Junior Backend Engineer - Search

As a Junior Backend Engineer at BlaBlaCar, your primary responsibility will be to design, develop, and maintain Java microservices that support the Search functionalities of our platform. You will engage in the full application lifecycle, which includes early design discussions, coding, testing, and deployment, as well as monitoring and supporting your solutions. Additionally, you'll work closely with cross-functional teams to refine features, ensuring they meet the needs of our community of users.

To be a successful Junior Backend Engineer at BlaBlaCar, you should have some experience with Java and frameworks like Spring and Spring Boot. Familiarity with service-oriented architecture concepts is essential, along with strong communication skills and a team-oriented approach. While not mandatory, knowledge of Docker, Kubernetes, and Datadog is a plus. Proficiency in English is necessary, aligning with BlaBlaCar’s core values of collaboration and innovation.

Absolutely! At BlaBlaCar, we offer full remote work options within France for the Junior Backend Engineer position. Whether you prefer to work from the comfort of your home or enjoy the collaborative atmosphere of our co-working spaces in various cities like Bordeaux or Lyon, we provide flexibility to suit your lifestyle.

As a Junior Backend Engineer at BlaBlaCar, you will be joining a vibrant team composed of 11 engineers from various backgrounds. Our work culture fosters collaboration and open communication, allowing you to share your technical expertise with colleagues in product management and business roles. This diverse environment nurtures creativity and innovation, ensuring an engaging and dynamic workplace.

BlaBlaCar offers a wide range of benefits for Junior Backend Engineers, including the possibility of full remote work, 4 additional weeks of fully paid parental leave, financial support for home office setup, free unlimited carpooling and bus rides, and a stock ownership plan. You also get 25 days of holiday plus RTT, local meal plan policies, paid transportation options, and mental health support, ensuring a healthy work-life balance.

In your answer, highlight any projects or specific tasks where you utilized Java and frameworks like Spring and Spring Boot. Discuss the challenges you faced and how you overcame them, emphasizing your understanding of these technologies and how they apply to backend development.

Discuss the importance of each stage in the application lifecycle. Describe your involvement in design, development, testing, and deployment processes, and share examples of how you have successfully handled monitoring and support in past projects.

Explain service-oriented architecture and its relevance to backend development. You might describe practical situations when you have witnessed or implemented this pattern, emphasizing its importance for scalability and maintainability.

Share an experience where you collaborated with individuals from different backgrounds, such as product managers or designers. Explain how you facilitated communication and worked to address varying perspectives to reach a common goal.

Convey your enthusiasm for BlaBlaCar’s mission and values. Highlight your interest in community-based solutions and how your role as a Junior Backend Engineer fits into their overall goal of improving travel experiences.

Discuss your systematic approach to debugging, including code reviews, using logging, and employing unit tests. Share a specific instance where you identified and resolved a significant issue in your code.

Explain your task management techniques, such as using tools like task boards or time management methods. Highlight how you communicate with your team to ensure that priorities align with business needs.

Even if you don’t have extensive experience, mention any exposure you’ve had to Docker or Kubernetes. Discuss their importance in containerization and orchestration, and express your eagerness to learn more about these technologies within a professional setting.

Emphasize the practices you follow to maintain high-quality code, such as writing unit tests, code reviews, and adhering to clean coding principles. Explain how these practices contribute to the overall reliability of the application.

Discuss the key traits you think are essential for a successful Backend Engineer, such as problem-solving skills, the ability to work well in teams, continuous learning, and effective communication. Relate these traits back to the role at BlaBlaCar.