Software Engineer - Backend Platform

Rover
Barcelona, Spain
Hybrid

Who this role is best for

Backend engineers with Django/Python experience and database expertise will find this mid-level role focused on database operations and infrastructure in a collaborative, hybrid environment in Barcelona.

Best fit for

  • Mid-level Django/Python engineers with a strong background in database operations and a passion for infrastructure automation
    — “3+ years as a Fullstack or Backend Engineer (preferably in Django/Python)”
  • Candidates who thrive in cross-functional teams and enjoy leading database scalability initiatives
    — “Lead major and minor database upgrades”
  • Individuals experienced in managing AWS RDS environments and Terraform for infrastructure as code
    — “Experience using and managing AWS products, with a focus on operating, maintaining, and diagnosing issues within production environments”

Things to consider

  • This role requires a minimum of two days per week in the Barcelona office
    — “minimum expectation to work out of our Barcelona Office in the Poblenou neighborhood two days per week”
  • Candidates must be based in Barcelona or willing to relocate to fulfill the hybrid work arrangement
    — “candidates must be based in Barcelona or willing to relocate”

How to stand out

  • Highlight experience with PostgreSQL and MySQL in production environments during interviews
    — “Solid knowledge and understanding of databases, schema design and database fundamentals (MySQL/PostgreSQL/AWS RDS)”
  • Showcase your ability to design and implement self-service tools for database management
    — “Build and maintain self-service tools, such as our Automated Data Model Change approval tooling.”
  • Demonstrate your proficiency in Terraform and Python for infrastructure and migration tasks
    — “Proficiency with infrastructure as code (eg: Terraform or CDK)”
  • Emphasize your experience with monitoring tools like Datadog or Cloudwatch in your resume
    — “Familiarity with monitoring tools like Datadog/Cloudwatch or ELK stack”
Pace · SteadyCollaboration · HighAutonomy · MediumDecision Impact · TeamLevel · Mid

Derived from job-description analysis by Serendipath's career intelligence engine.

What success looks like

  • stable and reliable database environments
  • optimized database performance
  • enhanced cross-team collaboration
Typical background
database engineering experiencebackend software development

Skills & requirements

Required

Database ManagementAWS RDSDjangoObservability ToolsDatabase Performance TuningCross-team CollaborationOn-call Support

Preferred

TerraformData ModelingCloud Infrastructure Management

Stack & domain

Database OperationsDatabase ManagementDatabase Performance TuningDatabase Backup StrategiesDatabase UpgradesCompliance RequirementsDatastore ScalabilityDatabase ReliabilitySchema MigrationsQuery TuningMonitoringOn-call RotationsProduction TroubleshootingRoot Cause AnalysisSelf-service ToolsTerraformAWS RDSMySQLPostgreSQLDjangoSentryDatadogSplunkCollaborationProblem SolvingAttention To DetailTeamworkCommunicationBackend PlatformDatabase PerformanceDatabase ScalabilityDatabase BackupComplianceOn-call

About the role

Original posting from Rover via Lever

Who we are: 

At Rover, pets and their people are at the heart of everything we do. We connect pet parents with trusted pet care across the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia.

Headquartered in Seattle and Barcelona, we’re a values driven, fast-growing tech company focused on building safe and personalized experiences tailored to the needs of each unique pet. We’re investing in AI as a business accelerator and provide every team member access to AI tools in service of creating better experiences for our community.

We are proud to be recognized as a great place to work, having been named among the 100 Best Companies to Work For in Seattle Business Magazine and Washington’s Best Workplaces in the Puget Sound Business Journal. At Rover we’re committed to creating an accessible, inclusive, and welcoming community, which starts with our employees.

Want to make an impact? Join our pack and come work (and play!) with us.

Meet the Team:

As the Backend Platform and Support team, we focus on building and managing the internal platforms and core technology that drive the Rover application. Our responsibilities include maintaining Rover’s datastores, specifically AWS RDS (MySQL and PostgreSQL), while also supporting shared Django code and observability tools like Sentry, Datadog, and Splunk. Through these efforts, we empower our engineering teams to deliver a robust, stable, and reliable experience for both owners and sitters. The Backend Platform team operates as part of the broader Platform Engineering division.

