Staff Engineer, Backend

Citizen Health was founded on the belief — shaped by firsthand lived experiences navigating healthcare — that having the right advocate is the single most important factor in achieving better care and outcomes. By uniquely combining data, AI, and community, Citizen is building a personalized AI advocate powered by patients' complete medical histories and data from thousands of other patients to generate personalized insights for clinical decisions and day-to-day challenges. Starting in rare and complex conditions, patients share their data in exchange for value, enabling biopharma and researchers with seamless access to patients and regulatory-grade data, shaving years off drug development for much-needed treatments.

Citizen is founded by experienced entrepreneurs with multiple successes under their belts and is funded by top-tier investors including 8VC, Transformation Capital, and Headline Ventures, among others. We are a mission-driven team excited to be building the future of consumer healthcare.

Citizen Health is looking for a Staff Backend Engineer to lead the development of our robust, scalable backend systems that power our patient-centric platform. This role is crucial in designing and implementing the core infrastructure that enables seamless data integration, analysis, and AI-driven insights across our ecosystem.

As a key technical leader, you'll be at the forefront of leveraging healthcare interoperability standards, including FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources), and state-of-the-art AI technologies to build innovative solutions that directly impact rare disease research and patient care.

Your work will be instrumental in translating complex health data into actionable insights, facilitating groundbreaking research, and enabling the seamless flow of information between patients, healthcare providers, and researchers using advanced AI techniques.

• Architect and implement high-performance, scalable backend solutions using modern technologies, healthcare interoperability standards like FHIR, and advanced AI/ML technologies

• Lead the design and development of RESTful APIs and microservices that support our patient, partner, and internal-facing applications

• Integrate and optimize AI models, particularly Large Language Models (LLMs), using frameworks like LangChain and LlamaIndex

• Implement Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems to enhance the accuracy and relevance of AI-generated insights in the healthcare context

• Design and implement efficient data pipelines to support AI model training and inference

• Optimize data processing and storage solutions to handle large volumes of complex health data efficiently

• Collaborate with data scientists and researchers to implement advanced analytics and AI models that derive insights from patient data

• Ensure the highest standards of data security and privacy compliance

• Lead efforts to enhance system reliability and performance, including implementing monitoring, logging, alerting and auto scaling systems for both traditional backend services and AI components

• Mentor junior backend developers and contribute to the team's technical growth

• Participate in code reviews to ensure high code quality, maintainability, and adherence to best practices across the team

• Stay current with backend best practices, emerging AI technologies, and industry trends, particularly those relevant to healthcare interoperability and AI in healthcare

You are a passionate builder and problem solver who thrives in dynamic, fast-moving environments. You value collaboration but are comfortable taking ownership and working independently. You approach complex problems with creativity and empathy, always keeping the needs of patients and users front and center. You enjoy working at the intersection of technology and healthcare and are excited about making a meaningful difference in people’s lives.

• 7+ years of experience in backend development, with a focus on building scalable, distributed systems

• Strong proficiency in one or more modern programming languages (e.g., Node.js, Java, Python)

• Experience with healthcare interoperability standards, particularly FHIR

• Strong understanding of RESTful API design and microservices architectures

• Experience with cloud platforms (preferably AWS) and containerization technologies (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes)

• Proficiency in working with both relational and NoSQL databases

• Hands-on experience integrating and optimizing Large Language Models (LLMs) in production environments

• Proficiency with LLM tools and techniques such as LangChain, LlamaIndex, Prompt Engineering

• Experience implementing Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) systems

• Familiarity with vector databases and efficient similarity search techniques for AI applications

• Experience with message queuing systems and data streaming platforms

• Familiarity with data processing and analytics technologies

• Proven track record of high-quality coding and architectural design

• Passion for creating robust, scalable, AI-driven systems that make a real-world impact in healthcare

At Citizen Health, you will be part of an ambitious mission to build innovative AI-driven solutions that redefine the consumer healthcare experience and improve outcomes for millions. We value curiosity, creativity, and collaboration, and we believe in empowering every team member to have an impact. Here, you’ll find:

• The chance to work on pioneering AI technologies and solve complex problems that push the boundaries of what’s possible in healthcare

• The freedom to lead your projects and shape the company’s direction in a mission-driven environment where your work makes a real impact

• A fast-paced, high-growth setting that brings expanding opportunities and clear paths for career progression

• A supportive culture of learning, experimentation, and innovation, where new ideas are encouraged and explored

• A commitment to empathy and diversity, recognizing that our greatest strengths come from our varied perspectives and experiences

• Regular team activities and knowledge sharing, all within a culture that prioritizes well-being and connection

• Competitive salary + equity package

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

• Unlimited paid time off, including a generous parental leave

• Flexible hybrid work environment

Base Pay Range: $200,000 - $235,000. This salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience and location.

Don't meet every qualification? No worries! We believe that passion, curiosity, and the right mindset are just as important as a checklist of skills. If you’re excited about what we’re building, we encourage you to apply.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion: Citizen Health is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences. Everyone deserves an equal chance to contribute and grow here — regardless of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.