--- title: 'Senior Back End Engineer (Data Platform) at Forma.ai' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/senior-back-end-engineer-data-platform-forma-ai-toronto-5bppyxceq3tx' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-09-07' --- # Senior Back End Engineer (Data Platform) at Forma.ai - **Company:** Forma.ai - **Location:** Toronto, Canada - **Posted:** 2026-06-16 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-09-07 - **Apply:** https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/formaaiinc/jobs/4706445005 ## Job description About Forma.ai: [Forma.ai](https://www.forma.ai/) is a Series B startup that's revolutionizing how sales compensation is designed, managed and optimized. We handle billions in annual managed commissions for market leaders like Edmentum, Stryker, and Autodesk. Our growth has been fuelled by our passion for fundamentally changing and shaping how companies use sales intelligence to drive business strategy. We’re welcoming equally driven individuals who are excited about creating something big! ## About the Team Engineers on this team build our rules-based calculation engine for processing sales commissions. This might sound simple if you have never been exposed to sales compensation plans, it is not. We are low on meetings and high on accountability. Most of the team is in the EST time zone, with a few located in PST and Central as well. We are still evolving many areas of the platform, which means there is meaningful room to improve the design, reliability, and scalability of the systems we build. ## What you’ll be doing Reporting to the Manager of Data Platform, you will play an important role in the evolution of our Spark-based data platform. You’ll design and build data-rich platform capabilities, contribute to system design discussions, and help ensure our data systems remain reliable, maintainable, and scalable as Forma grows. As a Senior Engineer, Data Platform, you are expected to operate with strong ownership and sound technical judgment. This includes identifying risks in the work you own, surfacing edge cases, asking thoughtful questions, and proposing improvements that strengthen the quality and reliability of the platform. You will: - Design, build, and improve Spark-based data pipelines and platform services. - Work with complex data models representing sales compensation plans, hierarchies, relationships, and enterprise datasets. - Build reliable, deterministic data systems that customers and internal teams can trust. - Improve testing, observability, data quality, and production reliability across the systems you work on. - Partner with Product, Engineering, and Analytics to translate complex business requirements into scalable data designs. - Participate in design reviews, code reviews, technical discussions, and knowledge sharing. - Use AI tooling to improve delivery speed while maintaining strong engineering standards. ## What we’re looking for - Strong experience building data systems or backend systems in production. - Experience with Spark or similar data processing / ETL frameworks. - Proficiency in at least one production-grade language such as Python, Java, Scala, Kotlin, Go, C#, or similar. - Strong SQL, relational schema design, and data modeling skills. - Experience with large-scale, hierarchical, graph-like, relationship-heavy, or workflow-driven datasets. - Ability to reason through technical tradeoffs, identify risks, and propose practical improvements. - Experience improving scalability, reliability, observability, or maintainability in data-intensive systems. - Strong communication skills and comfort collaborating across Engineering, Product, and Analytics. ## Nice to have - Experience building SaaS products for mid-market or enterprise customers. - Experience with rule-driven systems, validation workflows, calculation engines, or approval/governance platforms. - Familiarity with AWS-based infrastructure and Kubernetes. - Familiarity with graph databases or graph-based modeling concepts. - Exposure to Sales Performance Management, RevOps, Incentive Compensation, or related domains. Technologies we use Frontend: JavaScript, React, TypeScript Backend: Java/Spring Boot, Django, Postgres Data Platform: Spark Infrastructure: AWS, Docker What success looks like: 30/60/90 days First 30 days You’ll focus on building context across Forma’s product domain, data platform, calculation engine, data models, and engineering practices. By the end of your first 30 days, you will have: - Set up your development environment and become comfortable navigating the codebase, data platform, services, and infrastructure. - Built a clear understanding of the product domain, Spark-based data flows, and key data models. - Learned the team’s practices around testing, observability, deployment, data quality, and reliability. - Built relationships with Engineering, Product, and Analytics partners. - Shipped small improvements or fixes to build familiarity with