What We Are Looking for:

Rover.com is looking for a skilled Software Engineer to join our team in Barcelona, with a core focus on datastores. In this role, you will collaborate closely with our lead Database Engineer to manage Rover's databases, oversee database operations, and execute critical upgrades. Your responsibilities will include ensuring the performance and stability of our PostgreSQL and MySQL environments while building self-service automation tools. Additionally, you will spearhead cross-team initiatives with product teams to enhance datastore scalability and reliability, and partner with developers across the organization to review migrations and optimize database performance. We are looking for a developer who is passionate about datastores and invested in improving the reliability and scalability of our databases!

This is a hybrid position that has the minimum expectation to work out of our Barcelona Office in the Poblenou neighborhood two days per week on Mondays and Thursdays. For this reason, candidates must be based in Barcelona or willing to relocate.

Some of Our Key Investments::

  • Manage core database operations, including user access, instance scaling, and performance tuning
  • Design and test backup strategies to ensure we can restore data quickly with almost no downtime
  • Lead major and minor database upgrades
  • Manage compliance requirements
  • Identify and lead initiatives to improve stability, scalability and performance of Rover’s web app
  • Collaborate with developers on schema migrations and query tuning
  • Use Datadog/Cloudwatch to monitor system health and set up alerting
  • Participate in on-call rotations to provide 24/7 support for critical systems
  • Troubleshoot complex production issues and perform root cause analysis and resolution
  • Build and maintain self-service tools, such as our Automated Data Model Change approval tooling.
  • Design Terraform for management of RDS infrastructure and deployment
  • Develop automation scripts using Python to assist in Django migration issues and model tuning

Your Qualifications and Skillset::

  • Computer Science or equivalent background
  • 3+ years as a Fullstack or Backend Engineer (preferably in Django/Python)
  • Solid knowledge and understanding of databases, schema design and database fundamentals (MySQL/PostgreSQL/AWS RDS)
  • Experience using and managing AWS products, with a focus on operating, maintaining, and diagnosing issues within production environments
  • Proficiency with infrastructure as code (eg: Terraform or CDK)
  • Familiarity with monitoring tools like Datadog/Cloudwatch or ELK stack

Our Style::

  • We are proud to be professional software developers building high quality, scalable and supportable solutions.
  • We are curious and passionate about learning, providing the right environment and resources for professional growth.
  • We are committed to building, fostering and maintaining a culture of inclusivity and diversity both on our teams and in our products.
  • We embrace progressive engineering practices including automated testing and a continuous deployment pipeline.
  • We are serious about the quality of our production operation, and have thorough system, application and user interaction monitoring and anomaly detection.
  • We are passionate about data-driven decision-making.
  • We are friendly, supportive and respectful, and we pay attention to the impact and quality of our work as well as keeping work/life balance.
  • And, dogs in the office. Bring yours, too!

Benefits of Working at Rover.com::

  • Long-term incentive plan with a company performance-based cash payout
  • Pension plan
  • Private medical insurance
  • 25 days PTO
  • Meal allowance and flexible compensation plan (transport and nursery)
  • Gym membership
  • €450 to cover the costs associated with the adoption of a pet
  • Annual €150 wellness reimbursement
  • Flexible work hours, sometimes you'll need to be in at certain times, but on the whole, we're pretty flexible when it comes to managing workload and time
  • Grab snacks, fresh fruit, in our kitchen to keep yourself going
  • Regular team activities, events, game nights, and more
  • Dog-friendly office

Compensation::

In the greater Barcelona area the first-year salary range is €62,722 - €76,027. Additionally, Rover offers a long-term incentive plan with a company performance-based cash payout and benefits to full-time employees.

The cash compensation offered for this role will be dependent on the candidate's experience, qualifications, skills, and abilities as demonstrated in the interview and hiring process.

Rover is an equal-opportunity employer committed to promoting a diverse, inclusive, and inventive environment with the best employees. We’re driven by seeing our people succeed and grow, and we work to ensure everyone contributes to their fullest potential. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to age, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, protected veteran status, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances.

Source: Rover careers (Lever)

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