Staff Software Engineer - Backend

As a Staff Software Engineer - Backend at Cardless, your responsibilities will include leading the technical architecture and development of scalable credit card systems, crafting secure and high-performance solutions, and mentoring fellow engineers. You'll also evaluate technologies to meet current demands while ensuring future scalability and actively shape technical strategies.

To qualify for the Staff Software Engineer - Backend role at Cardless, you should have at least 10 years of experience in software engineering, with a minimum of 5 years in a technical leadership position. Proficient knowledge of cloud environments like AWS, microservices, and experience with No-SQL databases, particularly DynamoDB, is essential. Additionally, proficiency in Java or Python coding is required.

The annual starting salary range for a Staff Software Engineer - Backend at Cardless is between $250,000 and $300,000, in addition to equity and benefits. This compensation may vary based on factors such as skills, experience, and specific work location.

Cardless offers a comprehensive benefits package for the Staff Software Engineer - Backend role, which includes 100% health, vision, and dental coverage, a $250/month commuter benefit, catered lunches, flexible PTO with a minimum of 15 days off per year, and a 401k plan. Employees also enjoy team building events and a dynamic work environment.

While the Staff Software Engineer - Backend position at Cardless is primarily based in San Francisco, near Dolores Park, the company is open to considering remote work for exceptional candidates. This flexibility allows you to contribute to the team while maintaining your preferred work environment.

When discussing your experience, focus on specific projects where you took a leadership role. Highlight how you guided the team through challenges, maintained project timelines, and ensured quality. Mention your approach to problem-solving and how you fostered collaboration among team members.

In responding to this question, mention techniques such as load balancing, caching strategies, and efficient database queries. Discuss any specific tools or technologies you have used to monitor and enhance performance, illustrating your knowledge of system design and architecture.

Explain your approach to security by discussing practices such as secure coding standards, vulnerability assessments, and regular security audits. Highlight any relevant compliance frameworks you've worked with, and use examples that demonstrate your commitment to maintaining high security standards.

Articulate your preference for Agile or other methodologies, grounding your answer in real-world experience. Provide reasons for your choice, such as improved collaboration, adaptability to change, and feedback loops that enhance product quality.

Provide a success story detailing challenges faced while building that system. Cover aspects like architecture, technology stacks, team dynamics, and how your contributions led to a successful implementation. Highlight metrics or outcomes that showcase its effectiveness.

Discuss your mentoring style, including techniques like pair programming, code reviews, and providing constructive feedback. It's essential to convey your belief in fostering a supportive learning environment and how mentoring not only develops others but also strengthens the team's overall capabilities.

Be specific about your hands-on experience with AWS services like EC2, S3, or DynamoDB. Talk about particular projects where you leveraged these tools to address scalability, performance, or cost challenges, demonstrating your adaptability and technical expertise.

Emphasize your conflict resolution skills by sharing a specific example of a disagreement among team members. Explain how you facilitated discussions and found common ground, underscoring the importance of maintaining a positive team dynamic for productivity.

Detail your commitment to continuous learning through attending workshops, following thought leaders in the industry, participating in coding competitions, and engaging in community forums. This demonstrates your passion for keeping your skills sharp and relevant in a rapidly evolving field.

Share specific instances where you've integrated No-SQL databases in your projects. Discuss the pros and cons of using DynamoDB compared to traditional SQL databases, and how its specific characteristics allowed you to optimize for performance or scale.