Senior API Specialist

As a Senior API Specialist at Plusgrade, your main responsibilities include participating in technical integration planning, developing new integrations for loyalty program partners, troubleshooting code issues, and ensuring the quality of the solutions deployed. You'll work closely with your team and stakeholders to communicate progress and create necessary documentation. Your role is crucial for the success of our integration projects, and your efforts will help enhance customer experiences across the travel industry.

To qualify for the Senior API Specialist role at Plusgrade, candidates should have previous experience with web services standards and technologies such as XML, SOAP, REST, and JSON. A strong understanding of QA methodologies, API monitoring tools like Splunk, and industry-standard SSO flows like OAuth is essential. Additionally, familiarity with UML diagramming and basic JavaScript knowledge is preferred. The ideal candidate should possess excellent communication skills and the ability to manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.

In the Senior API Specialist role at Plusgrade, you'll work with a variety of tools and technologies, including web services standards like XML, SOAP, and REST. Familiarity with API monitoring tools like Splunk and a strong understanding of programming protocols such as WSDL and JSON will be part of your daily tasks. You'll also be engaged in creating UML diagrams and working with SSO flows, enriching your technical skills in a dynamic, travel-oriented environment.

Plusgrade is committed to fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration, which supports career growth for all employees, including Senior API Specialists. With opportunities to work on diverse projects and further your skills in API technologies and integrations, you'll have the chance to shine in your career. Additionally, our comprehensive health plans and wellness credits create a supportive environment for both personal and professional development.

The interview process for the Senior API Specialist position at Plusgrade consists of several stages designed to ensure a positive candidate experience. You'll first have a phone interview with a recruiter, followed by a hiring manager interview. Depending on your background, you may have a take-home assessment or a remote coding exercise. Finally, there's a team interview to assess fit and collaboration. All candidates will receive feedback regardless of the outcome at any stage.

When answering this question, provide specific examples of APIs you've worked with, detailing the projects and the challenges you faced. Explain your role in the integration process, the tools you used, and how your contributions led to successful outcomes for the business.

In your response, describe your systematic approach to debugging API issues. Discuss the methods you employ, such as checking logs, testing endpoints, and using monitoring tools, and highlight how you've resolved specific challenges in previous roles.

To answer this question, emphasize your focus on writing clean, organized code and following industry best practices. Discuss your experience with version control, documentation, and how you implement changes while minimizing disruption to existing services.

In responding to this question, differentiate between REST and SOAP based on your experience. Highlight specific projects where you utilized each type, the advantages or disadvantages you faced, and how this experience enhances your qualifications for the Senior API Specialist role.

Share your strategies for prioritization and time management, such as using project management tools or methods like Agile or Kanban. Provide examples of high-pressure situations you've encountered and how you successfully navigated through them.

Discuss the importance of communication in your previous roles, particularly when collaborating with cross-functional teams. Highlight examples where clear communication led to successful project outcomes, and explain how you keep stakeholders informed throughout the process.

Clearly outline your experience conducting UAT, including how you define acceptance criteria, engage with end-users, and gather feedback to refine the product. Use specific examples where UAT contributed to improved API deployments.

Provide an example of a challenging situation you faced and detail the steps taken to resolve it. Focus on your communication skills, how you managed expectations, and what you learned from the experience that could apply to your role at Plusgrade.

Discuss the key performance indicators (KPIs) you prioritize when monitoring an API, such as response time, error rates, and uptime. Explain how these metrics inform you about the health of the API and your approach to ensuring optimal performance.

Reflect on your passion for travel, technology, and customer experience, and link them to Plusgrade's mission and values. Articulate how your skills and objectives align with the company's goals, showcasing your enthusiasm for contributing to innovative travel experiences.