Software Development Engineer I

About the role

As an SDE I - Video Backend Services, you will contribute to the design, development, and optimization of backend services that facilitate the delivery of video service and metadata to various clients. Building on your foundational experience, you will work on backend development tasks, including integrating backend services with external systems, supporting performance improvements, and troubleshooting technical issues. You will participate in developing features and collaborate with senior engineers to deliver scalable, reliable, and efficient services.

This role requires a solid understanding of backend programming, database transactions, as well as the ability to work with guidance from senior team members and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. You will learn from experienced developers and grow your technical skills through hands-on project work. As a Level 1 developer, you are expected to take a proactive approach to problem-solving and a strong commitment to delivering high-quality code that meets the needs of the business and its customers.

Responsibilities

• End-to-End Development: Contribute to the design, coding, testing, and deployment of scalable and reliable backend services and features that provide video services.
• Contribute to AI-driven products using Cursor, MCPs, Vertex API.
• Contribute to API design and backend development using REST, JSON, and Load balancers.
• Write unit and integration tests and contribute to CI/CD pipelines and model deployment workflows.
• Investigate and fix bugs, escalating complex issues as needed.
• Work in Agile teams and contribute to sprint planning, estimation, and reviews.
• System Integration: Work on integrating various backend services with external systems, ensuring seamless communication and data flow.
• Problem Solving: Troubleshoot and resolve technical issues, including those related to code bottlenecks, database performance, and service orchestration. Assist in optimizing model performance and system latency across distributed environments.
• Learning and Growth: Seek guidance from senior engineers, learn from code reviews and team practices, and develop your technical skills on the job.
• Collaboration: Work closely with cross-functional teams, including CPE developers, Mobile developers, Web developers, network engineers, and product managers, to align project goals and technical requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in computer science, related field, or equivalent experience
• Minimum 1-2 years of experience in backend development

Skills

• Programming Languages: Experience in one or more backend languages (Java, C, Go), including features such as multi-threading, concurrency, and asynchronous programming
• Web Technologies: Experience with Spring Application Framework, including Spring Boot
• Experience in developing RESTful APIs, including handling authentication (e.g., OAuth), rate limiting, and error handling
• Understanding microservices architecture, including how to design, build, and manage microservices in a distributed system
• Database Knowledge: Working knowledge of SQL, including writing queries, and working with relational databases (e.g., Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL). Familiarity with NoSQL databases (e.g., MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis) is a plus
• Version Control and CI/CD: Experience in Git, including resolving merge conflicts, using rebase, and managing codebases
• Experience setting up and using CI/CD pipelines using tools like Bamboo, GitLab runners including automated testing, security scans, and deployment
• Testing and Debugging: Experience in writing automated tests (unit, integration, and end-to-end tests), using testing frameworks and tools (e.g., JUnit, Selenium)
• Good debugging skills, including the use of debuggers, profilers, and log analyzers to diagnose and fix issues
• Development Tools and Environments: Experience with one of these: VS Code, Cursor, Eclipse, Spring Tools Suite
• Experience with cloud environments (GCP/AWS/Azure) or virtual machines for development and testing
• Familiarity with containers, including creating and managing containers for development and testing environments
• Ability to brainstorm with others and contribute ideas in team discussions
• Interest in learning about and applying appropriate technologies to solve problems
• Ability to write clear workflow documents, emails, and presentations, and communicate technical concepts to team members
• Ability to handle disagreements constructively and work toward team decisions
• Ability to manage time effectively to complete assignments with guidance from the team
• Ability to communicate priorities across teams and collaborate on decision-making
• Ability to write secure, maintainable code with guidance, and learn to anticipate common production issues
• Exposure to software design and architecture concepts, actively seeking feedback and applying it
• Understanding of technical debt and willingness to help address it incrementally with team guidance
• Interest in prototyping and proof-of-concept work to explore software designs with senior engineer support
• Ability to use and customize existing monitoring tools while following team monitoring and response policies
• Awareness of how technical decisions can affect cost and delivery, with guidance from senior engineers
• Ability to communicate status updates and changes to stakeholders with support when needed
• Willingness to share knowledge with teammates and learn from more experienced engineers

Benefits

At Optimum, every action and interaction we take part in is driven by our three Guiding Principles: Do What’s Right, Drive One Optimum, and Make It Happen. These aren’t just words—they help us build trust, create real community, and embrace new ways of thinking. Our employees are empowered to do the right thing for our customers and co-workers and to recognize and reward these behaviors when we see them. It’s all part of the bigger picture of “Be The Difference” where each employee knows they have the power to enact real change, share new ideas, and understand that learning never stops.

Pay

The starting pay rate/range at time of hire for this position in New York is $83,538.00 - $137,241.00 per year. Pay is competitive and based on a number of job-related factors, including skills and experience. For other locations, please inquire with your recruiter.