Backend Engineer at Spotify Toronto: Drive Data Innovation and Shape the Future of Music

Imagine being part of the team that ensures millions of Spotify users around the world enjoy seamless, uninterrupted music every single day. Spotify, the global leader in audio streaming, is not just about music – it’s about experiences, innovation, and cutting-edge technology. Their data platform underpins the listening habits of over 600 million monthly active users while supporting thousands of employees worldwide. If you’re a Backend Engineer passionate about data reliability and observability, this is the moment to make your mark.

Spotify is renowned for redefining how we consume audio, from personalized playlists to discovering new artists. Behind the scenes, an intricate network of data systems ensures that every recommendation, every playlist update, and every podcast episode reaches users without a hitch. As Spotify continues to expand and innovate, the role of a Backend Engineer on the Data Platform team becomes critical – not just for the company, but for the way millions of people experience music globally.

About Spotify

Founded in 2008, Spotify has transformed music listening forever. Its mission is clear: unlock human creativity by enabling millions of artists to live off their art while offering billions of fans the chance to discover, enjoy, and share that creativity. From a single streaming app, Spotify has grown into a sophisticated platform that powers insights from massive data streams, processes over two petabytes daily, and drives decisions that affect music lovers worldwide.

Spotify’s Toronto office is a hub for innovation, fostering collaboration, inclusivity, and a culture where engineers are empowered to tackle meaningful challenges. The company embraces flexibility with a hybrid work model, encouraging employees to balance in-office collaboration with the comfort of remote work.

Role Overview: Backend Engineer – Data Platform

Joining Spotify as a Backend Engineer in the Data Quality and Observability team means diving into the backbone of the company’s data ecosystem. In this role, you’ll be designing and maintaining backend services and data pipelines that support thousands of engineers and data practitioners globally. Your contributions will directly impact the reliability and accuracy of the platform that powers personalized playlists, artist recommendations, and audio content delivery.

Your work will go beyond coding: you’ll collaborate closely with internal teams to understand user workflows, create innovative tools, and implement scalable systems that enhance data quality. From optimizing pipelines to introducing AI integrations for monitoring data reliability, your projects will shape the way Spotify ensures users never miss a beat. The role also offers opportunities to participate in hack days, hack weeks, and community-driven events, giving you the chance to experiment, learn, and contribute in a dynamic environment.

Key Responsibilities

In this position, your day-to-day will be a blend of hands-on engineering, collaboration, and innovation. You’ll:

  • Build and maintain backend services and pipelines that serve thousands of engineers.
  • Design systems that scale efficiently while collaborating with teammates, stakeholders, and leaders.
  • Gain insights into user workflows to create tools that improve data quality and observability.
  • Innovate with AI integrations to power the future of data reliability.
  • Contribute to a team culture that values respect, creativity, and collaboration.

This isn’t just coding – it’s about delivering solutions that have a tangible impact on millions of listeners and enabling data teams to work smarter and more effectively.

Eligibility & Education

Spotify seeks engineers who thrive on tackling complex problems and taking ownership of solutions from ideation to production. Ideal candidates will have proficiency in Java or similar object-oriented programming languages and a strong understanding of systems design, algorithms, and data structures. While specific graduation batches aren’t restricted, Spotify welcomes candidates who are curious, customer-focused, and excited about working with cutting-edge data technologies.

Required Skills

To succeed as a Backend Engineer at Spotify, you should have experience and comfort with:

  • Java or similar object-oriented programming languages
  • Systems design, data structures, and algorithms
  • Backend development and scalable data pipelines
  • Optional bonus skills: Scala, Flyte, Apache Iceberg, Dataflow, Airflow
  • Experience in data quality or monitoring using tools like Great Expectations or SQL Soda
  • Understanding of concepts like Counters or Data SLOs

Skills: Java, backend development, data pipelines, Scala, Airflow, Spotify Toronto jobs, data quality, Backend Engineer

Work Environment & Benefits

Spotify fosters an inclusive and collaborative workplace where diversity is celebrated. The company provides reasonable accommodations for employees and applicants, ensuring accessibility throughout the recruitment process. Team culture emphasizes innovation, playfulness, and mutual respect, giving engineers the autonomy to solve meaningful challenges while working in a flexible hybrid setup.

How to Apply

Interested candidates can apply directly through Spotify’s careers page. The application process is designed to be inclusive, with options to request accommodations at any stage of the interview. Spotify encourages applicants from all backgrounds, emphasizing that your unique perspectives will contribute to a stronger, more forward-thinking team.

Apply Here: https://jobs.lever.co/spotify/19df5866-25f8-4e69-b727-79af1ea5e7a5