Staff Software Engineer, Backend

As a Staff Software Engineer, Backend at Life360, your main responsibilities will include providing technical leadership and mentorship to engineers across multiple teams, collaborating closely with Engineering Managers to define the technical direction for projects, and writing code as needed to support team initiatives. You'll also play a crucial role in interviewing and onboarding new talent for our EMEA-based teams.

To excel as a Staff Software Engineer, Backend at Life360, you should have over 8 years of programming experience in languages like Java, PHP, or Python. Additionally, expertise in managing AWS deployments, utilizing infrastructure as code tools such as Terraform and CloudFormation, and strong Kubernetes experience for running and deploying applications at scale are essential.

The Staff Software Engineer position at Life360 directly contributes to the company’s mission by ensuring the development of reliable and scalable systems that enhance family safety and connectivity. By providing technical guidance and driving the strategy for our services, you'll help create solutions that empower users and provide peace of mind for millions of families worldwide.

Life360 offers a comprehensive benefits package for the Staff Software Engineer, Backend role, including 100% paid medical, dental, and vision insurance for employees, a 401(k) plan with company matching, a mental wellness program, flexible PTO, and equipment support for remote work. Additionally, employees receive free Life360 Platinum Membership and access to innovative learning and development programs.

The team culture at Life360 promotes collaboration, respect, and diversity. As a Staff Software Engineer, Backend, you'll be part of a trusted work environment where direct communication is encouraged. Life360 values each team member's authentic self and believes in building an inclusive culture that supports and celebrates diverse voices. This culture fuels innovation and helps the team create meaningful impacts on the users we serve.

When answering this question, highlight specific projects where you managed or contributed to large AWS deployments. Discuss your familiarity with AWS services and how you utilized them to ensure reliable, scalable infrastructure. Examples include managing instances, security best practices, and keen understanding of cost management.

To effectively answer this question, share your philosophy on mentorship and provide examples of how you’ve guided others in previous roles. Discuss the importance of open communication, setting clear goals, and providing constructive feedback. Mention any formal programs you’ve participated in that involve mentoring.

In your response, emphasize the importance of communication tools and regular check-ins. Discuss specific strategies you’ve implemented to facilitate open discussions, such as video calls, collaborative software, and establishing clear channels for feedback, to maintain alignment across time zones.

Share a specific example of a technical challenge you encountered. Explain the problem in detail, your method of analysis, the solution you implemented, and the outcome. Focus on your critical thinking, collaboration with the team during the process, and any lessons you learned from the experience.

When asked this question, you can detail the resources you use, such as technical blogs, online courses, and conferences. Emphasize your proactive approach to learning and how you apply new knowledge to your work, thereby contributing to the growth of your team and company.

Provide a concise overview of your experience with tools like Terraform or CloudFormation. Give examples of projects where you implemented Infrastructure as Code to manage resources and improve deployment processes. Mention the benefits of this approach, such as consistency and reduced manual errors.

Discuss how Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery are integral to your work, focusing on ensuring smoother deployments, automated testing, and quick feedback loops. Highlight any specific tools you’ve used and how implementing CI/CD practices has benefited previous projects.

To answer this effectively, talk about your methods for prioritizing workloads, such as setting clear deadlines, involving stakeholders in discussions, and using project management tools. Share an instance where your prioritization led to successful project outcomes.

When discussing debugging, illustrate your systematic approach to troubleshooting issues. Start with gathering information, replicating the bug, and methodically isolating the cause. Mention tools you use and any specific techniques that have proven effective in previous experiences.

In your answer, explain your familiarity with various database technologies, both SQL and NoSQL. Discuss how your understanding of databases has influenced your designs, especially regarding performance, scalability, and data integrity. Providing a real-world example will strengthen your response.