Software Engineer II - Backend

As a Software Engineer II - Backend at Abnormal Security, your main responsibilities will include leveraging AI-augmented development tools to optimize your workflow, building data-driven applications and APIs, and designing secure systems that prevent sophisticated cyber threats. You'll collaborate with Fortune 500 enterprises, design backend services that scale globally, and continually innovate to ensure our software solutions remain at the forefront of technology.

To succeed as a Software Engineer II - Backend at Abnormal Security, you should have at least 3 years of professional software development experience, with strong skills in backend programming languages like Python, TypeScript, or Go. Familiarity with frontend frameworks and AI development tools like GitHub Copilot and data structures are essential. You should also have a passion for building scalable applications and a solid understanding of cloud platforms and containerization.

In your role as a Software Engineer II - Backend at Abnormal Security, you'll work with a variety of cutting-edge tools and technologies including AI-assisted development tools like Cursor and GitHub Copilot, cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure, and container orchestration technologies like Docker and Kubernetes. These tools will enable you to develop high-quality, scalable applications that align with our goal of enhancing cybersecurity.

The Software Engineer II - Backend at Abnormal Security plays a crucial role in developing secure and scalable systems designed to detect and combat evolving cyber threats. By leveraging data-driven insights and collaborating with security teams at Fortune 500 companies, you'll build impactful solutions that protect enterprises from sophisticated attacks, effectively contributing to global cybersecurity efforts.

The AI-Augmented Development Challenge is a unique opportunity for applicants vying for the Software Engineer II - Backend position at Abnormal Security. This challenge consists of a hands-on assignment that allows candidates to utilize AI-powered tools like Cursor and Copilot to develop real-world application features. It typically requires 2-4 hours of work and must be completed within a week, offering candidates a chance to showcase their skills in a practical setting.

When answering this question, focus on your experience with languages such as Python, TypeScript, and Go. Discuss specific projects you've worked on, challenges you've faced, and how you overcame them, while emphasizing your strengths in backend development and your ability to learn new technologies quickly.

Share an example that highlights your experience using AI tools like GitHub Copilot or Cursor. Discuss how these tools improved your productivity, streamlined your workflow, or helped solve a specific problem in an interesting project. Make sure to showcase your adaptability and willingness to embrace new technologies.

Discuss your understanding of distributed systems, load balancing, and microservices architecture. You can provide insights into specific patterns and practices you've used to ensure scalability, such as optimizing database queries, caching strategies, and exploring cloud-based solutions with AWS or GCP.

When answering, consider mentioning best practices in secure coding, the importance of data validation and sanitization, and working with security teams to understand potential threats. Share instances where you addressed vulnerabilities and your commitment to continuous learning about emerging cybersecurity threats.

Discuss your expertise with platforms like AWS, GCP, or Azure, detailing specific services you’ve used for backend development, deployment strategies, or architecture design. Also, mention your experience with containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes, and how they contribute to efficient application deployment.

Focus on aspects like consistency, security, scalability, and usability. Share examples of how you’ve implemented these factors in past projects, as well as your approach to documentation and versioning that ensures a smooth experience for end-users and developers.

Explain your systematic approach to debugging software issues. Share concrete examples of challenging bugs you've resolved and the tools or methods—like logging, code reviews, and automated tests—that you find most effective for identifying and resolving issues.

Discuss your communication style and how you maintain clarity in your collaborations. Mention specific techniques—like regular stand-ups, using project management tools, or document-sharing—that promote transparency and efficiency when working with product managers, designers, or other engineers.

Reflect your genuine passion for AI technologies and their potential to reshape industries. Talk about your eagerness to contribute to innovative projects, solving real-world problems through AI, and how you continuously keep abreast of new advancements in the field.

Share your habits for continuous learning: subscribing to tech blogs, following influential experts on social media, participating in webinars, attending conferences, or contributing to open-source projects. Highlight your commitment to personal and professional growth in the field of software engineering.