Junior Backend Engineer

As a Junior Backend Engineer at Picnic, your responsibilities will encompass designing, developing, and maintaining scalable backend systems and APIs that power our innovative product offerings. You'll be involved in building and optimizing data pipelines, working with serverless architectures, and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams to ensure the reliability and performance of our backend systems while embracing best practices in engineering.

To be considered for the Junior Backend Engineer position at Picnic, candidates should have solid experience with backend development in Node.js and Python, demonstrated through personal projects or coding challenges. Familiarity with cloud computing platforms like AWS, GCP, or Azure, alongside a proactive problem-solving mindset and effective communication skills, is essential for success in this role.

Picnic supports the professional growth of Junior Backend Engineers by fostering an open-minded environment that encourages curiosity and innovation. With opportunities to work on challenging projects, access to mentorship from experienced engineers, and a commitment to learning emerging technologies, employees are encouraged to continuously develop their skills and contribute meaningfully to the team.

The Junior Backend Engineer at Picnic will primarily work with Node.js and Python, focusing on backend development, data management, and cloud infrastructure. Additionally, you may gain exposure to cloud computing platforms (AWS, GCP, Azure), serverless architectures, containerization (Docker, Kubernetes), and even recent trends in data analytics and data science.

Working as a Junior Backend Engineer at Picnic comes with a flexible, hybrid working environment, competitive salary and bonus schemes, 33 days of holiday, an inclusive parental leave policy, and contributions to your pension. Moreover, we organize fun social events, offer Summer Fridays, access to office perks, and a strong community culture that values collaboration and innovation.

In your interview, discuss specific projects where you've used Node.js and Python, emphasizing the challenges you faced and how you overcame them. Highlight your understanding of both languages, any libraries or frameworks you've worked with, and your problem-solving approach in backend development.

To answer this question, explain your methodology for identifying the root causes of slow performance, which may include analyzing code, understanding database queries, and profiling the server. Discuss techniques like caching, load balancing, and analyzing request logs to pinpoint and resolve performance bottlenecks.

Discuss the key steps in designing efficient data pipelines, such as understanding data sources, ensuring data quality, and utilizing suitable tools or frameworks. Emphasize your focus on scalability, error handling, and monitoring to ensure the pipeline operates smoothly in a production environment.

In your response, outline your approach to prioritization which may include assessing project deadlines, stakeholder input, and the complexity of tasks. Highlight any tools or methodologies you use to stay organized and ensure that you meet the expectations of your team effectively.

Share your enthusiasm for backend engineering by highlighting particular aspects you find interesting, such as working with large datasets, building scalable systems, or innovating with new technologies. Connect your passion to how it fuels your motivation to contribute to team goals and user satisfaction.

Provide a specific example of a challenging technical issue you've encountered. Highlight the steps you took to troubleshoot the problem, the skills you utilized to devise a solution, and what you learned from the experience. This not only showcases your technical skills but also your problem-solving mindset.

Discuss the importance of code reviews, writing unit tests, and following coding standards to maintain quality. Mention any tools you use for static analysis or continuous integration (CI) to ensure that best practices are upheld throughout the development lifecycle.

Emphasize that collaboration is key to successful backend development. Discuss how you actively engage with team members, share ideas, seek feedback, and iterate on designs to enhance product outcomes. Provide examples of cross-functional projects to illustrate your collaborative spirit.

Mention your commitment to continuous learning by following industry blogs, participating in webinars, connecting with peers on platforms like GitHub, and attending conferences. Showcase any recent trends in backend technology you're particularly excited about and how you see them impacting future projects.

Share your enthusiasm about Picnic’s mission and how it aligns with your career goals. Highlight your interest in the innovative projects the company is working on and how the collaborative and growth-oriented environment resonates with your desire to learn and contribute.