The way software is built is changing, and fast! Engineers who embrace AI-native workflows today will define the next decade of product development. At Productboard, this transformation to being AI native is not a side project; it is our entire focus. AI first is our operating model, and this is how we work. We are building an AI-first Product Engineering organization where learning velocity matters as much as shipping. Our northstar: turn ideas into validated learning twice as fast. More experiments. Tighter feedback loops. Better outcomes.We’re looking for a Senior Backend Product Engineer (Kotlin/Java, Ruby, Python or backend generalist) to join our team. You will work on Productboard Spark, which redefines Product Management for the world with AI. Spark surfaces customer feedback that matters, turns ideas into AI-ready specs and automatically tracks shipped features against their goals. Join us, and help shape the future of AI-powered product development.
Why this matters for your career
The gap between engineers who are building with AI daily and those who are still watching is widening fast. At Productboard, you won't just use AI tools. You will shape the architecture that makes AI agents effective, define the workflows that make them reliable, and build the evaluation systems that make them trustworthy. You will work in an environment where AI first is not a future aspiration. It is the current standard.The skills you build here, agent native design, multi-model orchestration, eval-driven development, AI-ready codebase architecture, are the skills that will define senior engineering for the next decade.
AI is how we build
This is not a tagline. It is our daily operating model across Engineering, Product, and Design. PMs and designers don't just spec features here. They prototype with AI tools and ship to production alongside engineers.AI is embedded across the full lifecycle: technical discoveries, spec writing, design exploration, implementation, test generation, code review, CI/CD, and incident resolution. Human judgment stays in control. People own product intent and quality decisions, with strong review practices and guardrails that keep shipping safe.
What we are building underneath:
Agent native architecture standards: clear API contracts, semantic naming, and well-defined module boundaries that keep AI effective as systems grow.
A context infrastructure layer with repo versioned guidance that AI tools automatically load, improving the output of Cursor, Claude Code, and Codex simultaneously.
AI agent workflows for on-call and incident resolution: triage alerts, pull logs, surface relevant history, and suggest remediation.
Systematic optimization of AI code review to catch correctness, security, and maintainability issues earlier.
What you will do
Develop the Core Product: You'll have a significant hand in building and refining our user-facing product. Your work will directly impact our users as you ship your contributions to production regularly, ensuring the product's performance, scalability, and robustness. You’ll enjoy the freedom to direct your work and share ownership of the product.
Develop Across the Entire Tech Stack: Craft robust backend systems using technologies like Ruby and Kotlin, and create intuitive frontends with React and Typescript. Your work will bridge server and client sides, making our product more efficient and user-friendly.
Tackle Complex Challenges: Bring your creativity to resolve challenging technical issues and be involved in every phase of feature development – from concept to implementation and beyond.
Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Work alongside product managers, designers and other partners. Your collaborative efforts will be essential in delivering impactful results and engaging in the dynamic product development process.
Gain Customer Insight: Dive into customer experiences to gain valuable insights, driving user engagement and shaping new features. Your work will make our product more engaging and personalized, resonating with our users' needs.
Make our codebase AI-ready: define clear module boundaries, improve API contracts, add semantic context, and build the structured documentation that makes AI agents more effective across every repo.
Design and implement agent workflows that go beyond chat: multi-step reasoning, tool use, autonomous task execution, and human-gated checkpoints.
Run experiments, validate with real users, and iterate based on evidence. We measure learning velocity, not just output
Collaborate closely with product managers and designers to shape what we build, not just how we build it. We expect a product mindset, not just technical execution.
Act as a knowledge multiplier, sharing what you learn across and beyond your team to raise the bar for everyone.
About you
Proven Engineering Experience: You bring over 5 years of engineering experience, demonstrating a history of developing world-class product experiences within a team. Your track record shows significant contributions in engineering roles.
Pragmatic & Business-Oriented: Your focus is on balancing craft, speed, and business impact. You make informed decisions, choosing the right technology based on practical tradeoffs rather than chasing trends.
Strategic Problem-Solver: You excel at breaking down complex problems into manageable solutions, considering both technical and business implications. Your ability to iterate swiftly on new ideas and adjust your approach with emerging information stands out.
Familiar with Scaling Systems: You possess a thorough understanding of how different system components, from the user interface to the data model, work together. Your technical skills include working as part of a team to scale and optimize backend systems, adapting effectively to meet increasing user demands.
Flexible with Technology: Adaptable in learning and using different technologies, you are not bound by any single tool or language. You value practicality and efficiency in your technological choices.
Empathetic Communicator: You articulate complex technical ideas clearly, both in writing and verbally. In disagreements, you engage thoughtfully, respecting different viewpoints and finding compromise when necessary.
Team Player: Collaborative by nature, you work effectively with cross-functional teams. Your commitment goes beyond personal achievement, focusing also on the growth and learning of your teammates.
Focused on Delivery: You prioritize effectively, aligning your work with the team's objectives. You are skilled in managing time and resources, you meet deadlines and work within budgets, while adeptly adjusting to project changes as needed.
User-Centric: You prioritize users, understanding the impact of your work on their lives. This awareness drives your project choices, recognizing the responsibility that comes with your role.
Curious and Quick Learner: You are eager to take on new challenges, unphased by managing multiple projects. Your ability to rapidly learn and adapt is essential in our fast-paced environment.
Startup Mentality: Thriving in the dynamic setting of startup in a changing world, you are self-motivated and action-oriented. You balance short-term achievements with the long-term quality standards critical for our success.
Our tech stack
Frontend: TypeScript, React.js
Backend: TypeScript/Node.js, Ruby, Kotlin, Kafka
Storage: Postgres, Elastic, Redis
Data Pipeline: Python, Keboola, Looker, Snowflake
Infrastructure: AWS, Kubernetes, Terraform
Business tools: Slack, Jira, Google suite, Zoom, Notion
💰Stock options💻 MacBook + 34″ monitor📚 Budget for online courses, books, and conferences🏝️ 5 weeks of vacation + 9 sick days🫶 Volunteer Days for you to help causes close to your heart🥕 Carrot Fertility Benefits🥗 Free snacks, drinks, and yummy catered lunches🏋️♂️ MultiSport card to access sports facilities⏰ Flexible working hours and home office🧑🧑🧒🧒 Parental benefits🗣️ Language lessons🍀 Mental Wellness Program to support your well-being and self-careRelocation OpportunitiesIf joining us means making a move, we’re here to help make that transition easier.Candidates must have the legal right to work in the EU. While we are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this role, we’re happy to support relocation to Prague for candidates already authorized to work in the EU.Relocation SupportWe offer a one-time relocation bonus ranging from $6,000 to $13,000 USD, depending on your personal situation, whether you’re moving on your own or with a partner or family.This bonus is intended to help offset moving expenses and support your transition into your new city. While it may not cover every cost, it provides meaningful financial support as you get settled.If you’re thinking about relocating and want to explore what this could look like for you, we’d be happy to have that conversation.
