Backend Engineer, Kik (Contractor)

Role overview Build and operate backend services for a messaging product, including functionality for conversations, groups, safety, and live video. Most of the work centers on Go services, with additional responsibility for migrating remaining Java services and taking software through deployment, monitoring, and production support. This is a contractor role for candidates based in Mexico or Argentina, with professional English required.

Responsibilities - Develop and extend Go microservices, including gRPC APIs and data models. - Migrate legacy Java services to Go, using coding agents where useful and carefully reviewing and verifying generated work before release. - Package and deploy services using Docker, Kubernetes, Helm, and GitHub Actions. - Instrument services and monitor them with Datadog; review code and investigate production issues across service boundaries. - Build security and data protection into the services you own. - Join a week-long on-call rotation, typically about once every four weeks depending on team size.

Requirements - At least 4 years of professional software engineering experience. - Production experience building and operating microservices or distributed systems, with strong Go fundamentals and the ability to reason through code independently. - Ability to read and understand Java code well enough to support service migrations. - Working knowledge of Docker, Kubernetes, and continuous integration and delivery. - Ability to prioritize work across projects independently and apply sound engineering practices and automation. - Hands-on experience shipping production code with AI development tools, including disciplined task scoping, review, and testing; sound judgment to catch bugs, security gaps, and unsupported output. - Professional English proficiency and residence in Mexico or Argentina.

Nice to have - A computer science or related technical degree; experience with Terraform, Protocol Buffers, real-time media such as WebRTC, or Amazon or Google Cloud infrastructure.