Staff Engineer (Product)

Later is the world’s most intelligent influencer marketing company, built to give brands the confidence to create unforgettable campaigns. By combining real creator relationships, trusted intelligence, and expert guidance, Later removes fear and guesswork from one of marketing’s most visible investments. Built on a native, AI-powered platform and more than a decade of proprietary data—including billions of social interactions, impressions, and $2.4B+ in verified influencer-driven purchases—Later helps teams understand what will work before they launch. By combining trusted insight with expert guidance, Later removes guesswork from influencer marketing, enabling brands to choose the right creators, execute fully managed campaigns, and drive meaningful growth across awareness, engagement, and revenue. Trusted by leading enterprise brands including Nike, Wayfair, Unilever, and Southwest Airlines, Later bridges creativity and performance so campaigns don’t just look good—they deliver results. Learn more at later.com. About this position: We’re looking for a Staff Engineer to play a critical role in shaping the future of Later’s technology stack. This is a senior-level role for a highly skilled engineer who thrives in fast-paced, high-growth environments and takes ownership of complex, high-impact initiatives. You’ll scope, lead, and deliver large projects that elevate our platform while mentoring others and upholding a high bar for engineering excellence. This is a hands-on technical leadership role where you’ll not only ship code but also shape architecture, coach teammates, and influence the direction of our product. If you’re passionate about building scalable, secure, and high-quality applications that serve millions of users—and you want to be the person others turn to when things get tough—this is the opportunity for you. What you'll be doing: Strategy • Scope, plan, and lead large-scale technical initiatives, ensuring alignment with business priorities and product roadmaps. • Anticipate risks, identify opportunities for innovation, and guide technical decision-making to deliver long-term impact. Technical / Execution • Design, build, and optimize scalable systems across the stack, from frontend (React, TypeScript) to backend (Node.js). • Deliver production-grade features end-to-end, while maintaining performance, security, and reliability at scale. • Improve and maintain codebases, ensuring clean architecture, best practices in testing and deployment, and strong CI/CD pipelines. • Debug and resolve complex issues across systems and services, serving as the go-to expert when problems arise. • Implement and advocate for strong application and infrastructure security practices. Team / Collaboration • Partner cross-functionally with Product, Design, and other Engineering teams to clarify requirements, resolve ambiguities, and deliver solutions that delight users. • Communicate technical and non-technical ideas clearly, ensuring stakeholders and teammates feel informed and engaged. • Act as a technical mentor, coaching junior and mid-level engineers while fostering a culture of collaboration and learning. Research / Best Practices • Stay current on emerging tools, frameworks, and methods that can drive performance, security, and scalability. • Experiment with new technologies—including AI/ML applications—and share learnings to elevate team performance. • Promote continuous improvement, introducing practices that improve speed, quality, and developer experience. What success looks like: • You consistently deliver high-impact projects on time, meeting both technical and business objectives. • You’re seen as a trusted technical leader who raises the bar for engineering excellence across the team. • You proactively identify opportunities to optimize performance, security, and scalability, and successfully implement solutions. • You coach and influence peers, creating a ripple effect that improves team performance and morale. What you bring: • 8–15 years of professional experience in software development, with a track record of shipping large-scale, high-quality features and systems and driving architectural decisions at the org level. • Strong frontend expertise in React and TypeScript • Backend proficiency in Node.js (Kotlin experience a plus) • Experience with SQL and NoSQL databases (MySQL, DynamoDB). • Deep experience with API integration and third-party API management. • Familiarity with AWS or equivalent cloud infrastructure. • Proven ability in system design, architecture, and performance optimization. • In-depth knowledge of application and infrastructure security best practices. • Hands-on experience with Git, CI/CD pipelines, Docker (Kubernetes a plus), and YAML configuration. • Knowledge of automated testing frameworks and QA best practices. • Experience mentoring and coaching engineers, influencing without authority. • Nice to haves: • Experience with social networking platforms • Knowledge of accessibility standards • Familiarity with AI-powered development tools (Copilot, Cursor, etc.) • Experience with monitoring solutions (e.g., DataDog) • Background in rapid, iterative development environments How you work: • Driven by Impact: You deliver results that matter—prioritizing high-value work, meeting deadlines, and adapting quickly while keeping outcomes clear. • Strategic & Customer-Centric: You anticipate risks and opportunities, connect decisions to long-term growth, and build trust through proactive insights. • Curious & Growth-Oriented: You seek knowledge, ask sharp questions, and apply learnings fast—challenging the status quo with a mindset of improvement. • Collaborative & Resilient: You thrive in change by staying resourceful, solution-focused, and positive—removing roadblocks, sharing insights, and keeping morale high. • Accountable & Honest: You own your work, hold yourself and others to a high bar, and use transparen