Software Engineer, Backend – Edge Systems

Location: Toronto (Hybrid. In office most of the time, with flexibility when work does not require hardware access.)

Micromart is building the platform for unattended retail. We empower entrepreneurs to turn any location into a retail opportunity, from offices and condos to gyms, hotels, and other shared spaces. Our focus is on giving entrepreneurs powerful tools that are simple to use, while delivering a fast, intuitive shopping experience for shoppers.

Often described as Shopify for physical commerce, Micromart provides the infrastructure that powers unattended retail in the real world.

Micromart launched just over a year ago and is now used in thousands of locations across North America. We’re a small and growing team working closely across product, platform, and smart store systems, from design through production.

Work here is end to end. That means thinking through problems, making pragmatic tradeoffs, shipping code, and improving systems over time. As we scale, there’s real ownership, real impact, and room to grow.

As a Software Engineer, Backend – Edge & IoT Systems, you will help build and operate the software systems that run inside Micromart smart stores.

You will design and maintain software that runs close to the hardware, integrating with cameras, payment terminals, locks, routers, sensors, and other components. Your focus will be on building systems that are reliable, observable, and resilient while operating continuously.

Most development and testing happens in a virtual smart store environment that simulates devices and system behavior, allowing you to build, test, and debug workflows without being blocked by physical hardware. Physical devices are used when validation, investigation, or performance testing requires it.

The system is built primarily in Node.js and TypeScript, with Express-based services running in Docker on Linux-based edge devices and managed through IoT device management platforms. Engineers deploy code remotely, access devices, inspect logs, proxy requests, and debug systems running in production. Strong software fundamentals and sound architectural judgment are essential.

This role is open to experienced intermediate and senior engineers, with scope and ownership scaled based on experience.

• Design, build, and maintain Node.js and TypeScript services running on edge devices

• Build and operate Express-based services deployed in Docker on Linux

• Work on real-time systems using sockets and event-driven architectures

• Integrate with cameras, payment devices, locks, routers, sensors, and other hardware

• Work with USB and other device protocols, networking, IP addressing, and connectivity constraints

• Build systems that handle real-time events, intermittent connectivity, and offline scenarios

• Investigate and resolve issues across application code, operating systems, networking, and hardware

• Debug camera recording pipelines and other performance-sensitive workloads

• Improve observability, logging, and monitoring for systems running in production

• Collaborate closely with platform, frontend, and hardware teams

• Make pragmatic tradeoffs that prioritize stability, simplicity, and long-term maintainability

• Take ownership beyond writing code, including code reviews, release follow-through, and raising the quality bar across the team

• Strong experience building and owning production software systems

• Solid fundamentals in systems design, debugging, and software architecture

• Experience with Node.js, TypeScript, and service-based architectures

• Experience building real-time systems using sockets or event-driven patterns

• Comfort working with Linux-based systems, containers, and device-level software

• Experience integrating with hardware or external devices using USB, network protocols, or similar interfaces

• Strong understanding of networking fundamentals, including IP addressing and local networks

• Ability to reason about performance, reliability, and observability in long-running systems

• Comfort working close to hardware and physical constraints

• A strong sense of ownership and initiative, with a desire to improve systems and team quality over time

Nice to have

• Experience with edge computing, IoT, or connected device platforms

• Experience working with Linux or Android-based devices

• Experience with cameras, vision systems, or video recording pipelines

• Experience with Balena or similar device management platforms

• Experience with React or React Native

• Background in startups or small teams where ownership mattered more than process

We are driven by ambitious, mission-focused thinking and a deep commitment to earning customer trust. We value craftsmanship, simplicity, and quality, and we are intentional about how we build, the tradeoffs we make, and the problems we choose to solve.

We believe in getting things done thoughtfully, improving continuously, and working closely together to build a great product.

You will work on systems that operate in the real world and matter every day. You will tackle challenging problems at the intersection of software and hardware. You will join a small team where your work directly impacts reliability, uptime, and customer trust as Micromart continues to scale smart retail systems across thousands of locations.

We believe software should empower people to build real businesses in the physical world. Micromart exists to give entrepreneurs practical, durable tools to create opportunity where people live and work, and your work will directly support that.

This year marks a major growth phase for Micromart. We’ve achieved a lot with a very small team, built the core smart store product and the platform that powers it, and are now focused on scaling, shipping new product capabilities, and raising the bar on product quality and our technical stack. If you enjoy owning real systems and pushing them to the next level, there’s a lot to dig into.

• Competitive salary and equity

• Health, dental, and vision benefits for employees and dependents

• Monthly fitness or wellness stipend

• Hybrid work environment, with access to our Toronto office

• Meals provided when working from the office

• Centrally located downtown office near Union Station

Micromart is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applicants from all backgrounds.

Micromart uses AI tools to help review applications and summarize interviews. Our hiring team reviews the information and makes all hiring decisions. We’ll let you know before recording or transcribing an interview and explain your options.