Staff Software Engineer

As a Staff Software Engineer at Trellis, you'll be responsible for guiding the engineering team in delivering high-quality technical solutions. Your duties will include overseeing project work, owning projects throughout the software development lifecycle, translating conceptual ideas into tech plans, and ensuring system quality through feedback and code reviews. Your role is pivotal in shaping our technology strategy and fostering a collaborative work culture.

Candidates for the Staff Software Engineer position at Trellis should ideally have seven or more years of software development experience and at least two years in a technical lead role. Familiarity with Node.js and Typescript, as well as experience in backend systems and designing RESTful APIs, is essential. Strong communication skills, especially in conveying ideas in technical documents and discussions, are vital for this role.

Trellis places a strong emphasis on professional growth and development. As a Staff Software Engineer, you'll have opportunities to level up your skills through code reviews, knowledge-sharing sessions, and project leadership. The collaborative culture also allows you to engage with cross-functional teams, learning from various perspectives and enhancing your overall expertise.

The work culture at Trellis is rooted in collaboration, transparency, and positivity. As a fully remote company, we believe in flexibility and prioritize hiring the best talent globally. You'll be part of a close-knit team where every member is valued, encouraged to provide feedback, and recognized for their contributions. We also host quarterly bonding events to strengthen our team connections.

A Staff Software Engineer at Trellis should be proficient in Node.js and Typescript, with a strong understanding of backend systems and RESTful API design. Familiarity with cloud environments, particularly Google Cloud, is beneficial, as is having a deep expertise in system architecture and design. Candidates should also be comfortable with product development where they have taken on key decision-making roles.

When answering, focus on specific projects where you utilized Node.js and Typescript. Highlight the challenges you faced, the solutions you implemented, and the outcomes you achieved. Try to include metrics or improvements to showcase your impact.

Discuss your collaborative problem-solving techniques. Illustrate how you encourage feedback and open communication among team members. Mention any specific methodologies you've employed, such as Agile or Scrum, to facilitate teamwork and drive solutions.

Explain your coding standards, testing protocols, and peer review processes. Highlight any tools or frameworks you use for testing and how they help in maintaining code quality, such as unit tests or continuous integration pipelines.

Provide an overview of your prioritization techniques, such as backlog grooming or using project management tools. Emphasize your ability to balance urgent tasks with longer-term projects and how you communicate priorities to your team.

Share a specific instance where you offered feedback that improved a colleague’s performance or project outcome. Focus on your approach to delivering that feedback positively and how it fostered improvement and learning.

Describe your role in designing system architecture in past positions. Discuss methodologies you've applied, architecture patterns you've used, and how your contributions enhanced system performance or scalability.

Talk about resources you rely on, such as online courses, tech blogs, or professional networks. Share how you've implemented new technologies or practices into your work in the past and the results of those implementations.

Reflect on your approach to conflict resolution. Highlight your commitment to collaboration and the techniques you use to mediate discussions, ensuring every voice is heard while steering the conversation toward a constructive resolution.

Explain the importance of onboarding for team performance and how you've structured onboarding processes in the past. Mention mentorship practices you embrace to help new hires acclimate and excel.

Share your passion for the mission of Trellis and how your skills align with their values and goals. Discuss what excites you about working in a fintech and insurtech environment and your eagerness to contribute to innovative solutions that simplify insurance for consumers.