The Position:

First Look Media is looking for an experienced and forward-thinking senior backend engineer to join our top-notch engineering team.

Candidates should be self-motivated professionals who have built long lasting data models and APIs. A broad set of experiences is ideal - core to the role is building and iterating on robust services. Some consumers of these services will be front end web clients or internal stakeholders and others will be workflow pipelines managing, transforming and moving data and assets across our own infrastructure and out to partners.

Our infrastructure is entirely in the cloud (AWS) and you’ll ideally have a lot of experience working in that environment. Backend engineers need to have some level of comfort working in a DevOps capacity - although expertise is not required, a willingness to learn and step in is.

As Senior Engineer you’ll have a great deal of autonomy so you should be organized, outspoken and love creating great services. You’ll work with the backend team as well as in partnership with the front-end developers. You may work directly with stakeholders. Collaboration and communication are key to getting things done.

Our office is in NYC but this role can be telecommute. We’d love it if you were in or near enough to the city to get in when we want to get together but there may be times where you’ll need to come into the office.

Responsibilities:

  • Architect and implement backend systems and services
  • Manage and improve our infrastructure and tooling
  • Build robust two-way integrations with a variety of third party services
  • Work with the wider engineering team and stakeholders to constantly refine our processes
  • Other appropriately related projects/duties as assigned

Our Tech Stack:

We use the best tools for the job and are always open to new technologies, but our basic stack includes:

  • Node
  • TypeScript/JavaScript
  • AWS
  • GraphQL
  • PostgreSQL
  • Elasticsearch
  • Redshift
  • Kafka
  • Docker
  • CircleCI
  • Terraform

Background & Qualifications:

  • At least 3 years as a backend engineer
  • Experience building an evolving data model and API
  • Someone who works easily and collaboratively with the team
  • Experience working as a client of many different APIs
  • Someone who’s worked with Cloud services (ideally AWS)
  • Comfort in a dynamic environment

Compensation (NYC Only): The salary range for this role is $130,000 - $145,000 annually. The salary offered will be determined based on relative experience, skillset and other job related factors.

About FIRST LOOK MEDIA

First Look Media is a new-model media company devoted to supporting independent voices, from fearless investigative journalism and documentary filmmaking to smart, provocative entertainment. Launched in 2013 by eBay founder and philanthropist Pierre Omidyar, FLM was founded on the fundamental belief that freedom of expression and of the press, and the power of storytelling, are vital to both a vibrant culture and a thriving democracy. 

About TOPIC STUDIOS

Topic Studios is the award-winning entertainment studio from First Look Media that develops, finances and produces provocative and entertaining content for all platforms including theatrical, streaming, television and podcasts.

The Studio is behind such notable films as Nikyatu Jusu’s Nanny (with Stay Gold Features and Linlay Productions), winner of the U.S. Dramatic Grand Jury Prize at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival; the Academy Award®-winning Spotlight; Pablo Larraìn’s Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart (Golden Globe® nominee for her performance) as Princess Diana (with NEON); The Mauritanian, starring Jodie Foster (Golden Globe® winner for her performance), Tahar Rahim (Golden Globe® nominee for his performance), Benedict Cumberbatch, and Shailene Woodley (STX); and Adam Leon’s Italian Studies starring Academy Award® nominee Vanessa Kirby (Magnolia Pictures). Acclaimed documentaries from the Studio have included the big wave surfing series, 100 Foot Wave, recently renewed for a second season, and the Film Independent Spirit Award-nominated, three-part series, Nuclear Family, both on HBO/HBO Max; The Fight, co-released with Magnolia Pictures; the Film Independent Spirit Award-nominated docuseries Love Fraud on Showtime; Lucy Walker’s wildfires documentary Bring Your Own Brigade, on Paramount+; and Mucho Mucho Amor on Netflix. Pioneering podcasts have included Pulitzer finalist and IDA Award-winning investigative podcast Somebody, with iHeartMedia; John Cameron Mitchell’s Anthem featuring Glenn Close, Cynthia Erivo and Patti LuPone; and The Messenger and American ISIS on Audible Plus. The Studio is also ramping up its scripted television division with the Untitled Martin Lawrence Project, based on the acclaimed Israeli “HOT” series Nehama; also the Untitled Vincent Chin Project, a scripted drama limited series created by Marilyn Fu with Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) attached to direct (in partnership with Amazon); and two premium dramas arising from the Studios’ previous first-look deal with Tracy Oliver (Harlem), including the adult thriller Savannah with PKM Productions for Amazon Studios

About TOPIC SVOD

Topic is the boundary-pushing streaming service from First Look Entertainment for thrillers, mysteries, dramas and documentaries from around the world, serving viewers who crave entertainment beyond the mainstream. Whether it’s a Nordic-noir crime thriller (The Killing), an Italian supernatural political drama (The Miracle), or a mind-blowing paranormal mystery from Russia (Dead Mountain), Topic expands your view of the world.

Featuring North American premieres, exclusive TV series and film, and programming from more than 40 countries, Topic showcases an unparalleled collection of creators, perspectives and experiences. Complemented by our Topic Originals, we prioritize bold storytelling and champion underrepresented voices. Topic Originals and exclusives include Oscar® nominee The Letter Room (starring Oscar Isaac), Lambs of God (starring Ann Dowd), BAFTA® nominee The Virtues (starring Stephen Graham), Emmy® nominee The Accidental Wolf (starring Kelli O’Hara), Dark Woods, Gotham Award winning Philly D.A., and Soul City (directed by Coodie & Chike).

Topic is available to US and Canadian audiences on topic.com, AppleTV & iOS, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Android & Android TV, Samsung, Apple TV Channels, Roku Premium Channels, Bell Fibe, Amazon Prime Video Channels, Comcast and Comcast’s entertainment platforms, including Xfinity X1, Xfinity Flex and XClass TV. Topic is part of First Look Entertainment which also includes Topic Studios, the award winning entertainment studio which develops, finances, and produces content for all platforms.

About First Look Institute

First Look Institute is a nonprofit organization committed to fearless reporting, bold filmmaking, and defending those who speak truth to power. By empowering journalists to unearth injustices, unbeholden to outside influences, by investing in a generation of trailblazing filmmakers; and by protecting risk-taking reporters and whistleblowers from retribution, First Look Institute vigilantly defends our First Amendment rights so democracy can flourish. First Look Institute is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer--people of color, people with disabilities, women, and LGBT candidates are strongly encouraged to apply; we are committed to a diverse workplace, and to supporting our staff with ongoing career development opportunities.

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