Staff Software Engineer, Java (Domains Email)

Squarespace is looking for a Backend Staff Software Engineer to lead the technical direction of our Business Email team. This team is the engine behind one of our high-growth product categories, serving as a critical pillar in our mission to help entrepreneurs succeed. We are selling more than just a service; we are building the indispensable communication hub that allows millions of users to manage their professional identity.

In this role, You’ll work closely with product, engineering, and cross-functional partners to evolve a complex backend that powers customer-facing email experiences, integrations, and infrastructure. This is a hands-on role with real technical depth, paired with broad influence across the org.

This is a hybrid role based in our NYC office (3 days per week), reporting to the Engineering Manager of Email.

• Serve as a key technical leader, driving the architecture, design, and implementation of new and existing business email products
• Provide hands-on guidance to the large engineering team, mentoring senior and mid-level engineers, helping them grow in system design, decision-making, and ownership
• Write high-quality Java code and stay close to execution, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, scalable, and maintainable solutions
• Partner deeply with Product, Design, Growth, Marketing, and BizDev to translate business goals into robust technical solutions
• Identify and proactively address systemic issues (performance, operability, resiliency, security) before they become problems
• Balance short-term delivery with long-term health, making thoughtful tradeoffs and communicating them clearly to stakeholders

• 10+ years of backend engineering experience, with significant time building and operating large-scale, customer-facing systems
• Deep expertise in Java and backend service development (APIs, async processing, data stores, messaging systems)
• Strong experience with distributed systems, including reliability, scaling, and failure modes in production
• A proven track record of technical leadership at Staff or Senior-plus level, influencing architecture across multiple teams
• Experience evolving existing systems — modernizing, simplifying, and strengthening them without unnecessary rewrites
• The ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical partners
• A mindset oriented toward mentorship, collaboration, and inclusive technical leadership

• Provide opportunities that align with your interests, career growth, and the growth of the company
• Create an inclusive environment that’s psychologically safe and encourages learning 
• Work with you to build a personalized career growth plan with clear expectations and milestones

• A choice between medical plans with an option for 100% covered premiums 
• Fertility and adoption benefits
• Access to supplemental insurance plans for additional coverage
• Headspace mindfulness app subscription
• Global Employee Assistance Program
• Retirement benefits with employer match
• Flexible paid time off
• 12 weeks paid parental leave and family care leave
• Pretax commuter benefit
• Education reimbursement
• Employee donation match to community organizations
• 7 Global Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)
• Dog-friendly workplace
• Free lunch and snacks
• Private rooftop
• Hack week twice per year

The base salary for this position will vary based on job-related criteria including relevant skills, experience, and location, among other factors.

In addition to the cash compensation above (which includes base salary and, where applicable for eligible roles, may include overtime pay), Squarespace employees are eligible to be granted an option to purchase our common stock. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive structure in addition to base salary.

Squarespace is a design-driven platform helping entrepreneurs build brands and businesses online. We empower millions of customers in more than 200 countries and territories with all the tools they need to create an online presence, build an audience, monetize, and scale their business. Our suite of products range from websites, domains, ecommerce, and marketing tools, as well as tools for scheduling with Acuity and creating and managing social media presence with Bio Sites and Unfold. Our team of more than 1,700 is headquartered in New York City, with offices in Dublin, Ireland, and Aveiro, Portugal. For more information about our company, visit https://www.squarespace.com/about/careers.

Today, more than a million people around the globe use Squarespace to share different perspectives and experiences with the world. Not only do we embrace and celebrate the diversity of our customers, but we also work toward the same in our employees. At Squarespace, we are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, national origin, gender, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital or parental status, disability, veteran status, or other class protected by applicable law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.