Senior Software Engineer, Web API Platform

Overview

Senior Software Engineer, Web API Platform – join Scribd, Inc. to help establish a company-wide API platform that accelerates web modernization. You will design, build, and own new product-facing web APIs that span Scribd and Everand, serving as the primary interface between modern web applications and backend systems.

This posting reflects an approved, open position within the organization. Scribd emphasizes a balance of flexibility and in-person collaboration through Scribd Flex, with occasional in-person attendance required for all employees.

At Scribd Inc., our mission is to spark human curiosity. We create a world of stories and knowledge, democratize the exchange of ideas and information, and empower collective expertise through our products:
Everand, Scribd, Slideshare, and Fable.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.

• Design, build, and own product-facing web APIs that span the full web product surface across Scribd and Everand.

• Ensure APIs have clear contracts, predictable performance, strong observability, and scalable integration with frontend experiences and backend systems.

• Collaborate with frontend and backend teams to define integration patterns, guide API usage, and ensure the platform scales with real-world data volumes.

• Be the primary owner of product-facing web APIs as the platform matures, providing a stable foundation for other teams to integrate with and extend.

Key Attributes

• Strong ownership mindset, owning API design and implementation from initial design through production, iteration, and long-term maintenance.
• Pragmatic approach to system design, balancing ideal architecture with real-world constraints.
• Ability to design performance-aware APIs with intentional constraints that scale safely.
• Strong collaborator who works with frontend and backend teams toward better performance and integration outcomes.
• Long-term perspective on maintainability, extensibility, and developer experience.

Experience We Value

• 6+ years of professional software engineering experience, with a strong backend or platform focus.
• Proven experience designing APIs for high-volume or data-intensive product workflows.
• Experience implementing and integrating APIs with a Ruby on Rails application.
• Familiarity with modern API paradigms (REST, Graph
  
  QL, gRPC) and their tradeoffs.
• Experience with query patterns, caching, pagination, and common performance pitfalls.
• Experience designing APIs with explicit contracts, versioning, and testing strategies.
• Experience working with modern web frontends (e.g., React, Next.js).
• Strong communication skills and experience championing API design across teams.
• Hands-on experience incorporating AI-assisted tools into development workflows (e.g., debugging, testing, documentation, or design exploration).

What Sets You Apart

• Designed APIs with explicit, intentional performance characteristics.
• Consider observability, failure modes, and system health as part of API design.
• Ability to place thoughtful constraints on API consumers to protect scalability and developer experience.
• Treat APIs and developer tooling as products, not just infrastructure.
• Cares about how backend decisions impact end users and enjoys greenfield work with integration to existing systems.
• Brings informed opinions and enjoys refining them through discussion and iteration.

At Scribd, your base pay is part of total compensation and is determined within a range based on local benchmarks. Salary ranges vary by location. California: $146,000 – $227,500;
United States outside California: $120,000 – $216,500;
Canada: $152,500 CAD – $202,000 CAD. This position may include equity and a comprehensive benefits package. Compensation is evaluated based on experience, skills, and business needs, and applicable level adjustments may apply.

Benefits include healthcare coverage, parental leave, disability plans, retirement matching, onboarding stipends, learning allowances, wellness stipends, AI tools access, and more. Some benefits depend on location.

Are you based in a location where Scribd Inc. operates? Primary residence should be in or near a listed city or within commuting distance for the US, Canada, or Mexico as outlined in the posting. This may include in-person collaboration periods and flexible work arrangements.

Scribd Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.