Profound is the marketing platform for the age of AI search. The way brands reach people is being rewritten — AI models like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Mode are now the answer layer between companies and their customers. We built the platform marketers use to understand, measure, and win in that world: the analytics, intelligence, and agent automation that turn AI search from a threat into a competitive advantage.
We went from 0 to a $1B valuation in 18 months. Revenue grew 100x last year. Our customers include 15% of the Fortune 500 like Walmart, Wayfair and U.S. Bank, and innovators like Ramp, MongoDB, and Figma. We are backed by Sequoia, Kleiner Perkins, LSVP, and Khosla Ventures — and we are moving fast enough that the people joining now are building the playbook everyone who comes after them will run.
As a Backend Engineer, you will build and optimize the infrastructure that powers our AI-driven insights. You will design scalable APIs, process large datasets efficiently, and ensure high-performance systems that help businesses take control of their AI presence.
What you’ll doArchitect and develop high-performance backend systems that support AI-driven analytics
Build and maintain scalable APIs to power real-time insights and data retrieval
Optimize data processing pipelines to handle large-scale structured and unstructured data
Ensure system security, performance, and reliability at every level of the stack
Work closely with front-end engineers and data scientists to deliver seamless, high-impact features
Own key technical decisions, balancing speed with long-term maintainability
A strong portfolio or GitHub showcasing backend development expertise
Proficient in Node.js, Python, or Rust, with experience in scalable backend architecture
Deep understanding of databases including PostgreSQL, MySQL, or OLAP databases, and query optimization
Experience designing efficient data pipelines and working with distributed systems
Familiarity with cloud infrastructure such as AWS, GCP, or Azure and containerization including Docker and Kubernetes
Strong grasp of security best practices, API authentication, and performance tuning
Comfortable in a fast-moving, high-performance startup environment
This is an on-site role in our NYC, SF or Buenos Aires office, designed for builders who thrive on speed, iteration, and meaningful impact. We are happy to support visa sponsorship for qualified international candidates.
For this role, the expected base salary range is $140,000 to $260,000 (NYC and SF). Comp may vary based on location. Profound’s total compensation package is designed to be competitive and includes base salary, equity, and a full range of benefits and perks. Final compensation will depend on factors such as your skills, experience, qualifications, and location, and will be determined during the interview process. Our recruiting team will share more details about the full compensation package and benefits as you move through hiring.
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Note: All official communication from Profound will come from a @tryprofound.com email address. If you're contacted by anyone using a different domain, please disregard and report it as spam.
Skills Required
- Strong portfolio or GitHub showcasing backend development expertise
- Proficient in Node.js, Python, or Rust
- Experience in scalable backend architecture
- Deep understanding of databases including PostgreSQL and MySQL
- Experience designing data pipelines and distributed systems
- Familiarity with cloud infrastructure (AWS, GCP, Azure)
- Experience with containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
- Strong grasp of security best practices and API authentication
What We Do
Hundreds of millions of consumers are now using AI Search like ChatGPT or Perplexity to discover brands and products. Profound has developed the first analytics platform to help enterprise brands understand and improve how they show up in AI Search.
