Systems Software Engineer

As a Systems Software Engineer at PartySlate, your primary responsibilities will include designing, building, and maintaining the backend services and APIs that power our marketplace. You’ll be involved in deploying scalable solutions and collaborating with cross-functional teams to roll out impactful features. With a focus on modern technologies like Node.js, Docker, and AWS, you'll ensure that our platform remains robust, efficient, and ready to support our growing user base.

To qualify for the Systems Software Engineer position at PartySlate, candidates should possess at least 2 years of professional experience in backend web development. Proficiency in Node.js is essential, alongside familiarity with Docker and cloud services like AWS. A solid understanding of relational databases, asynchronous programming, and event-driven architecture will also be crucial. Experience with Agile methodologies is preferred to work effectively within our dynamic teams.

While direct experience with AWS is highly sought after for the Systems Software Engineer role at PartySlate, we also value candidates with exposure to other cloud providers, such as GCP. The key is having a solid grasp of cloud infrastructure and understanding how to operate and deploy applications within a cloud environment.

As a Systems Software Engineer with PartySlate, you will work with a variety of modern technologies and tools, including Node.js, Docker for containerization, Terraform for infrastructure-as-code, and AWS for cloud services. You may also encounter tools related to CI/CD, monitoring, and logging, which will help enhance the performance and scalability of our systems.

The hybrid work model at PartySlate allows Systems Software Engineers to balance collaboration with flexibility. This structure enables team members to work closely with colleagues in person while also enjoying the option to work remotely. This approach fosters a collaborative spirit while accommodating personal work styles, resulting in a more productive and satisfying work environment.

When answering this question, highlight specific projects where you've used Node.js to build and implement backend applications. Discuss any challenges you faced and how you overcame them, as well as your understanding of Node.js modules and frameworks. Provide examples that showcase your skills in developing APIs and connecting with databases.

Discuss how containerization with Docker enhances application deployment and scalability. Share examples from your previous roles where you utilized Docker to package applications for consistent environment setups. Mention any challenges you encountered and how containerization helped solve deployment issues.

Provide an overview of your experience with various AWS services such as EC2, S3, or Lambda. Mention how these services have been beneficial in previous projects. Illustrate with examples how you leveraged AWS for scalability, reliability, and cost-effectiveness in your backend solutions.

Highlight your understanding of database management systems like PostgreSQL or MySQL. Discuss specific projects where you designed database schemas, managed relationships, and optimized queries for performance. This will show your ability to create efficient data storage solutions for scalable applications.

When discussing your approach to Agile, mention the importance of iteration and continuous feedback. Share your experience in participating in regular SCRUM meetings, sprint planning, and retrospective sessions. Provide examples of how Agile methodologies have successfully driven projects in your prior roles.

Explain practices such as code reviews, unit testing, and adherence to coding standards that you implement to ensure high-quality, maintainable code. Share specific examples where your initiatives for maintaining code quality led to improved project outcomes.

Describe your approach to identifying and resolving performance bottlenecks. Share specific instances where you optimized system performance through profiling, code refactoring, or utilizing caching strategies. Providing quantifiable results will emphasize your effectiveness.

Highlight any experience you have in setting up and maintaining CI/CD pipelines to automate testing and deployment. Share specific tools you’ve worked with (like Jenkins, GitHub Actions, or GitLab CI) and how these practices improved the development workflow in your previous roles.

Discuss what event-driven architecture is and how it differs from traditional monolithic architectures. Describe scenarios where you've implemented this architecture, highlighting its benefits in scalability and responsiveness to user actions.

Express your passion for the events industry and how PartySlate's innovative approach resonates with your career goals. Mention aspects such as their commitment to technology, collaboration, and workplace culture that excite you about potentially joining their team.