About Company
Instructure is a leading educational technology company dedicated to empowering educators and learners worldwide. Our flagship product, Canvas LMS, provides an open, extensible learning management platform that makes learning more accessible and engaging for millions of students and instructors globally. We believe in the power of people to grow and improve, and we build technology that makes that possible. Joining Instructure means contributing to a mission-driven organization that values innovation, collaboration, and making a real difference in education. We foster a remote-first culture that supports autonomy, professional growth, and a healthy work-life balance for our diverse team members across the globe.
Job Description
We are seeking a talented and experienced Remote API Developer to join our dynamic engineering team. In this pivotal role, you will be instrumental in designing, developing, and maintaining robust, scalable, and secure APIs that power our award-winning educational products, including Canvas LMS. As a ‘Work from Anywhere’ professional, you will have the flexibility to contribute your expertise from your preferred location, collaborating with a distributed team of passionate engineers, product managers, and designers. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact on global education, building the foundational layers that enable seamless integration and powerful functionality across our ecosystem.
Your work will directly support the integration capabilities for third-party applications, internal services, and mobile platforms, ensuring a smooth and reliable experience for millions of users. You’ll be involved in the full API lifecycle, from initial concept and design through development, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance. This role requires a strong understanding of RESTful principles, data modeling, and performance optimization, alongside a commitment to writing clean, maintainable, and well-documented code. You will be expected to contribute to architectural discussions, perform code reviews, and mentor junior developers, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
We value innovation, collaboration, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. If you are passionate about building high-quality, performant APIs that drive user engagement and expand platform capabilities, and thrive in a remote, autonomous environment, we encourage you to apply. Our team embraces modern development practices, continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD), and a commitment to operational excellence. You’ll have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and contribute to a product that truly makes a difference in people’s lives.
Key Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and maintain high-quality, scalable, and secure RESTful APIs for our core products.
- Collaborate with product managers and other engineers to define API requirements and specifications.
- Write clean, efficient, and well-documented code, ensuring high test coverage and adherence to best practices.
- Participate in code reviews, providing constructive feedback and ensuring code quality and consistency.
- Debug and troubleshoot API issues, ensuring optimal performance and reliability.
- Contribute to architectural discussions and decisions regarding API design and infrastructure.
- Work with cross-functional teams to integrate APIs with front-end applications, mobile apps, and third-party services.
- Stay up-to-date with emerging API development trends, technologies, and security best practices.
Required Skills
- 4+ years of professional experience in backend or API development.
- Proficiency in at least one modern programming language such as Ruby, Python, Java, Go, or Node.js.
- Strong understanding of RESTful API design principles, best practices, and versioning strategies.
- Experience with relational databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL) and ORM frameworks.
- Familiarity with cloud platforms (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) and microservices architecture.
- Experience with Git or similar version control systems.
- Excellent problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Strong communication and collaboration skills for a remote work environment.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with GraphQL APIs.
- Familiarity with API security best practices (OAuth, JWT).
- Experience with message queues (e.g., RabbitMQ, Kafka) or event-driven architectures.
- Knowledge of CI/CD pipelines and tools (e.g., Jenkins, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI).
- Experience with containerization technologies like Docker and Kubernetes.
- Background in EdTech or experience developing large-scale distributed systems.
- Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field.
Perks & Benefits
- Competitive salary and equity package.
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
- 401(k) retirement plan with company match.
- Generous paid time off and flexible holiday schedule.
- Paid parental leave.
- Professional development opportunities and tuition reimbursement.
- Remote work stipend for home office setup and internet.
- Wellness programs and resources.
- Flexible work schedule and a supportive, inclusive remote culture.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by clicking on the application link below. Please submit your resume and a cover letter detailing your relevant experience and why you are excited about this opportunity. We look forward to reviewing your application!