Staff Backend Product Software Engineer, Core

Role Description

Dropbox, we believe in simplifying the way people work together. We provide a range of innovative cloud-based solutions to empower individuals and businesses to share, access, and collaborate on their files seamlessly. Staff Engineers are pivotal in shaping our mission of building a more enlightened way of working where everyone can unleash their creative potential without constraints.

This role owns large, ambiguous problem spaces directly tied to company metrics and translates them into a clear six-month technical roadmap, leading delivery for 15–20 engineers across team boundaries. The leader collaborates on ideas that shape area-level decisions, communicates effectively at all levels, and continuously integrates evolving business context into product and platform direction. They set and model high standards for engineering and operational excellence—driving reliability, scalability, execution rigor, and long-term maintainability across foundational systems—while remaining deeply hands-on through daily coding, design authorship, critical reviews, and architectural leadership. The role influences Core Engineering roadmaps, establishes technical direction, and brings strong instincts for high-quality consumer-facing experiences. They mentor senior talent, raising the technical bar through coaching and example, and extend their impact through org-level technical leadership. Over time, this leader grows from a cross-team technical driver into an org-level technical strategist, optimizing for the company as a whole rather than a single scope.

Our Engineering Career Framework is viewable by anyone outside the company and describes what’s expected for our engineers at each of our career levels. Check out our blog post on this topic and more here.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of 15 to 20 engineers to deliver high-impact business and customer outcomes.
• Shape technical direction and partner with Product Management as the DRI for critical company-wide objectives.
• Own massive, ambiguous technical and product problems that create company-wide opportunity.<