Sr. Software Engineer, Workflow (Backend)

AI at ZapierAt Zapier, we build and use automation every day to make work more efficient, creative, and human. So if you’re using AI tools while applying here - that’s great! We just ask that you use them responsibly and transparently.Check out our guidance on How to Collaborate with AI During Zapier’s Hiring Process, including how to use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or others during our hiring process - and when not to.Job Posted: 2/24/26Location: AmericasHi there!Zapier’s Workflow Zone is responsible for the core engine that powers our automation platform. As more teams and organizations depend on Zapier to automate critical workflows, we’re investing in scaling the capabilities, reliability, and intelligence of our core product experience.We’re hiring a Sr. Backend Engineer to join the Runner team in our Workflow Zone. If you’re passionate about building robust systems, enabling advanced user workflows, and shaping the future of automation, we’d love to hear from you.The Workflow Zone is where Zapier’s automation magic happens. This zone owns the product experience and execution engine behind creating, running, and debugging workflows (Zaps). We’re focused on building powerful, flexible tools that help individuals and teams automate their work with speed and confidence.As automation use cases grow more complex—especially for Enterprise users—we’re evolving the platform to support more sophisticated logic, scalable execution, and AI-native experiences. This means:Building intuitive and resilient workflow authoring experiencesExpanding execution capabilities and logic primitivesIntroducing AI-powered tools for creation and troubleshootingImproving reliability, observability, and control across the systemThe Runner team is responsible for reliably executing Zaps—fast. We’re focused on the core infrastructure that powers Zapier’s workflows, including scaling for high volume and reducing latency across millions of executions daily.In this role, you’ll:Develop and maintain Zapier’s execution engine, scaling it to handle millions of daily runsImprove system performance, reduce latency, and strengthen failure handlingDesign and implement execution primitives that power reliable automationCollaborate across infrastructure, product, and platform teams on core system designThis is a foundational team at the platform layer—ideal for engineers who like deep technical challenges and shipping resilient, high-scale services.About YouWe’re looking for experienced engineers who bring:5+ years of professional experience developing software, including at least 2 years in a senior-level roleStrong backend experience, ideally in Python and Django and/or TypeScript and Node.js, building reliable, scalable, and observable servicesFamiliarity with relational databases like PostgreSQL or MySQL, and the ability to model, query, and optimize data effectivelyExperience designing and consuming RESTful APIs, building event-driven systems, and working with data integrations across servicesProven ability to lead complex technical projects—owning design decisions, balancing tradeoffs, and guiding implementation across multiple contributorsYou proactively coach and support teammates, foster growth through mentorship, and contribute to a culture of feedback and continuous improvementYou navigate ambiguity with confidence—able to clarify priorities, align stakeholders, and drive toward meaningful outcomes even when goals shiftYou’ve used AI tooling for work or personal use—or you are willing to dive in and learn fast. You explore new tools, workflows, and ideas to make things more efficient, and are eager to deepen your understanding of AI and use it regularly.How We WorkZapier is a 100% remote team, and has been since day one. We value asynchronous communication, transparent collaboration, and work-life harmony. We believe in building systems that scale—both in code and in culture.If you’re passionate about shaping the future of AI-driven automation ... (truncated, view full listing at source)