Backend Software Engineer - job 1 of 2

As a Backend Software Engineer at AffiniPay, you’ll be responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining high-quality APIs that support both internal customers and external partners. You'll work on solutions for business needs, ensuring that they are secure, scalable, and maintain the high level of availability our clients expect. Moreover, collaborating with DevOps and Quality Engineers on containerized software deployments will be part of your daily routine, alongside mentoring junior engineers.

To successfully land the Backend Software Engineer role at AffiniPay, you'll need a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field, as well as proven experience with server-side programming languages like Scala, Java, or Python. Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to monitor and debug large-scale solutions in cloud environments such as AWS are also necessary. Familiarity with event-sourced systems and containerization technologies, such as Kubernetes, will bolster your application.

At AffiniPay, you’ll dive into technologies including Scala, Apache Kafka, AWS RDS, and Kubernetes. The focus is on building scalable, secure systems that can handle vast amounts of transaction data. You will also have the chance to explore and propose new technologies to propel our products forward, ensuring you stay on top of industry trends.

AffiniPay fosters a friendly and collaborative work environment where teamwork and communication are highly valued. We believe in continuous learning and improvement, which means you’ll have opportunities for mentorship and professional growth. We also recognize the importance of having fun while working hard, so expect a supportive culture that encourages creativity and innovation.

AffiniPay takes care of its team members with competitive compensation packages, fully covered medical, dental, and vision insurance, 401K matching, and flexible paid time off. We also provide professional development opportunities, wellness programs, and community engagement initiatives. Whether you have pets or are expecting a family, we have tailored benefits that can make a significant impact on your life.

When answering this question, highlight specific projects where you've successfully used Scala. Discuss the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and how your skills made a significant impact on the project outcomes.

Share details about your hands-on experience with AWS, including specific services you’ve used. Mention how you’ve monitored applications or utilized services like RDS or S3 to enhance the performance and scalability of your applications.

Discuss your understanding of API security protocols and quality assurance practices, including test-driven development, code reviews, and continuous integration pipelines. Provide examples of how you’ve implemented these in prior projects.

Describe your methodology for debugging, including tools you use and how you prioritize issues based on user impact. Provide an example where your debugging skills resolved a complex problem efficiently.

Emphasize your mentorship experience by detailing how you supported a junior developer through specific challenges and what skills they developed under your guidance. Focus on the positive outcome and the impact on the team.

Share the blogs, news sites, or forums you follow for updates on the technology landscape. You could also talk about any conferences or workshops you've attended that have helped you grow your skill set.

Discuss the importance of teamwork in achieving project goals. Provide examples of how collaborating with other engineers or departments resulted in a more robust product or solution.

Explain your strategies for managing time effectively while maintaining quality, such as breaking tasks into smaller components or conducting extra reviews. Give a real-world example if possible.

Share your knowledge of relational databases and any specific design principles you adhere to, such as normalization and indexing. Discuss how these practices improve performance and the reliability of your applications.

Discuss your understanding of event sourcing, including how it allows you to store state as a sequence of events. Mention benefits such as improved traceability, flexibility in application design, and the potential for rebuilding state easily.