Software Engineer, Backend

As a Software Engineer, Backend at Character.AI, you will design, develop, and maintain scalable backend services that support our applications and infrastructure. This includes implementing secure and efficient APIs for frontend applications and third-party integrations, optimizing system performance, and ensuring high availability and fault tolerance. You'll work closely with product managers and frontend engineers to align backend solutions with business needs.

To qualify for the Backend Engineer role at Character.AI, candidates must possess at least 5 years of experience in backend development, with strong proficiency in programming languages such as Python, Java, or Go, preferably Python or Go. Familiarity with database technologies like PostgreSQL or NoSQL, as well as experience with cloud platforms and microservices architecture, are essential.

A Software Engineer, Backend at Character.AI should be proficient in programming languages like Python or Go, with a strong understanding of building scalable and reliable applications. Knowledge of Java can also be beneficial, but Python or Go is preferred for this position due to their performance capabilities in backend development.

Character.AI ensures high availability and performance of backend systems through effective architecture and engineering best practices. This includes monitoring system health, troubleshooting issues proactively, and implementing improvements based on emerging technologies and trends, which contribute to enhanced system reliability and stability.

As a Backend Engineer at Character.AI, you will work on cutting-edge projects that involve building scalable backend services for an engaging interactive entertainment platform. This includes developing APIs, integrating with third-party systems, and optimizing performance for a rapidly growing user base of over 20 million monthly visitors.

When asked about optimizing system performance and reliability, explain your process for identifying bottlenecks, such as monitoring system metrics and conducting performance testing. Discuss specific strategies you've implemented in past projects, such as caching techniques, load balancing, and proactive monitoring solutions.

In answering this question, highlight specific projects where you designed REST or GraphQL APIs. Discuss the principles you followed for usability, security, and scalability, and the tools you used for testing and documentation. Providing examples will demonstrate your hands-on experience.

When discussing tools for containerization and orchestration, focus on your experience with Docker and Kubernetes. Explain how you have utilized these tools in your workflow to manage application deployments and ensure scalability and reliability in production environments.

In your response, discuss specific projects where you've successfully implemented microservices architecture. Explain the benefits you observed, such as improved scalability and maintainability, and some challenges you faced, offering solutions you employed to manage inter-service communication and data consistency.

When asked how to prioritize tasks, describe your approach to balancing multiple responsibilities. Emphasize the importance of communication with stakeholders and team members, and how you utilize tools like Agile methodologies or Kanban to track progress and adjust priorities based on changing business needs.

Discuss your understanding of security best practices, emphasizing encryption, data validation, and regular vulnerability assessments. Explain how you stay up to date with the latest security threats and incorporate security measures throughout the development lifecycle rather than as an afterthought.

In your answer, talk about your commitment to continuous learning, such as attending industry conferences, following relevant blogs and forums, or participating in online workshops. Mention a few specific trends or technologies you are particularly excited about and how they could apply to your role at Character.AI.

Provide a detailed example of a complex problem you resolved, outlining the context, the steps you took, and the impact of your solution. Focus on your problem-solving skills and how you collaborated with team members to reach an effective resolution.

Discuss your approach to testing, including unit tests, integration tests, and system testing. Explain the importance of automated testing in ensuring code quality and reliability, and share some frameworks or tools you've used in your previous projects.

In your response, articulate what success means in the context of the role. This may include successful implementation of scalable backend services, collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver user-centric solutions, or staying ahead of industry trends to innovate continuously in backend development.