Software Engineer, Backend - Unified Gateway at DoorDash Canada. About the role Join our innovative team to help build and improve the core infrastructure that powers DoorDash's last-mile delivery services. We are looking for experienced backend engineers who are passionate about creating scalable, reliable, and secure systems. In this role, you will be responsible for developing and maintaining the Unified Gateway platform, which is critical to supporting DoorDash's three-sided marketplace - connecting consumers, merchants, and dashers. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to ensure our platform is robust, efficient, and capable of handling high traffic volumes. This position offers an exciting opportunity to influence the architecture of a global delivery network and to utilize cutting-edge technologies to solve complex logistical challenges.
Key facts Location: Toronto, ON Engagement: Full-time Team: Unified Gateway
What you'll do Design, develop, and implement scalable backend systems that form the backbone of DoorDash's Unified Gateway platform, ensuring high availability and fault tolerance.
Improve the performance, security, and reliability of the API Gateway and its associated processing pipeline, enabling seamless communication across services.
Collaborate with product managers, data engineers, and other stakeholders to define technical requirements and translate them into robust solutions.
Promote best practices in API management, including schema design, versioning, and documentation, to facilitate easy integration for internal teams and partners.
Lead efforts to optimize load balancing, service discovery, and request routing mechanisms, ensuring efficient handling of high traffic loads.
Diagnose and troubleshoot complex issues in the production environment, providing timely resolutions to minimize downtime and impact on users.
Assess emerging technologies and tools, integrating them into the platform to enhance capabilities and streamline development workflows.
Advocate for the use of AI-assisted coding tools such as Claude Code, Codex,



and Cursor throughout the software development lifecycle, from design to deployment.
Develop abstractions and platform-level solutions that simplify the work of multiple engineering teams, enabling faster development cycles and higher quality code.
Participate in code reviews, testing, and deployment processes to uphold high engineering standards and ensure code quality.
Contribute to documentation and knowledge sharing to support team growth and onboarding of new engineers.
Maintain awareness of security standards and compliance requirements, including ITAR, to ensure platform integrity and data protection.
Support the continuous improvement of development and operational processes through automation and best practices.
Requirements At least 2 years of experience in backend, infrastructure, or platform engineering, with a proven track record of working on high-scale, mission-critical systems.
Strong proficiency in Kotlin or other JVM-based languages, with experience in asynchronous or reactive frameworks such as Vert.x preferred.
Deep understanding of API protocols including gRPC, REST, and Protocol Buffers, and experience designing and managing API schemas.
Hands-on experience with API gateway and proxy management, including authentication, authorization, request routing, and schema validation.
Knowledge of distributed systems concepts such as consistency, fault tolerance, load balancing, and resilience patterns.
Familiarity with cloud infrastructure and deployment practices, although specific cloud platforms are not mandated.
Ability to analyze complex problems, develop abstractions, and create scalable solutions that simplify processes for multiple teams.
Experience working with AI coding tools (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor)



throughout the software development lifecycle, including design, coding, testing, and deployment.
Strong communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
Knowledge of security standards and compliance, including ITAR, is a plus.
Ability to work in a quick-paced environment and adapt to changing priorities.
Nice to have Experience with cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP), or Microsoft Azure.
Familiarity with containerization technologies like Docker and orchestration tools such as Kubernetes.
Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and automation tools to streamline deployment processes.
Understanding of security standards, including data encryption and access controls.
Experience working in a regulated environment or with compliance standards such as ITAR.
Prior exposure to large-scale distributed systems and microservices architecture.
Skills & tools Kotlin or JVM languages
gRPC and REST API development
Protocol Buffers
API gateway and proxy management tools
AI coding tools (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor)
Distributed systems concepts
High-traffic, mission‑critical system experience
Cloud infrastructure and containerization (preferred but not mandatory)
CI/CD automation tools (preferred)
Security and compliance standards (preferred)
Practical notes We are open to considering candidates who require work visas. If you need accommodations during the application process, please inform your recruiting contact at the outset.
We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
paid time off
paid parental leave
wellness benefits
several paid holidays
comprehensive medical
dental
vision coverage
disability and life insurance
an RRSP with employer matching
mental health support
We encourage candidates to apply who are passionate about building scalable infrastructure and who thrive in collaborative, fast‑paced environments.

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📌 Software Engineer, Backend - Unified Gateway (Ontario)
🏢 DoorDash Canada
📍 Ontario