Software Engineer (Backend / Full Stack)

As a Software Engineer (Backend / Full Stack) at CueBox, your primary responsibilities involve taking ownership of the backend systems and scaling them as we grow. You'll pioneer new features and products, foster a culture of engineering excellence through technical design discussions, and contribute to core consumer-facing features. Your role requires designing robust APIs and database schemas, and you'll also have the opportunity to work on full stack projects, particularly if you have experience with React.

To qualify for the Software Engineer (Backend / Full Stack) position at CueBox, you'll need at least 4 years of professional software engineering experience, preferably in an early or mid-stage startup. A Bachelor's degree in Computer Science or a related field is essential, along with experience in building data-intensive applications using strongly typed backend languages. Effective communication skills, a strong product sense, and self-direction are also crucial for succeeding in this role.

At CueBox, our current tech stack includes Golang for the backend, Protobuf, and Postgres for database management. You will also work with React and Next.js for the frontend, alongside Chakra UI for design. Familiarity with Python for data pipelines and GCP for hosting is advantageous. If you bring experience in these technologies, you'll fit right in and be able to contribute effectively!

A Software Engineer at CueBox will engage in diverse and impactful projects such as improving core consumer-facing checkout flows, redesigning APIs, and implementing sophisticated payment solutions involving multiple payment methods. Other exciting projects could include creating educational programming features and scaling backend systems to handle analytics workloads, ensuring that you’ll always have something intriguing on your plate!

Working as a Software Engineer at CueBox, you can expect a competitive base salary in the range of $130,000 to $180,000, along with an equity package. Our benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance, ensuring that you and your family's health needs are taken care of. Additionally, the chance to work in a collaborative and mission-driven environment makes CueBox an exciting place to grow your career!

In response to this question, highlight your previous projects that involved backend development. Discuss your familiarity with technologies like Golang or Postgres, focusing on how you have built performant and scalable applications in a startup environment. Be specific about your contributions and any challenges you overcame, emphasizing technical problem-solving and design thinking.

To answer this, describe your thought process when designing APIs. Discuss elements like user needs, data flow, and maintainability. Mention any specific standards or best practices you follow to ensure the API is efficient and easy to use. It would be helpful to provide an example of a successful API project you've worked on and how it benefited users.

In your response, emphasize a balanced approach. Acknowledge that while new features are important for growth and user engagement, addressing technical debt is crucial for long-term sustainability. Discuss how you assess the impact and urgency of both aspects, perhaps introducing methodologies like Agile or Scrum that you have used in your previous work.

Elaborate on any projects where you used React, highlighting your role and contributions. Discuss how you integrated frontend logic with backend services, your familiarity with component-based architecture, and any libraries or tools you regularly use with React. Express your enthusiasm for creating seamless user experiences that drive engagement.

Candidates should showcase their understanding of performance optimization techniques, such as code profiling, caching strategies, and load testing. Share specific examples from your past work where you've implemented such techniques to enhance application efficiency and reliability. Mention any tools or methodologies you employ to regularly monitor performance.

Respond with a detailed account of a specific technical challenge, ensuring to explain the context and the steps taken to solve it. Highlight the skills and techniques you utilized, the collaboration with team members, and how the solution positively impacted the project. This demonstrates your problem-solving skills and your ability to work under pressure.

Discuss the emphasis you place on clear, open communication within a technical team. Highlight techniques such as regular stand-ups, code reviews, and collaborative problem-solving sessions. Mention the use of project management tools that facilitate transparency and ensure everyone is on the same page, illustrating your commitment to a productive team environment.

Explain your strategies for staying current in the fast-evolving tech landscape. You might mention participating in online courses, attending workshops or conferences, reading industry-related blogs or books, or joining communities. This demonstrates your proactive nature and eagerness to learn, which are valuable traits in a rapidly changing industry.

Highlight the importance of user feedback in shaping your development decisions. Explain how you gather and incorporate insights from users to enhance the product. Discuss any specific methodologies like user testing sessions, surveys, or analytics you use to validate hypotheses, showing your commitment to creating user-centric solutions.

In your answer, express genuine enthusiasm for CueBox’s mission to support performing arts and cultural organizations. Discuss how this aligns with your personal values or experiences. Mention the unique opportunity to impact a flourishing startup environment and contribute to meaningful projects. This reflects both your knowledge of the company and your passion for the role.