Senior Backend Engineer I

Company Description

Givebutter is the most-loved nonprofit fundraising and CRM platform, empowering millions of changemakers to raise more, pay less, and give better. Nonprofits use Givebutter to replace multiple tools so they can launch fundraisers and events, use donation forms and donor management (CRM), send emails and text blasts—all in one place. Use of the Givebutter platform is completely free with a 100% transparent tip-or-fee model.

Givebutter has been certified as a Great Place to Work® in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, and is the #1 rated nonprofit software company on G2 across multiple categories.

Our mission is to empower the changemaker in all of us. We believe giving should be fun, so you’ll want to do it again, and we also believe that work should be fun, so that you’ll have the greatest impact. We are excited to hear from talented people who want to work with other talented people in making the world a butter place—and have fun along the way. 

Role Description

Givebutter is hiring Senior Software Engineers I to join our Engage and CRM Teams!

The Engage Team focuses on backend systems for our communication features, which empower nonprofits to build lasting relationships with their supporters. Working with PHP/Laravel, MySQL, and high-volume messaging APIs, you'll build and scale email, SMS, and direct mail systems that help changemakers deliver the right message to the right person at the right time.

The CRM Team focuses on full-stack development with an emphasis on the backend. Working with PHP/Laravel, MySQL, and React/TypeScript, you'll build and scale systems that empower changemakers to build lasting relationships with their supporters and donors. You'll work on donor management, relationship tracking, data migration systems, and third-party integrations that help nonprofits manage their fundraising operations efficiently.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement backend and frontend features using PHP/Laravel and React/TypeScript to support messaging (email, SMS, direct mail), donor relationships, data imports/exports, and reporting.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product, design, and other engineers to translate user feedback and needs into intuitive, scalable interfaces and systems.
• Work with APIs and third-party integrations, including messaging tools, email editors, campaign builders, CRM import sources, and public APIs.
• Build and maintain systems that support high-volume data processing, seasonal traffic spikes, and legacy CRM data migrations.
• Contribute to engineering excellence through code reviews, establishing technical standards, and participating in team-wide technical initiatives.
• Evaluate and provide feedback on AI-generated code and proposed technical solutions to accelerate development.
• Participate in support rotation to address production issues during business hours
• 4–5+ years of software development experience, ideally in full-stack roles with a backend focus.
• Strong proficiency in PHP/Laravel (or similar backend frameworks).
• Frontend experience with React, TypeScript, and modern JavaScript (ES6+).
• Experience with relational databases (MySQL/PostgreSQL), including query optimization for large datasets.
• Familiarity with API design, RESTful services, and third-party integrations.
• Experience with state management (TanStack Query, SWR, Zustand, Redux, etc.).

Requirements

• Understanding of component architecture, React hooks, and modern build tools (Vite, Webpack).
• Strong knowledge of data import/export systems, CSV processing, and CRM or marketing automation tools.
• Familiarity with message queues, background jobs, and async operations for large-scale processing.
• Experience debugging and optimizing production systems.
• Excellent communication skills and a collaborative mindset.
• Remote, located in Austin, Denver, Indianapolis, LA, Minneapolis, Nashville, NYC, SLC, SF, or Seattle

Nice To Have

• Experience with email/messaging platforms, campaign builders, or email template systems.
• Familiarity with CRM platforms (Salesforce, HubSpot) or donor management systems.
• Experience with reporting tools, analytics dashboards, or business intelligence.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards (a11y, WCAG compliance).
• Experience with testing frameworks (Vitest, Jest, Playwright) and test-driven development.
• Familiarity with monorepo tools (Turborepo, Nx, Lerna).
• Understanding of data deduplication, relationship matching, and contact management algorithms.
• Experience with high-volume transaction processing, financial data, or nonprofit fundraising workflows.
• Mission-driven mindset and background working with nonprofit or social impact organizations.
• Remote Work: Work from anywhere in the United States.

More About Givebutter

Benefits

• Health Insurance: We offer Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance covered 100% for employees as well as HSA and FSA accounts.
• Mental Health: Givebutter health insurance plans come with access to a TalkSpace membership.
• 401k: We offer a 3% 401k match for all eligible employee's.
• Vacation and Holiday: Givebutter offers a Flexible PTO policy with uncapped Vacation days. Givebutter is closed for a whole week in the summer for an employee Wellness Week. 
• Parental Leave: We offer 12 weeks of paid leave for all parents and comprehensive leave planning management through Aidora.
• Home Office Stipend: Upgrade your home office with company-sponsored expenses, including high-quality laptops, monitors, and modern technology.
• Charitable Giving: Employees are encouraged to donate up to $50/month to any verified nonprofit they wish to support on Givebutter.
• Professional Development: We offer learning and development reimbursement opportunities.
• Love What You Do: We are a mission-driven company serving the charitable sector. Feel good about the work you're doing and the company you work for.

Interview Process

Below is a high-level outline of our standard interview process

1. Recruiter Screen: A 30-minute conversation to learn more about your background, walk through the role, and ensure mutual alignment on expectations, values, and logistics.
2. Hiring Manager Interview: A deeper dive into your relevant experience, skillset, and working style. This is your first opportunity to connect directly with the person who may be your future manager.
3. Assessment (technical or non-technical): This stage will vary based on the role. It could involve a live coding session, case study, or take-home project. Some roles may include two parts to this stage to evaluate both practical skills and problem-solving approaches
4. Values Interview: A conversation with team members focused on how you align with our core values and leadership principles.
5. References: We connect with a few folks you’ve worked closely with to get a better picture of your working style and impact.
6. Offer: If all goes well, we’ll move to the offer stage!

Please note, we will have an AI note-taking tool (Elly) join most of our interviews.

Hi potential new butterslice! A recent study from LinkedIn showed that most women apply to jobs only when they meet 100% of the requirements, whereas men will hit the apply button if they hit 60%. Givebutter is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. So to the women and nonbinary folks out there feeling unsure if you're a perfect fit, we strongly encourage you to apply!