Engineer, Backend

Zapier • San Francisco, CA

1d • Remote

About The Position

At 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.
Zapier's External Platform Zone focuses on all the ways external parties—SaaS partners, developers, and AI agents—build on Zapier. The zone brings together APIs, SDKs, and embedded experiences so partners can use Zapier as connected infrastructure inside their own products and systems.
Within this zone, the Partner Solutions team makes Zapier's automation and integration capabilities accessible to partners through commercial APIs, embedded experiences, and solution-focused products.
We're hiring a Backend Engineer to help shape the future of partner-powered automation through the Powered by Zapier API and other products and services we own, which allow companies to create fully native automation experiences directly inside their products without reinventing the infrastructure behind workflows, triggers, and integrations.
If you're passionate about designing APIs that enable developers to build remarkable automation experiences, thrive on scaling backend systems, and want to play a key role in growing Zapier's ecosystem through partnerships, we'd love to hear from you.
The Partner Solutions team makes Zapier's automation and integration capabilities accessible to partners through commercial APIs, embedded experiences, and solution-focused products. We design and maintain the external interfaces, programs, and experiences that enable partners to build with Zapier and offer automation to their customers. Our scope includes the Workflow API, embedded workflow experiences, account provisioning, promotions, reporting, and more.
Our mission is to help partners integrate Zapier into their offerings, support their customers, and unlock new revenue and growth opportunities for both sides. Rather than just providing tools, we proactively design ways for partners to deliver value through our APIs.
We're building toward a future where Zapier becomes the preferred integration and automation platform for partners. By externalizing core capabilities in ways that align with partner needs—APIs, embedded experiences, promotions, developer tools, and partner-oriented programs—we enable partners to deliver automation directly within their products, driving adoption, retention, and product-led growth across the ecosystem.

Requirements

• API Development Experience: You’ve built and maintained APIs, gateways, and integration points that serve real-world production traffic.
• Language Proficiency: You’re fluent in Python, with strong experience using Django and ideally the Django REST Framework.
• Authentication Knowledge: You’re familiar with OAuth, API keys, JWTs, and other authentication patterns used in secure API systems.
• Scale and Reliability Mindset: You design systems for performance, resilience, and maintainability, You think carefully about how features reach customers.
• Developer Experience Focus: You care deeply about usability, feedback loops, and how external developers interact with your APIs.
• Collaborative Spirit: You thrive in cross-functional environments, engaging openly with product managers, designers, and fellow engineers.
• Remote-Ready Discipline: You communicate clearly in writing, work autonomously, and thrive in an asynchronous, distributed team.
• Adaptability: You’re comfortable navigating ambiguity and enjoy evolving your tools and practices as the team and platform scale.

Nice To Haves

• OpenAPI & Code Generation: Experience designing or maintaining OpenAPI specifications or exploring SDK generation pipelines.
• AI Development Familiarity: You’ve experimented with AI-powered development tools, or are excited to learn how AI can enhance automation and developer workflows.
• Partner Ecosystem Experience: You’ve worked with external partners or developer platforms, helping teams integrate APIs or automation into their products.
• Front-End Experience: Familiarity with React and Next.js is a plus, especially for understanding embedded partner experiences and improving developer tools.

Responsibilities

• Design and build new partner-facing APIs that power automation and integration directly within partner platforms.
• Expand and improve the Powered by Zapier platform, ensuring reliability, scalability, and exceptional developer experience.
• Enhance partner developer tools and documentation, creating seamless onboarding and implementation experiences.
• Balance internal and external needs, ensuring systems are ergonomic and scalable for both Zapier’s engineering teams and external developers.
• Collaborate across teams including Platform, Infrastructure, and Product Engineering to ensure smooth integration and interoperability.
• Lead technical initiatives, mentor teammates, and contribute to architectural decisions that set long-term direction for the product.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed