Senior Staff Back-end Engineer - Ads

As a Senior Staff Back-end Engineer at Faire, you will oversee the technical roadmap for critical advertising products. Your duties include collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, optimizing search algorithms for better performance, developing infrastructures that enhance ad delivery, and mentoring junior engineers to tackle complex challenges in our two-sided marketplace.

To qualify for the Senior Staff Back-end Engineer position at Faire, applicants should have over 8 years of software engineering experience, including at least 3 years in a technical leadership role. Experience with ads systems, machine learning collaboration, and strong communication skills are essential. Familiarity with scaling an ads product in a significant tech organization is preferred.

At Faire, machine learning plays a crucial role in enhancing ad relevance and performance. As a Senior Staff Back-end Engineer, you'll work closely with data scientists and machine learning engineers to implement state-of-the-art algorithms, allowing brands to engage more effectively with their target market and boosting the overall efficiency of ad delivery.

A Senior Staff Back-end Engineer at Faire has ample opportunities for career advancement. You'll be part of a foundational team within a fast-growing company, encouraging innovation and the chance to lead important projects. There will also be opportunities for mentorship and technical leadership, as well as the potential to shape the company's future direction.

Faire fosters a collaborative and entrepreneurial work culture. As a Senior Staff Back-end Engineer, you'll work in a positive environment that values curiosity, creativity, and resourcefulness. The team thrives on open communication and supports each other in solving challenging problems, driving collective success, and making a real difference for independent businesses.

When designing a scalable back-end system for an advertising solution, I start by understanding the business requirements and user needs. I focus on modular design to ensure each component can scale independently and integrate effectively. My approach includes implementing efficient data storage, optimizing retrieval processes, and utilizing microservices architecture wherever appropriate to maintain flexibility and performance.

Certainly! In my previous role, I led a cross-departmental project to revamp an advertising delivery system. We faced many challenges, including performance limitations and user feedback on relevance. I orchestrated collaboration between engineering, data science, and product teams, ultimately architecting a solution that increased ad relevance by 30%, leading to a significant improvement in customer satisfaction.

I prioritize open communication and establish clear project goals with cross-functional teams. Regular sync-up meetings foster transparency, and I encourage team members to share their insights and challenges openly. Collaboration tools also play a significant role in keeping everyone aligned and ensuring that feedback loops are integrated promptly and efficiently.

Incorporating machine learning into engineering projects begins with identifying the right use cases, such as personalization and predictive analytics. I collaborate closely with data scientists to define the models we need, ensure the data pipelines are properly designed, and build the architecture required for smooth integration of machine learning outputs into production environments.

My experience with optimizing search algorithms, particularly for ads, includes analyzing user behavior data to identify patterns and adjust ranking criteria for relevance. I leverage techniques like collaborative filtering and A/B testing to enhance the search experience continually, ensuring that the ads served to users are both relevant and effective in driving conversions.

To stay updated in backend engineering, I regularly follow industry-leading blogs, participate in relevant online communities, and attend tech conferences. I also enjoy experimenting with new technologies in personal projects, allowing me to gain practical insights that I can bring back to my team.

In a previous project, we encountered a critical performance issue affecting ads delivery. I quickly assembled a task force, established an incident response plan, and utilized monitoring tools to trace the root cause. We discovered a bottleneck caused by inefficient queries, enabling us to optimize database access and ultimately restore system performance while minimizing downtime.

Data analysis is foundational to my engineering processes. I leverage analytics to inform decision-making at every stage, from system design to ongoing performance evaluation. By identifying trends and areas for improvement through data, I can iterate and optimize solutions effectively and ensure alignment with business objectives.

When managing multiple projects, I prioritize tasks based on urgency, importance, and overall business impact. I implement frameworks to assess each project's value and align with stakeholders’ expectations. Regular reviews and prioritization meetings keep the team aligned and focused on delivering high-impact results.

Essential qualities for a Senior Staff Back-end Engineer at Faire include strong technical leadership, excellent communication skills, and an entrepreneurial spirit. The ability to think critically and creatively, tackle complex problems, and collaborate effectively with diverse teams is also crucial. A passion for supporting local businesses through technology is key to thriving in our mission-driven environment.