We’re seeking a Full Stack Engineer (Backend Focus) to help evolve the global iNaturalist platform. In this role, you’ll  work on APIs, Elasticsearch indexing, Postgres data architecture, and machine-learning-powered features such as species identification models and geospatial inference, while also handling the frontend needed to deliver them to users.

This role is ideal for someone who will contribute to the frontend when needed, but whose main focus and strength is complex backend systems, application architecture, data interoperability, model integration, and platform scaling challenges.

About iNaturalist

iNaturalist is one of the world’s largest biodiversity platforms—powered by millions of community scientists and supported by expert naturalists, researchers, and conservation organizations. With over hundreds of millions of observations and 400,000+ active monthly contributors, iNaturalist data informs conservation decisions, accelerates biodiversity research, and inspires people everywhere to connect with nature.

Founded in 2008 and operating as a nonprofit committed to open data, iNaturalist blends crowdsourcing, machine learning, and community science to help people understand, document, and protect biodiversity. Our vision: a world where everyone can discover, understand, and help sustain life on Earth.

We’re growing—and we’re looking for an engineer energized by purpose-driven work to help scale the platform and experience for millions around the world.

API & Platform Engineering

• Design, build, and maintain core APIs using Node.js and Elasticsearch

• Improve performance, resilience, and internal developer experience

• Support internal and partner integrations across mobile and web platforms

• Front-end development and user experience

• Build, maintain, and refine user-facing features using React and Ruby on Rails

Machine Learning & Model Integration

• Support integration and serving of iNaturalist ML models (computer vision and geomodel)

• Assist in maintenance of iNaturalist ML models using Python

Data & Infrastructure

• Assist in maintenance and optimization of the PostgreSQL database powering iNaturalist

• Assist in contributing to infrastructure scaling, observability, performance tuning, and documentation

Cross-Functional Engineering

• Partner with other engineers (e.g. mobile teams, dev/ops teams) on feature development and rollout

• Participate in code reviews, design discussions, and long-term platform planning

Required Experience

• Experience designing, scaling, or maintaining APIs using Node.js and Elasticsearch

• Experience working with relational databases, ideally PostgreSQL/PostGIS

• Experience integrating or interacting with machine learning workflows using Python

• Experience contributing to production applications using Ruby on Rails

• Strong communication skills and comfort collaborating in a distributed, mission-driven team

Nice to Have

• Experience with Azure, AWS, or distributed compute environments

• Experience with GIS tooling such as PostGIS

• Experience with AI-assisted developer tools (Copilot, Claude Code, etc.)

• Prior experience with open-source platforms or scientific/technical data systems

Why Join Us?

• Impact: Play a pivotal role in a mission-driven organization dedicated to biodiversity conservation and community engagement.

• Innovation: Working with a team of developers building cutting-edge technology that empowers millions of people to make a positive impact on nature.

• Growth: Be part of a growing organization with opportunities for personal and professional development.

If you are passionate about biodiversity, technology, and working with other talented engineers to achieve meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

Compensation and Benefits

Why it’s Great to Work at iNaturalist 

 A mission that matters. 

With species going extinct daily, the need to protect and document biodiversity has never been more essential. iNaturalist has become the go-to data source to measure biodiversity conservation and protection. 

A great team.

Smart, hard-working nature lovers make up our small team. We live in countries all over the world but come together each day to further our mission. For this position, to facilitate collaboration across time zones, we require that you be a resident of and eligible to work in the lower 48 states (i.e., not Alaska or Hawaii). 

Flexible work. 

We are a virtual team, and most of this position’s work can be performed from home or wherever you are comfortable. You’ll even get some funds to set up your office and a monthly stipend to defray some of the costs. Some travel to meetings and events will  be required. 

Competitive pay.

The salary for this full-time position is $154,257.44 per year, non-negotiable. 

Great benefits.

We offer a pretty awesome benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and life insurance, plus an employer-funded health reimbursement account and employee-funded flexible spending accounts. There is a 401k plan with a 5% match. This position is eligible for unlimited personal time off, and unlike some tech companies, we really mean it – everyone is expected to take a minimum of three weeks a year off. Eligible new parents get up to 12 weeks of paid leave and an additional 18 of unpaid. 

Instead of a traditional cover letter, you’ll answer a short set of questions designed to assess your experience and problem-solving approach. Responses are initially reviewed (by real people, not AI) without names and independently in order to reduce bias. Demographic information (optional) is used only in aggregate reporting.

The application will close on January 1. However, we may close it after receiving 175 applications. In this case, we will notify anyone who has started the application that they have 48 hours to complete it.

• Initial Application Review: December

• Written Follow-Up: January

• Interviews: January

• Offer: January–February

• Ideal Start Date: February

If you're excited to strengthen the infrastructure powering one of the world’s most impactful biodiversity platforms—we’d love to hear from you.