Staff Software Engineer

As a Staff Software Engineer at Zinnia, your main responsibilities will include designing, documenting, and implementing API standards for our enterprise APIs. You'll oversee critical tasks such as implementing secure access through IAM, ensuring efficient API governance, and improving the software development lifecycle related to API management. You'll also automate testing processes and ensure that the backend code remains high-quality and performant while providing technical guidance to support development teams.

To qualify for the Staff Software Engineer role at Zinnia, candidates need to have at least 10 years of software development experience, with proficiency in TypeScript and familiarity with API gateways like Apigee or Kong. Experience in cloud-native deployments, a strong understanding of DevOps practices, and familiarity with IDP/IAM platforms such as Auth0 are also key requirements. A commitment to staying updated with the latest trends in API development and strong communication skills will also set you up for success in this role.

At Zinnia, we prioritize career progression and offer an environment filled with opportunities for professional growth. As a Staff Software Engineer, you'll work alongside innovative professionals and engage in cutting-edge technology projects, all while receiving support through initiatives like mentorship, training programs, and performance feedback to help align your career goals with the company’s objectives.

For the Staff Software Engineer position at Zinnia, strong proficiency in TypeScript is essential. Additionally, a solid understanding of other programming languages that support API development and backend coding will also be advantageous. Being flexible and willing to learn new languages or technologies will provide you with a strong edge in this role.

Staff Software Engineers at Zinnia have the chance to work with a variety of cutting-edge tools and technologies. You'll use SEO tools for API management, such as Auth0 for security and handle API gateways like Apigee or Kong. Familiarity with AWS services, CI/CD pipelines, and containerization tools will also be essential for your day-to-day tasks, ensuring you stay on top of current industry standards.

In discussing your experience with API development, be specific about the projects you’ve worked on, the technologies used, and the impact they had on the organization. It's helpful to highlight the challenges faced during development and how you overcame them, showcasing your problem-solving skills and technical expertise.

When responding, discuss the security frameworks and best practices you have implemented, such as using tools like Auth0 for authentication and authorization. Explain how you enforce Fine-Grained Access Control (FGA) and highlight the importance of regular security audits and testing for your APIs.

To answer this question, you might want to discuss your approach to creating clear API documentation that includes usage examples, endpoint descriptions, and status codes. Highlight any tools you’ve used for documentation, such as Swagger or Postman, and stress the importance of keeping documentation up to date as the API evolves.

Elaborate on your previous exposure to Agile/Scrum methodologies, including how you’ve participated in sprints, backlog grooming, or daily stand-ups. Share how this experience has helped improve team dynamics and project delivery while also discussing any specific roles or contributions you made to the process.

Discuss the strategies you employ for conducting thorough code reviews, emphasizing the importance of constructive feedback, best practices, and team collaboration. Give examples of how your code reviews have helped maintain high standards of code quality and fostered a culture of learning within your team.

In your response, be sure to detail your experience with Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) systems, discussing specific tools you’ve utilized, such as Jenkins, GitLab CI, or CircleCI. Talk about how these practices have improved the development process at your previous jobs.

Share specific examples of complex technical challenges you faced in previous projects. Explain the steps you took to assess the problem, research potential solutions, and implement the final resolution. This demonstrates your analytical skills and determination to find solutions.

Discuss your approach to staying current with industry trends, whether through online courses, tech meetups, webinars, or reading articles and whitepapers. Mention any blogs, podcasts, or other resources that you find particularly valuable to your professional growth in API development.

Explain your thoughts on scalability and performance in API design, such as building with load balancing, caching strategies, and choosing the right data structures. Highlight how your past experiences reflect these considerations when designing APIs to ensure they can handle increased traffic.

In your answer, discuss your approach to API versioning and the importance of managing different versions without disrupting existing clients. Offer examples of strategies you’ve implemented, such as URL versioning, and discuss how this fosters a seamless experience for end-users.