Developer Success Engineer
About Clerk
We build developer tools for authentication. We're known for our React components like and that "just work" when they're added to the page.
Our components are powered by a new type of API: a frontend-facing API that relies on session tokens for authorization, instead of a backend-facing API that relies on a secret key. We've found this pattern unlocks a new level of efficiency. Developers can implement Clerk faster than traditional APIs because it comes built-in with UX and UI.
To learn more about the approach, see our talk on A Component is Worth a Thousand APIs.
About the Role
We're seeking a Developer Success Engineer to join our team, working at the intersection of technical problem-solving and developer experience. This unique role combines hands-on engineering with high-impact developer support for Clerk's authentication and user management platform.
Developer success engineers are the bridge between our product and our customers. They spend part of their time helping customers get the most out of Clerk by providing technical support, debugging issues, and answering questions about the product. They then leverage the insights built from this work to improve the product and make it easier to use. This can be done in a variety of ways such as writing documentation, creating tutorials, working directly on the product, building internal tools to make our support process better and more efficient, etc.
What You'll Do
This position offers tremendous flexibility and growth potential. You'll have the opportunity to:
Provide expert technical support to fellow developers, ranging from quick implementation guidance to complex architectural consultations
Collaborate on product development, including our core platform and upcoming support product offerings
Build and enhance internal tools that streamline our support operations and improve developer experience
Contribute to technical documentation and guides based on real-world developer needs
Investigate and document product bugs, working closely with the engineering team on solutions
Balance engineering and support responsibilities based on your interests and our team's needs
Directly influence product development through your constant interactions with the developers and customers using the product
Work with a tight-knit team that values playfulness, collaboration, and shared ownership
Build products and tools that directly impact developer productivity and satisfaction, and that make your own job better/easier
What We're Looking For
Expertise in JavaScript/TypeScript development
Extensive experience with React and Next.js
Practical experience working with PostgreSQL or similar relational databases
Some amount of familiarity working with cloud infrastructure (GCP experience is a plus)
Comfort working with browsers, REST APIs, and web technologies
Outstanding written and verbal communication abilities
Demonstrated experience helping other developers succeed, whether through mentorship, support, or documentation
Ability to quickly understand and debug complex technical issues
Empathy for customers and a drive for excellence in developer experience
Self-motivated with a proven ability to take ownership of projects and see them through
Nice-to-Haves
Experience using Clerk in production applications
Knowledge of Go programming language (Clerk’s backend code is written in Go)
Experience with Cloudflare products
Background in developer tools or developer-facing products
Track record of contributing to technical documentation
Experience with auth/user management systems
History of participating in developer communities
Who You'll Work With
We're a collaborative group of 10 engineers who work closely together on both support and development. We believe in:
Shared ownership and responsibility for our product's success
High polish and attention to detail in everything we deliver
Open communication and knowledge sharing
Continuous learning and improvement
Benefits:
We want you to know that we value the skills and experience you bring to the table. We go out of our way to make sure that you feel fairly compensated.
At Clerk, we believe in shared success. That's why we offer a stock option plan so that everyone can benefit from the growth and prosperity of the company.
We care about your well-being. That's why we offer top-tier health insurance to ensure that your health needs are fully met.
Set up your ideal home office with the gear of your choice. At Clerk, we want to ensure that you have everything you need to perform at your best.
We believe in work-life balance and trust you to take the time you need. Although we recommend 25 days per year, our vacation policy is unlimited. This is in addition to observing national holidays specific to your country of residence.
Join our exceptional, globally distributed team at Clerk. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can contribute their best in building impactful products and tools for the modern web.