Backend Systems Engineer

THE ROLE

As a Backend Systems Engineer in our Streaming & CDN team, you'll be instrumental in shaping how millions of users experience their favorite content. You'll dive deep into our C++ and Go-based systems, crafting high-quality, maintainable code that powers our custom CDN. You'll work on everything from writing code and testing to configuring data pipelines and debugging complex problems, all while collaborating closely with your squad and other teams. Join us and help us push the boundaries of video streaming

THE STREAMING & CDN TEAM

Our primary responsibility is to deliver video content to users through Zattoo's proprietary Content Delivery Network (CDN). We develop and maintain the software for our CDN edge nodes, primarily in C++, which handles everything from caching and packaging to DRM encryption and delivery of video files in various formats like DASH and HLS.

Our team also creates and maintains the backend services, written mainly in Go, that initiate and configure streams. These services are essential for managing user authorization and validation and for providing stream data to internal data pipelines. Additionally, we contribute to the Python middleware that orchestrates stream creation, manages configuration, and makes our video streams available as a service for B2B clients.

We collaborate closely with teams handling video ingest, playback apps, ad insertion, and our network infrastructure. We generate a lot of data that the rest of the company relies on for reporting, billing, and debugging purposes.

WHAT YOU'LL DO

• Develop and maintain software, writing high-quality maintainable code
• Implement best practices in software testing with the support of principal engineers
• Configure and maintain our data pipelines for stream and user information
• Create design documents and specifications, planning small- to medium-sized projects
• Communicate effectively with the squad and with stakeholders in other squads
• Motivate the squad, coach and mentor individuals in your areas of expertise
• Assist the Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) team with operational monitoring of our CDN
• Act as third line support for complex problems, debugging issues with our streamers and data pipelines

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

• Expertise in either C++ or Go, with a strong understanding of modern language features and design patterns
• Good knowledge of modern C++, Go and Python
• Deep understanding of highly concurrent and distributed systems
• Experience with modern database systems and real-time data flows, e.g. Kafka, Clickhouse
• Excellent spoken and written English
• Desirable: Experience with video streaming technologies (DASH, HLS, FFmpeg etc.)
• Desirable: Experience developing and supporting high-load Unix systems in a distributed production environment with 24/7 operations
• Desirable: Good understanding of GNU/Linux and systems administration work
• Bonus: Experience with container management systems such as Kubernetes and Docker
• Bonus: Experience debugging network traffic and a good understanding of TCP/IP networking principles

WHY JOIN US? 

At Zattoo, you're always on firm ground with real freedom to explore. You'll have the support and opportunity you need to go far, while you're helping us create a sustainable and entertainment-filled future for all.

WHAT WE OFFER YOU

• Reward: strong market competitive salary
• Recharge: 30 days vacation plus public holidays
• Regulate:trust based flexible working hours and the option for remote work worldwide for up to 8 weeks per year

Plus:

• We're sharing: Free access to the best streaming experience on the market
• We're developing: Your own development budget, German classes and Zattoo all-company hack days
• We're inclusive: 'Zattooies' are a fun, engaged, and diverse team made up of 47 nationalities
• We're healthy: Health checks, team sports, organic fruit, vegan options and more
• We're responsible: We are carbon neutral, an active employee Green team, discounted BVG tickets and free bike rentals
• We're sociable: A calendar of events with fireside chats, lunches, in-house bar, BBQ's, monthly socials, summer party and an annual off-site event