CLI Engineer

We are looking for a Senior CLI Engineer to join our CLI Team and help build a world-class local development experience - while owning a significant share of the API and backend work that powers it. This is a hands-on individual contributor role. Technically, expect roughly 80% backend / API work and 20% CLI work: most of your time will be on TypeScript server-side development, primarily with NestJS (API modules, controllers, services, integrations), with a steady commitment to cross-platform CLI quality, releases, and developer experience. You will work closely with customers, product teams, and the open source community to deliver systems that are consistent, secure, and performant - across Windows, Linux, and macOS for the CLI, and through well-designed APIs for everything else. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in async, fast-paced environments and wants depth in backend delivery without stepping away from CLI and DX as a core part of the job.

What You’ll Own:

• Design, build, and operate backend APIs and services in TypeScript, using NestJS patterns (modules, providers, pipelines) where that is how we ship - prioritizing security, performance, and clear contracts for internal and external consumers.
• Design and develop CLI tooling that is consistent, secure, and performant across Windows, Linux, and macOS, aligned with the same platform capabilities the backend exposes.
• Collaborate with product and platform teams to define end-to-end behavior: from HTTP/API design through to how the CLI and local development stack surface those capabilities.
• Implement unit, integration, and end-to-end tests across backend and CLI so reliability and maintainability stay high as the surface area grows.
• Create documentation and help content for API consumers, CLI users, and contributing developers.
• Participate in releases, versioning, and backwards compatibility for the components you own.
• Monitor usage and feedback; work with customers and the open source community to improve both API/backend and CLI experiences.

What You’ll Bring:

• 5+ years of software development experience with a strong track record in backend systems and/or developer-facing tooling.
• Strong TypeScript and professional experience shipping production API and server-side code; NestJS experience is strongly aligned with how the CLI Team builds.
• Hands-on experience with command-line tools (building, maintaining, or owning CLIs), including cross-platform concerns: filesystem access, subprocess management, terminal UX, and platform-specific behavior.
• Proficiency in one or more languages commonly used for CLI and backend work (for example TypeScript/Node, Rust, Python, Go, C++). For this role, depth in TypeScript is essential.
• Experience building CLIs with strong user experience: intuitive command structure, clear output, and actionable error messaging.
• Familiarity with package distribution and installation (for example npm, yarn, Homebrew, APT, Snap, Scoop, Chocolatey) as they relate to how users install and update tools.
• Solid Git workflow and CI/CD experience for automated testing and deployment.

Nice to have:

• Contributions to open-source CLI tools, libraries, or backend frameworks.
• Experience with containerization and orchestration (for example Docker, Kubernetes).
• Familiarity with database migration management, Postgres, and related drivers or protocols where they intersect platform or CLI workflows.

What We Offer:

• Fully Remote: We hire globally. We believe you can do your best work from anywhere. There are no Supabase offices, but we provide a WeWork membership or co-working allowance you can use anywhere in the world.
• ESOP: Every team member receives ESOP (equity ownership) in the company. We want everyone to share in the upside of what we’re building together.
• Tech Allowance: Use this budget to set up your ideal work environment—laptop, monitor, headphones, or whatever helps you do your best work.
• Health Benefits: Supabase covers 100% of health insurance costs for you and your family.