We are seeking a Staff Software Engineer to join our full-stack team at Zendesk. Our team is dedicated to building Employee Service (ES) Tasks, a top initiative that enhances Zendesk’s product offering by enabling organizations to design, manage, and automate internal service workflows. We will be collaborating closely with other platform teams that are working alongside us to help us accelerate faster. In addition to that, we are also responsible for developing capabilities around SLAs, Macros, Placeholders, etc.
Location Requirement: This is a hybrid role. Candidates must reside within a commutable distance of our office in San Francisco, CA
What you’ll be doing
Solve complex, large-scale business problems by applying deep technical expertise and systems thinking.
Design and deliver high-quality, scalable, and reusable components by driving engineering standards and practices (e.g., code reviews, testing strategies, CI/CD improvements).
Collaborate with architects, product managers, and platform teams to define technical direction and deliver impactful customer-facing features.
Own services and features end-to-end, from design to deployment, ensuring stability, performance, and long-term maintainability.
Troubleshoot and resolve sophisticated problems across distributed systems with a holistic approach.
Mentor and coach engineers across varying levels, helping raise the bar on technical excellence and delivery.
Actively shape team ceremonies, delivery planning, and technical discussions to foster collaboration and execution.
What you bring to the role
Minimum Qualifications:
7+ years of professional software development experience, with a proven track record of technical leadership and decision-making
Deep understanding of building scalable backend systems and reusable components
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a demonstrable bias toward action.
Proficient in coding with languages such as Ruby on Rails, Java along with frontend technologies like React, TypeScript and GraphQL. Deep understanding of distributed computing principles, data architecture, and scalable system design.
Experience integrating shared platform components into domain specific product areas.
Preferred Qualifications:
Familiarity with relational data stores like MySQL and Aurora, and systems like MySQL, ElasticSearch, Redis.
Experience with event-driven, distributed architecture using Kafka.
Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
Self-motivated with a strong propensity for action, results and continuous improvement
Ability to thrive in high-energy, fast paced, rapidly changing environments
Tech Stack
Backend: Ruby on Rails, Java, MySQL/Aurora
Frontend: JavaScript, TypeScript, React, GraphQL
DevOps & Monitoring: DataDog, Kubernetes, CI/CD
Cloud: AWS
Why Zendesk
Lead and grow with a high-impact, collaborative engineering team.
Flexible hybrid work model and strong work-life balance.
Work on strategic initiatives with executive-level support and company investment.
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As part of our commitment to fairness and transparency, we inform all applicants that artificial intelligence (AI) or automated decision systems may be used to screen or evaluate applications for this position, in accordance with Company guidelines and applicable law.
The US annualized base salary range for this position is $164,000.00-$246,000.00. This position may also be eligible for bonus, benefits, or related incentives. While this range reflects the minimum and maximum value for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations, the offer for the successful candidate for this position will be based on job related capabilities, applicable experience, and other factors such as work location. Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only (or OTE for commissions based roles), and do not include bonus, benefits, or related incentives.Hybrid: In this role, our hybrid experience is designed at the team level to give you a rich onsite experience packed with connection, collaboration, learning, and celebration - while also giving you flexibility to work remotely for part of the week. This role must attend our local office for part of the week. The specific in-office schedule is to be determined by the hiring manager.
The intelligent heart of customer experience
Zendesk software was built to bring a sense of calm to the chaotic world of customer service. Today we power billions of conversations with brands you know and love.
Zendesk believes in offering our people a fulfilling and inclusive experience. Our hybrid way of working, enables us to purposefully come together in person, at one of our many Zendesk offices around the world, to connect, collaborate and learn whilst also giving our people the flexibility to work remotely for part of the week.
As part of our commitment to fairness and transparency, we inform all applicants that artificial intelligence (AI) or automated decision systems may be used to screen or evaluate applications for this position, in accordance with Company guidelines and applicable law.
Zendesk is an equal opportunity employer, and we’re proud of our ongoing efforts to foster global diversity, equity, & inclusion in the workplace. Individuals seeking employment and employees at Zendesk are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, medical condition, ancestry, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We are an AA/EEO/Veterans/Disabled employer. If you are based in the United States and would like more information about your EEO rights under the law, please click here.
Zendesk endeavors to make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities and disabled veterans pursuant to applicable federal and state law. If you are an individual with a disability and require a reasonable accommodation to submit this application, complete any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participate in the employee selection process, please send an e-mail to [email protected] with your specific accommodation request.
Top Skills
What We Do
Zendesk software was built to bring a sense of calm to the chaotic world of customer service. Today we power billions of conversations with brands you know and love. We advocate for digital first customer experiences— and we stick with it in our workplace. Over 5,000 employees worldwide are collaborating from kitchen tables, home offices, co-working spaces, and Zendesk workspaces to make one team.
Why Work With Us
We know one desk doesn’t fit all. At Zendesk, we prioritize remote work because we believe great work happens anywhere. Digital first is more than where we work though. We give our employees flexibility and choice in both where and how they work while also trusting them to be a team player.
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