Software Engineer – Backend (New Grad) – Instacart
Instacart (NASDAQ: CART) is the leading online grocery platform in North America, connecting customers to 1,500+ retail partners including Kroger, Costco, Aldi, Walmart, and Whole Foods across 14,000+ grocery store locations. Instacart processes millions of grocery orders weekly, with shoppers fulfilling orders in 30+ minutes through real-time inventory availability, substitution intelligence, and delivery logistics. Instacart Ads is also a top-5 retail media network, serving 5,000+ brands reaching grocery shoppers at the moment of purchase decision. We are hiring New Grad Backend Engineers to build the technology that helps families eat better and shop smarter.
Responsibilities
- Build backend services in Python and Go powering Instacart's grocery catalog — managing 6+ million product SKUs across 1,500+ retailers with real-time inventory data
- Develop order management APIs handling the full grocery order lifecycle from cart checkout through shopper fulfillment to customer doorstep delivery
- Implement real-time inventory availability services integrating with retailer point-of-sale systems to show accurate in-store product availability
- Build Instacart's shopper matching algorithms assigning grocery orders to nearby shoppers based on location, batch efficiency, and shopper ratings
- Develop Instacart Ads backend services implementing sponsored product placement, bid management, and ad attribution for 5,000+ CPG brand advertisers
- Design and optimize PostgreSQL and Redis data models for Instacart's high-throughput order processing and product catalog systems
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field
- Proficiency in Python, Go, Ruby, or Java
- Understanding of REST APIs, microservices, and SQL/NoSQL databases
- Ability to design reliable, scalable backend systems and write comprehensive test coverage
- Interest in e-commerce, grocery tech, or marketplace platform engineering
Benefits
- Competitive salary with Instacart RSU equity
- Monthly Instacart grocery delivery credits for employees
- Medical, dental, and vision benefits
- 401(k) with Instacart matching
- Flexible hybrid schedule with collaborative San Francisco office culture