Senior Full Stack Engineer

As a Senior Full Stack Engineer at Alembic, your main responsibilities include architecting, designing, and developing full-stack applications. You'll work closely with modern frameworks to build frontend applications while writing backend services and APIs using technologies like Node.js or Python. Significantly, you will contribute to setting the engineering best practices, managing databases, mentoring junior engineers, and influencing technical decisions to ensure our solutions are scalable and effective.

To qualify for the Senior Full Stack Engineer position at Alembic, you should have over 10 years of experience in full-stack development with a strong focus on both frontend and backend technologies. Proficiency in JavaScript/TypeScript, experience with modern frontend frameworks like React, and backend expertise in languages such as Node.js or Python are essential. Knowledge of cloud platforms, DevOps tools, and a solid understanding of databases are also crucial to succeed in this role.

At Alembic, we value personal and professional growth, especially for our Senior Full Stack Engineers. You will have the opportunity to mentor junior engineers, influence engineering practices, and actively participate in shaping the team as we scale. The environment encourages continuous learning and offers unique chances to take on leadership roles in projects, fostering an atmosphere where your insights and contributions can directly shape the future of the company.

As a Senior Full Stack Engineer at Alembic, you will be working with an array of modern technologies. This includes frontend frameworks like React, backend languages such as Node.js and Python, and database systems including PostgreSQL and Elastic. You’ll also engage with cloud platforms like AWS, GCP, or Azure, alongside DevOps tools like Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines, providing a comprehensive tech stack to work with in a dynamic startup environment.

The work culture at Alembic is dynamic and collaborative, well-suited for those who thrive in startup environments. As a Senior Full Stack Engineer, you will be encouraged to take initiative, continuously learn, and collaborate across teams. We focus on building something impactful and exciting; however, we also appreciate those who can code alongside their peers rather than just dictate what to build, leading to a rewarding and engaged work atmosphere.

When answering this question, highlight specific projects you've worked on using React. Discuss your familiarity with component lifecycle methods, state management, and any libraries you've incorporated, such as Redux or React Router. If applicable, mention how you optimized performance in your applications, potentially bringing in examples of your code or architecture.

Provide a detailed overview of the project's scope, your specific role within it, and the challenges you encountered. Be sure to discuss how you leveraged both your frontend and backend skills to overcome obstacles and the overall impact your work had on the project's success.

Discuss your approach to designing scalable architectures, such as microservices or event-driven systems. Elaborate on security practices you implement, such as data validation, user authentication, and secure API design. Share examples of how you've effectively balanced these considerations in past projects.

Talk about your preferred tools for collaboration, like Git for version control, Jira or Trello for project management, and Zoom or Slack for communication. Discuss how you maintain open lines of communication and engage with team members consistently, especially in remote settings.

In your response, focus on projects where you've employed these languages. Specify frameworks you've used, such as Express for Node.js, and illustrate how you've created APIs or deployed services. If you can, share performance metrics or success stories from your backend work to enhance your answer.

Share your philosophy on mentoring and specific strategies you use. Discuss how you provide feedback, create learning opportunities, and help junior engineers build their skills over time. Providing a specific example of a mentoring experience can add depth to your answer.

Be honest in sharing a project that didn't meet your expectations and elaborate on how you analyzed the situation. Discuss what you learned and how you applied that learning in future projects. This shows your resilience and capacity for self-improvement.

Talk about your engagement with ongoing education, such as following industry blogs, attending webinars, or participating in relevant online courses. Share specific examples of how you've applied new knowledge to your work, demonstrating a commitment to continuous growth.

Provide details on your experience with database queries, indexing, and normalization. Talk about any specific tools or techniques you've used to analyze or improve performance, sharing an example that shows the positive outcome of your efforts.

Describe a situation where changes were made to project requirements or goals. Focus on how you managed to pivot effectively, worked with your team to realign tasks, and maintained productivity despite the challenges posed by the change.