Senior Full-Stack Engineer

As a Senior Full-Stack Engineer at Alpaca, you'll be tasked with designing, implementing, and maintaining critical systems and services. This includes developing web applications that enhance user experiences and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality software solutions. You'll also oversee the delivery of high-visibility projects from inception to launch and mentor junior developers, contributing to the overall technical strategy of the company.

To apply for the Senior Full-Stack Engineer position at Alpaca, you'll need a minimum of 5+ years of full-stack development experience, proficiency in modern programming languages such as Go and React, and familiarity with SQL or relational databases. Additional skills that are beneficial include experience with NextJS, knowledge of Bash, Linux, Docker, and familiarity with major cloud platforms like AWS, GCP, or Azure.

At Alpaca, we believe in nurturing talent and supporting the growth of our team members. As a Senior Full-Stack Engineer, you'll have the unique opportunity to mentor junior developers, which not only helps them grow but also enhances your leadership skills. We encourage ongoing learning and development through collaborative projects and contributions to our innovative technical strategy.

In the Senior Full-Stack Engineer role at Alpaca, you'll work with a variety of modern technologies including Go, React, and NextJS, along with SQL and relational databases. You'll also engage with tools and platforms like Docker, Kubernetes, and AWS/GCP/Azure for cloud services, ensuring you stay at the forefront of tech in the financial services space.

Senior Full-Stack Engineers at Alpaca enjoy a host of benefits including competitive salaries and stock options, comprehensive health benefits starting on day one, and a one-time setup allowance for home-office needs. Additionally, you’ll receive a monthly stipend to support any work-related expenses, along with the chance to collaborate with a talented and diverse team.

In your answer, highlight specific projects where you've developed both front-end and back-end components, emphasizing technologies you’ve used. Discuss how your experience aligns with Alpaca's mission to provide high-quality financial services.

Explain your methodology for designing scalable applications, possibly outlining steps such as planning, selecting appropriate tools or frameworks, and ensuring best practices for performance. Provide examples from previous roles to illustrate your approach.

Discuss how you value collaboration with cross-functional teams, outlining communication strategies and tools you utilize to ensure seamless teamwork. Give examples of previous projects demonstrating successful collaborative efforts.

Share your strategies for staying informed, including resources like podcasts, online courses, developer communities, and conferences. Emphasize how this knowledge has influenced your work and contributed to project success.

Prepare a specific example where you encountered a significant technical challenge. Describe the problem, the solutions you considered, and the outcome. Highlight any learning lessons or improvements implemented afterward.

Discuss the criteria you prioritize during a code review, such as readability, adherence to coding standards, optimization, and testing. Share how providing constructive feedback has helped improve team performance.

Explain the strategies you use to prioritize user experience in your development process, such as user testing, gathering feedback, and iterating on design. Share specific examples where enhancing user experience led to better outcomes.

Detail your experience with AWS, GCP, or Azure, mentioning specific services you worked with and how they contributed to the success of your applications. Highlight any deployment processes or architectural decisions made.

Describe your mentoring philosophy, including the ways you support junior developers in their learning. Discuss how you tailor your approach based on their needs and career aspirations, ensuring they feel empowered and motivated.

Express your views on the importance of open-source in the developer community, highlighting any contributions you’ve made in the past. Connect this to Alpaca’s values and commitment to fostering a vibrant tech community.