Backend Software Engineer Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Illinois

INTRODUCTION

When you join Turnitin, you'll be welcomed into a company that is a recognized innovator in global education. For over 25 years, Turnitin has partnered with educators and institutions to develop learning integrity solutions that recognize the enduring value of critical thinking in a rapidly changing world. Over 16,000 academic institutions, publishers, and corporations use our services in more than 185 countries around the world: Turnitin Feedback Studio, Clarity, Originality, Gradescope, ExamSoft, Similarity, and iThenticate. Protecting the value of an authentic education is at the heart of who we are.

Experience a remote-first culture that empowers you to work with purpose and accountability in a way that best suits you, supported by a comprehensive package that prioritizes your overall well-being. Our diverse community of colleagues are all unified by a shared desire to make a difference in education.

Turnitin is a global organization with team members in over 35 countries including the United States, Mexico, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, India, and the Philippines.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As a Senior Software Engineer – Backend, you’ll help build and evolve the backend systems that support our Assignment Workflow core capabilities. This role is ideal for engineers who enjoy solving complex problems at scale and contributing to meaningful improvements in education technology. You will collaborate closely with frontend engineers, designers, and product managers to create scalable and engaging solutions that meet the needs of educators and students worldwide.

You will:

• Design, implement, and maintain scalable, high-performance backend services
• Work with serverless architecture using AWS Lambda and related cloud technologies
• Collaborate closely with your Tech Lead, Architect, QA, Product, UX, and Support teams to ensure smooth delivery
• Contribute to technical discussions and decisions that shape the future of the product
• Champion better practices for code quality, testing, and monitoring

Responsibilities:

• Contribute towards design and develop robust, scalable backend services using AWS Lambda.
• Design / implement RESTful APIs and event-driven systems within microservice architecture.
• Optimize existing services for improved performance and cost-efficiency.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to integrate backend services with frontend applications.
• Implement and maintain CI/CD pipelines with github actions.
• Conduct code reviews and collaborate with other engineers.
• Troubleshoot and resolve complex technical issues in production environments.
• Continue to grow and learn as a software engineer.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of backend development experience (distributed systems or microservices preferred).
• Strong Java skills and Maven proficiency.
• Solid experience with AWS serverless (Lambda, API Gateway, SQS, SNS, Step Functions).
• Familiar with event-driven architecture and microservices design.
• Hands-on experience with DynamoDB, or a strong foundation with NoSQL and eagerness to learn DynamoDB rapidly.
• Proficient in developing automated tests for backend services.
• Comfortable with Git and Github workflows.
• Analytical mindset and strong troubleshooting skills.
• Effective communicator and team collaborator.

COMPENSATION

• The expected annual base salary range for this position is: $112,125/year to $186,875/year. This position is bonus eligible / commission-based.

Actual compensation will be provided in writing at the time of offer, if extended, and is determined by work location and a range of other relevant factors, including but not limited to: experience, skills, degrees, licensures, certifications, and other job-related factors. Internal equity, market and organizational factors are also considered.

TOTAL REWARDS @ TURNITIN

At Turnitin, we believe Total Rewards go far beyond pay. While salary, bonus, or commission are important, they’re only part of the value you receive in exchange for your work.

Beyond compensation, you’ll experience the intrinsic rewards of unleashing your potential and making a positive impact on global education. You’ll also thrive in a culture free of politics, surrounded by humble, inclusive, and collaborative teammates.

In addition, our extrinsic rewards include generous time off and health and wellness programs that provide choice, flexibility, and a safety net for life’s challenges. You’ll also enjoy a remote-first culture that empowers you to work with purpose and accountability in the way that suits you best, all supported by a comprehensive package that prioritizes your overall well-being.

Our Mission is to ensure the integrity of global education and meaningfully improve learning outcomes.

OUR VALUES

• Customer Centric: Our mission is focused on improving learning outcomes; we do this by putting educators and learners at the center of everything we do.
• Passion for Learning: We are committed to our own learning and growth internally. And we support education and learning around the globe.
• Integrity: Integrity is the heartbeat of Turnitin—it is the core of our products, the way we treat each other, and how we work with our customers and vendors.
• Action & Ownership: We have a bias for action. We act like owners. We are willing to change even when it’s hard.
• One Team: We strive to break down silos, collaborate effectively, and celebrate each others' successes.
• Global Mindset: We consider different perspectives and celebrate diversity. We are one team. The work we do has an impact on the world.

GLOBAL BENEFITS

• Remote First Culture
• Health Care Coverage
• Education Reimbursement
• Competitive Paid Time Off
• Self-Care Days
• National Holidays
• 2 Founder Days + Juneteenth Observed
• Paid Volunteer Time Off
• Charitable Contribution Match
• Monthly Wellness or Home Office Reimbursement
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (mental health platform)
• Parental Leave
• Retirement Plan with match/contribution

SEEING BEYOND THE JOB AD

At Turnitin, we recognize it’s unrealistic for candidates to fulfill 100% of the criteria in a job ad. We encourage you to apply if you meet the majority of the requirements because we know that skills evolve over time. If you’re willing to learn and unleash your potential alongside us, join our team!

Turnitin, LLC is an Equal Opportunity Employer- vets/disabled.