the system. First 60 days You’ll begin owning meaningful data platform work and contributing to technical decisions. By the end of your first 60 days, you will have: - Taken ownership of a data pipeline, platform component, workflow, or feature area. - Designed and delivered maintainable data platform code aligned with team standards. - Partnered with Product, Engineering, and Analytics peers to translate requirements into scalable data designs. - Identified risks, edge cases, data quality issues, or inconsistencies in the systems you work on. - Contributed to improvements in data modeling, pipeline reliability, testing, observability, or service boundaries. First 90 days You’ll be operating as a trusted senior contributor within the team. By the end of your first 90 days, you will have: - Designed and delivered a meaningful data platform initiative or major feature. - Improved important data models, Spark pipelines, platform services, or workflow handling. - Contributed to technical direction through clear, well-reasoned design decisions. - Improved the reliability, observability, scalability, or maintainability of data-intensive systems. - Helped the team deliver complex calculation and data workflows with greater confidence and clarity. Additional Job Info: - This position is for an existing vacancy - Salary Range: 150-190K CAD ## What you can expect from us Meaningful compensation. In addition to your base salary, you’ll join our employee stock ownership plan to further recognize your contributions to [Forma.ai](http://Forma.ai)’s success. Healthcare coverage. We have a full benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, disability and life insurance, and a paid parental leave program. Learning and development. Access the resources you want to help you grow in your role by utilizing our $750 yearly training stipend. Growth. You’ll have a huge opportunity to build a career for yourself and gain the type of experience you’re looking for, whether that’s as an individual contributor or as a people leader. Our Values: - Work well, together. We’re real. We have kids and pets. Mortgages and student loans. We’re in this together, so no matter how brilliant any one of us is, we always play nice with one another – no exceptions. - Be precise. Be relentless. We believe complacency breeds failure, so we set new goals as quickly as we achieve them. We persist in the face of adversity, learn from our mistakes, and push each other to continuously improve. The status-quo is kryptonite. - Love our tech. Love our customers. Our platform solves a very complex problem in a currently underserved market. While everyone at Forma isn’t customer-facing, we’re all customer-focused. Maybe even slightly customer-obsessed. ­ Use of AI for Recruitment Currently, Forma.ai does not use artificial intelligence as part of our recruitment process, specifically but not limited to the screening, filtering and shortlisting of applicants. Our commitment to you: Forma is a proud equal opportunity employer that is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment. Every effort to accommodate candidates for accessibility will be made upon request. Information received related to accommodations will be addressed confidentially. We know that applying to a new role takes a lot of effort. You're encouraged to apply even if your experience doesn't precisely match the job description. There are many paths to a successful career and we’re looking forward to reading yours. We thank all candidates for their interest however only qualified applicants will be shortlisted. ## About Forma.ai ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: Forma.ai provides an AI-powered enterprise sales compensation and performance management platform that helps organizations design, administer, and optimize incentive plans. - **Entity Type**: Private (Series B, $45M raised in 2022) - **Headquarters**: Toronto, Ontario, Canada - **Founded**: 2016 - **Founders**: Nabeil Alazzam ## Core Business - **Primary industry**: Sales Performance Management (SPM) / Sales Compensation Software - **Target customers**: B2B enterprise sales organizations (Fortune 500 and high-growth companies) - **Mission**: Reinvent the cumbersome, chaotic, and inefficient world of sales compensation by using AI and data science to optimize every dollar spent on sales incentives. ## Products & Services - **Forma.ai Platform**: A unified sales performance operating system that integrates territory planning, quota setting, incentive compensation, and analytics in a single data platform. Uses AI to automate plan configuration and logic. - **Prophet**: An integrated sales planning advisory service combining Forma.ai data scientists and strategy consultants with advanced sales analytics to deliver optimized territories, quotas, and incentive strategies. - **Forma Architect**: A module that brings together data from virtually any source to create a single source of truth for SPM, enabling machine learning models and advanced analytics. - **Modeling Engine**: Allows users to test and financially model compensation changes directly in the platform and deploy them instantly. - **600+ Pre-built Integrations**: Connects with CRM, HRIS, and other GTM data sources. