Staff Software Engineer- Data Platform

As a Staff Software Engineer- Data Platform at Canva, you will focus on designing and implementing data development tooling to enhance productivity for data workers, leading architectural initiatives for improved security and infrastructure scalability, and creating a developer-friendly data platform environment. This role also involves mentoring other engineers and working alongside various teams to ensure real-world applications align with platform capabilities.

To thrive as a Staff Software Engineer- Data Platform at Canva, candidates should have strong expertise in Python and Kubernetes, experience in building infrastructure-as-code systems, and an understanding of how to incorporate security and governance into systems. A passion for mentoring others and a knack for problem-solving in dynamic settings are also vital for this role.

In the Staff Software Engineer- Data Platform role at Canva, you might work on exciting projects such as developing tooling that increases productivity for data teams, leading initiatives for jurisdictional data segregation, and enhancing attribute-based access controls within the data platform. The projects will vary as the role evolves within a rapidly changing tech landscape.

Canva is committed to the professional growth of its Staff Software Engineer- Data Platform through mentorship opportunities, an inclusive culture that promotes diverse skill sets, and support for attending workshops or training. Additionally, team collaboration and exposure to innovative practices encourage continuous learning and development in this role.

Employees in the Staff Software Engineer- Data Platform role at Canva receive a range of benefits, including equity packages, an inclusive parental leave policy, a Vibe & Thrive allowance for personal well-being, and flexible leave options. These perks are designed to foster a supportive work environment that values employee success both in and out of the workplace.

When answering this question, consider discussing your methodology for understanding user needs, feasibility studies, and integrating feedback loops. Highlight your experience in enhancing productivity through tools you’ve developed or worked on, emphasizing the importance of user experience in your design.

A strong response should detail specific projects where you’ve leveraged Python for data tasks and combined this with Kubernetes for deployment. Discuss any contributions to cloud-native applications and how these skills have impacted your past roles in terms of efficiency and scalability.

When discussing this, explain your approach to integrating security from the start of an engineering project. Share specific examples of how you’ve implemented security best practices or tools that ensure compliance and governance without affecting usability.

In your response, provide a specific example that illustrates your mentoring style. Talk about the challenges the junior engineer faced, how you supported them, and the measurable outcomes of your mentorship, such as improved performance or enhanced skills.

Here, you might want to describe the resources you use, such as online courses, webinars, conferences, or industry publications. Emphasize your proactive approach to continuous learning and adapting to new technologies and practices.

Consider addressing potential challenges such as managing a scaling platform or aligning diverse team needs. Discuss specific strategies you’d employ to tackle these challenges, such as ongoing collaboration and agile workflow adjustments.

Discuss your approaches to user-centric design, such as collecting feedback from users during development or conducting usability testing. Emphasize your commitment to creating intuitive systems that enhance developer experience.

In your answer, share personal anecdotes or experiences that sparked your interest in data engineering. Highlight the impact of data on businesses and how facilitating better access to data inspires you to innovate constantly.

Explain your methods for managing time and priorities, such as utilizing project management tools, ranking tasks based on urgency and importance, and being flexible to adjust priorities as needed in a collaborative setting.

Provide a specific instance of a project that demonstrates your leadership skills. Discuss the project's objectives, your role, the challenges faced, and how the project was ultimately successful and beneficial for the team or organization.