Senior Backend Engineer, Okta

• This role demands deep technical expertise in backend architecture, with a preference for candidates who also have some experience working on the frontend
• Solid understanding of core identity concepts (e.g., authentication, authorization) and best practices for securing sensitive user data
• Deep expertise in building highly reliable, secure, enterprise-grade software using Java or Node.js
• Proven experience designing scalable backend architectures and integrating complex APIs with modern web technologies
• Proficiency in JavaScript or TypeScript, with the ability to navigate and contribute to the frontend to unblock feature development
• High level of comfort using AI-driven development tools (e.g., GitHub Copilot, Gemini, etc) to accelerate coding, debugging, and documentation while maintaining high-quality output
• Experience deploying and managing services within modern cloud environments (specifically AWS, Azure, or GCP)
• At Okta, we celebrate a variety of perspectives and experiences
• We are not looking for someone who checks every single box - we’re looking for lifelong learners and people who can make us better with their unique experiences

Desirable

• The Okta Personal team is building the future of digital identity
• The way we prove our identity online is undergoing a fundamental shift, moving from scanning physical documents to using secure, portable digital credentials
• In a world with AI-driven fraud, one-time verification is no longer enough; the industry needs a reusable, tamper-proof way to prove identity at scale
• To address this massive need, our focus is on building a Verifiable Digital Credentials (VDCs) platform to power this new ecosystem
• VDCs are reusable digital records that prove identity, qualifications, or skills instantly, giving holders control to share only what's necessary
• We are responsible for the infrastructure, user-facing features, and business of verifying, issuing, and holding VDCs for enterprise customers
• We are a small team of engineers, product managers, and designers who are bringing Okta’s expertise in identity to define the future of VDCs, focusing on open standards and interoperability
• As a Senior Backend Engineer on the Okta Personal team, you will be instrumental in designing and implementing a new VDC identity ecosystem from the ground up
• You will thrive in a fast-paced, 'zero-to-one' environment, navigating ambiguity to find product-market fit
• This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of digital identity by synthesizing and implementing complex identity protocols into a seamless, globally compliant platform, ultimately delivering a solution designed for massive scale—serving millions of users and thousands of enterprises
• Lead the design and implementation of a greenfield VDC identity ecosystem from the ground up, prioritizing open standards and interoperability
• Drive technical execution in a high-ambiguity environment, balancing rapid feature delivery with long-term architectural scalability and integrity
• Establish and enforce high programming standards, including rigorous code reviews and comprehensive unit/functional testing to ensure the platform is tamper-proof
• Proactively own backend feature development (Java/Node.js) to integration layers, collaborating with Design and Product for a seamless user experience
• Build and maintain cloud-based infrastructure capable of serving millions of users and thousands of enterprise customers