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Total Funding**: $58M total raised (Seed $3M, Series A $10M, Series B $45M led by ACME Capital in 2022) - **Key Metric**: Over $25 billion in commissions processed through the platform (as of 2022); 400% YoY growth leading up to Series B - **Notable Investors/Partners**: ACME Capital, Crosslink Capital, Gaingels, Golden Ventures, Uncork Capital, Xfund - **Growth Signals**: - Named a **G2 High Performer 2025/2026** and **Forrester Customer Favorite 2025** - Recognized on **Deloitte Fast 50 Canada 2024** and **Deloitte Fast 500 North America 2025** - Global expansion with offices in Toronto, Pune (India), and remote presence across North America - 145 total employees (as of Built In profile) with 22 open positions across engineering, customer operations, sales, and marketing ## Competitive Advantages - **AI-native platform**: Unlike competitors that offer only configuration tools, Forma.ai uses AI to automate plan design and logic, reducing the need for technical expertise. - **Unified data model**: Combines territory, quota, and incentive planning in a single source of truth, enabling rapid, data-driven decisions. - **Machine learning optimization**: Deploys ML models to improve forecasts, optimize sales coverage, and design winning comp plans. - **Customer obsession**: Acts as both adviser and operational partner, with a focus on trust and long-term relationships. ## Strategic Focus - Continue scaling the AI-powered platform to handle enterprise complexity and global deployments. - Expand global presence (offices in Toronto, Pune, and remote US/Canada) to support 24-hour customer support. - Deepen machine learning capabilities to optimize every aspect of sales compensation design and administration. - Grow customer base beyond current Fortune 500 clients. ## Why Work Here - **Culture**: Described as a "different kind of software company" with a focus on expertise, diverse perspectives, and customer-centricity. Team celebrates wins together. - **Flexible Working**: North American employees can work from home, the Toronto HQ, or a combination. Some roles are in-office (Toronto, Pune) or fully remote. - **Benefits**: - Above-industry-average compensation with employee equity plan - Unlimited vacation with a required minimum of three weeks - Yearly training stipend for personal and professional growth - Comprehensive healthcare (medical, dental, vision, life insurance) and paid parental leave - **Growth Opportunity**: Rapid growth (400% YoY) and novel approach provide unique experience; employees join at an early stage of a company disrupting a massive market (trillions in sales incentives). - **Engineering Culture**: Senior and staff engineering roles in backend, frontend, and data platform; focus on building a complex, integrated product. ## Sources 1. [forma.ai](https://www.forma.ai/) – Main product and platform details 2. [forma.ai/about](https://www.forma.ai/about) – Company history, funding, milestones 3. [job-boards.greenhouse.io/formaaiinc](http://job-boards.greenhouse.io/formaaiinc) – Current open positions and locations 4. [builtin.com/company/formaai](https://builtin.com/company/formaai) – Office locations, employee count, culture overview ## Other roles at Forma.ai - [Principal Consultant, Sales Effectiveness](https://feeny.ai/job/principal-consultant-sales-effectiveness-forma-ai-canada-or-stqsyx3tsn0f) — Canada OR, United States - [Senior Security Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-security-engineer-forma-ai-toronto-bm9xygwvewd3) — Toronto, Canada - [Operations Automation Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/operations-automation-engineer-forma-ai-toronto-gccnfq6h5an3) — Toronto, Canada - [Senior Software Engineer (Applications)](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-software-engineer-applications-forma-ai-toronto-1zrgb5y0qz9n) — Toronto, Canada - [Account Director](https://feeny.ai/job/account-director-forma-ai-toronto-79qgspakrezb) — Toronto, Canada - [Senior Frontend Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-frontend-engineer-forma-ai-toronto-x20yyyhdngg1) — Toronto, Canada - [Implementation Analyst](https://feeny.ai/job/implementation-analyst-forma-ai-toronto-c7h6qw5cj1m0) — Toronto, Canada - [Senior Product Manager- ICM Operations](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-product-manager-icm-operations-forma-ai-toronto-zb0e4q8ag6cj) — Toronto, Canada - [Senior Solutions Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-solutions-engineer-forma-ai-toronto-sk9bbg0fsme9) — Toronto, Canada - [Director, SPM Implementation](https://feeny.ai/job/director-spm-implementation-forma-ai-toronto-f37shx4fgrqm) — Toronto, Canada