At Docker, we make app development easier so developers can focus on what matters. Our remote-first team spans the globe, united by a passion for innovation and great developer experiences. With over 20 million monthly users and 20 billion image pulls, Docker is the #1 tool for building, sharing, and running apps—trusted by startups and Fortune 100s alike. We’re growing fast and just getting started. Come join us for a whale of a ride!
This is a remote position open to candidates located on the West Coast, with a preference for those based in the Seattle, WA area. We also offer an optional office space in Seattle for anyone who prefers an on-site or hybrid work environment.
Docker’s AI Tools & Security team is building the foundation for the next generation of secure, developer-friendly AI infrastructure. Our flagship product, the MCP Gateway, empowers developers to connect, observe, and secure AI agents and tools across the entire lifecycle—from prototype to production. We’re defining how developers safely harness the power of the Model Context Protocol (MCP) in real-world environments.
We’re looking for a Staff Backend Engineer who thrives at the intersection of AI, security, and developer experience. You’ll lead the technical direction of the Gateway and related services, collaborating closely with Product, Design, and Security to deliver elegant frameworks and APIs that developers love to use. This is a high-velocity, high-ownership environment: you’ll ship fast, iterate constantly, and help shape the future of secure agent-based development.
Who You Are
Required Qualifications:
8+ years of backend engineering experience with production-grade systems
A strong product mindset—you're excited about building developer-facing tools
Strong grasp of software engineering best practices (code review, source control, CI/CD, testing)
Deep knowledge of distributed and highly scalable systems, cloud-native infrastructure, and API design
Experience building secure, high-throughput services
Proficiency in modern programming languages (we primarily use Go).
Ownership mentality with a bias for shipping, learning, and iterating
Comfortable working with autonomy across distributed, remote teams.
Experience using cloud infrastructure (AWS, Azure, GCP)
Strong written and verbal English communication skills
Bonus Qualifications:
Experience with Kubernetes, Docker, and microservices architecture
Prior experience with OpenAI, Anthropic, or similar LLM APIs, and the MCP specification
Responsibilities:
Define the technical solution for a new product
Help shape the product with peers in Product and Design
Mentor other technical team members
Be the technical point of contact for the team
What to expect
First 30 days:
First 90 days:
Work with Product and Design on defining the product
Attend customer calls
Meet people across the company
Help grow the team by participating in hiring loops
One-Year Outlook:
We use Covey as part of our hiring and / or promotional process for jobs in NYC and certain features may qualify it as an AEDT. As part of the evaluation process we provide Covey with job requirements and candidate submitted applications. We began using Covey Scout for Inbound on April 13, 2024.
Please see the independent bias audit report covering our use of Covey here.
Perks
Freedom & flexibility; fit your work around your life
Designated quarterly Whaleness Days
Home office setup; we want you comfortable while you work
16 weeks of paid Parental leave
Technology stipend equivalent to $100 net/month
PTO plan that encourages you to take time to do the things you enjoy
Quarterly, company-wide hackathons
Training stipend for conferences, courses and classes
Equity; we are a growing start-up and want all employees to have a share in the success of the company
Docker Swag
Medical benefits, retirement and holidays vary by country
Docker embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our company will be.
Due to the remote nature of this role, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship.
#LI-REMOTE
Compensation Range: $200.4K - $275.6K
