and health datasets using Apache Spark and DuckDB.
• Design data structures, storage and indexing strategies across PostgreSQL, Qdrant, and Redis for performance at scale.
• Own async event processing and workflow orchestration using AWS SQS, RabbitMQ, and BullMQ.
• Drive latency, throughput, and reliability through parallel execution, caching, and efficient data access.
• Build guardrail and quality assurance layers that keep AI responses anchored in real genomic and scientific evidence.
• Partner with bioinformatics experts to ensure outputs match the science, and with product/design specialists on user-facing behavior.

Who you are

• 5+ years building and operating production backend systems at scale.
• Expert-level in TypeScript, comfortable owning production services end to end.
• Strong distributed-systems fundamentals - you understand how they're designed and why they fail.
• Hands-on with large-scale data processing frameworks (Apache Spark or equivalent) and very large datasets.
• Deeply familiar with both OLTP and OLAP data systems (PostgreSQL, DuckDB).
• Solid with distributed event-driven systems.
• Able to step into an unfamiliar domain like genomics, learn the mechanics fast, and go deep.
• Craft-driven: you build systems properly with attention to detail and high bar for quality rather than assembling pre-made pieces.

This is a fully remote role open to candidates in time zones from UTC−5 to UTC+3.

Bonus to have

• Rust, and functional programming experience (Scala or similar).
• Python for data processing.
• Experience training or fine-tuning your own AI models - not just calling APIs.
• Experience with multi-agent AI systems and orchestration (planner / router / evaluator patterns).
• Production experience with LLM APIs (Anthropic, OpenAI, Bedrock, Google AI).
• Production experience with vector databases and RAG pipelines.
• LLM observability tooling (Langfuse, LangSmith).
• Workflow engines (Temporal).
• Familiarity with genomics, bioinformatics, or health data systems.
• High-growth startup experience.

Why this role matters

AI is transforming how people access information. Genomics is transforming how people understand themselves. This role sits at the convergence of both. You’ll help build the AI systems that enable people to interact with their DNA and receive personalized guidance throughout their lives. The systems you build will help millions of people better understand their health, identify risks earlier, make more informed decisions, and benefit from advances in science that would otherwise remain inaccessible. This is an opportunity to help create a category-defining, generational product and shape how humanity interacts with its DNA for decades to come.

Benefits Overview

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage.
• 401(k) with company matching.
• Paid time off (PTO).
• Paid volunteer time off.
• Fully remote work with home office stipend.
• Parental bonding leave.
• Clinical-grade whole genome sequencing for you and your family (private and confidential).

Join Sequencing

• Redefine how people understand themselves through their DNA.
• Build category-defining products alongside scientists, engineers, and innovators.
• Contribute to technology that will improve and extend millions of lives.
• Shape one of the most important emerging categories in AI and healthcare.

Sequencing Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment, including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

Where required by applicable law, candidates may request a reasonable accommodation or an alternative selection process by contacting joinus@sequencing.com.

Sequencing Inc. may use artificial intelligence (AI) or automated tools as part of the recruiting and hiring process, including for application screening and candidate evaluation. These tools may analyze information provided in your application materials or during the hiring process. All legitimate Sequencing roles are posted on our official careers page and require you to apply through our company application portal. If a role claiming to be with Sequencing asks you to apply or communicate outside of those channels, it is not an authentic opportunity with our team. During our hiring process, we or our recruitment partners will never ask you to send money, purchase equipment, or share bank, credit card, or Social Security information before a verified offer. We also will not make same day offers without interviews or ask you to communicate only through informal messaging apps. If you believe someone is misusing our name in a fake posting, please report it to the job board or verify the posting by contacting careers@sequencing.com.