Senior Backend Engineer

To excel in the Senior Backend Engineer role at Motorway, significant commercial experience with JavaScript is crucial. You should have a strong grasp of ES6/7 features and familiarity with frameworks such as Node.js, Vue, and Express. Additionally, experience with AWS for deployment, relational and NoSQL databases, and an understanding of web design patterns are essential. A collaborative and agile mindset will help you thrive in our dynamic team.

As a Senior Backend Engineer at Motorway, you can expect a hybrid working environment where you will spend approximately 1-2 days a week in our London office. This flexible setup allows you to enjoy a balanced work-life experience while collaborating closely with a flat-structured team that values input and fosters a culture of inclusivity and support.

In the role of Senior Backend Engineer at Motorway, your key responsibilities will include architecting and developing new JavaScript code, enhancing performance, building reusable and scalable code, and collaborating with product and design teams. You'll also work with AWS to monitor and scale our infrastructure, ensuring a robust platform that meets the demands of our growing user base.

Motorway provides a robust benefits package for its Senior Backend Engineers, including a competitive salary, an annual learning budget, and BUPA health insurance. You'll also enjoy discounted gym and dental memberships, a workplace nursery scheme, enhanced parental leave, and access to a top-spec M1 MacBook Pro. Plus, we have regular social events and a cycle to work scheme to support a healthy lifestyle.

At Motorway, we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that reflects diverse backgrounds and experiences. Our strong focus on equality of opportunity ensures that all employees can maximize their potential. We welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, disability, race, gender, or sexual orientation, ensuring that every team member is valued for their unique contributions.

As a Senior Backend Engineer at Motorway, you will immerse yourself in a tech stack that includes the latest features of JavaScript, Node.js, and Typescript. You'll work extensively with AWS for deployment purposes and delve into machine learning projects. Working in a micro-services architecture, you’ll develop innovative solutions that enhance our online platform.

While previous experience in a scaling company is beneficial for the Senior Backend Engineer position at Motorway, it is not essential. We value adaptability and a willingness to learn just as much. If you have a strong foundation in the required technical skills and a collaborative spirit, we encourage you to apply!

Discuss specific projects where you utilized JavaScript, highlighting frameworks like Node.js or Vue. Detail how you applied ES6/7 features to improve code quality and performance. It's important to showcase how your coding decisions positively impacted the overall project outcomes.

Emphasize your approach to writing efficient code, such as implementing caching strategies, minimizing database queries, and utilizing asynchronous programming. Provide examples of how these strategies led to notable performance improvements in previous roles.

Share your experience with deploying and maintaining applications on AWS, including tools like CloudWatch for monitoring and alerting. Discuss how you ensure uptime and manage resources efficiently in a cloud environment, providing specific examples where possible.

Outline your proficiency with both types of databases, discussing scenarios in which you opted for one over the other. Highlight how you optimized queries, maintained schema integrity, and utilized database features to achieve peak application performance.

Talk about your experience in cross-functional teams, focusing on how you ensure open communication and alignment on project goals. Highlight instances where your technical input directly influenced design decisions that improved user satisfaction.

Discuss your commitment to coding standards, such as test-driven development (TDD), code reviews, and continuous integration. Describe how you actively mentor and support your team in adopting these practices to enhance overall code quality.

Provide a detailed narrative of a challenging problem, outlining the steps you took to identify, analyze, and resolve it. This should illustrate your critical thinking, technical skills, and ability to deliver effective solutions in a timely manner.

Convey your dedication to continuous learning through online courses, conferences, or community involvement. Explain how you incorporate new knowledge into your projects and share insights with your team to foster a culture of learning.

Discuss your familiarity with testing frameworks and tools you’ve used in conjunction with CI/CD pipelines. Provide examples of how automated testing contributed to improved code quality and development speed in your previous projects.

Express your enthusiasm for Motorway's mission and culture, and how your values align with the company's goals. Mention specific aspects of the role or team dynamics that attract you, and how your skills can contribute to Motorway’s growth.