Let’s get started
By clicking ‘Next’, I agree to the Terms of Service
and Privacy Policy
Jobs / Job page
Principal Software Engineer image - Rise Careers
Job details

Principal Software Engineer

The Backend Engineering Team at Varo Bank is small but is growing rapidly. The Backend engineering team is responsible for building and maintaining engineering solutions that power Varo’s core banking, lending, authentication, risk, offers and marketplaces to achieve our goal to disrupt the banking industry and build products that help improve the financial wellbeing of our customers. You will get to work with new technology stacks, be part of a great and diverse workplace, and improve the financial lives of others. In our Engineering team we value personal growth, initiative and ownership, innovation, collaboration, and the importance of thinking like an engineer while building customer-first products.


What you'll be doing
  • Partner with the engineering and product teams to help design, build, and evolve the core banking/lending infrastructure for a bank for all of us
  • Design and build scalable distributed solutions that our customers can build their lives around
  • Work with product managers to understand business requirements to build the next-generation in financial technology platform
  • Lead large-scale projects from ideation to creation with a customer-first mindset
  • Identify areas of opportunity and innovation and take these projects across the finish line
  • Define technical strategy with a drive to improve products, infrastructure, processes, or organizations
  • Mentor engineers and work cross-functionally with various engineering and product teams


You'll bring the following required skills and experiences
  • 15+ years of industry experience in software development leading large and strategic high-impact areas in business, ideally in banking or fintech
  • Technical leadership and ownership in bringing multiple engineering functions to production
  • Experience with scalable, distributed systems with a test-first approach
  • Deep understanding of microservices and event-driven architectures
  • Experience in strong consistency in a distributed environment, transactional databases, devops and front end/mobile technologies
  • Deep understanding of software security practices


Technologies we use
  • Java, Kotlin
  • Spring, Spring Boot, and Hibernate
  • AWS - EKS, S3, SNS, SQS, KMS
  • PostgreSQL, Kafka, Airflow, Athena, Kubernetes, Istio
  • React Native
  • Gradle, Maven, Jenkins, Git
  • Jira, Confluence


$220,000 - $260,000 a year
 For cash compensation, we set standard ranges for all US-based roles based on function, level, and geographic location, benchmarked against similar-stage growth companies. Per applicable law, the salary range for this role is $220,000 - $260,000. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors as well as candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the identified range.

#Director

Varo Bank Glassdoor Company Review
2.9 Glassdoor star iconGlassdoor star icon Glassdoor star icon Glassdoor star iconGlassdoor star icon
Varo Bank DE&I Review
No rating Glassdoor star iconGlassdoor star iconGlassdoor star iconGlassdoor star iconGlassdoor star icon
CEO of Varo Bank
Varo Bank CEO photo
Colin Walsh
Approve of CEO

Average salary estimate

$240000 / YEARLY (est.)
min
max
$220000K
$260000K

If an employer mentions a salary or salary range on their job, we display it as an "Employer Estimate". If a job has no salary data, Rise displays an estimate if available.

What You Should Know About Principal Software Engineer, Varo Bank

If you're a Principal Software Engineer looking to make an impact in the fintech world, Varo Bank could be your next adventure! The Backend Engineering Team is a tight-knit group that's rapidly growing, and they're on a mission to disrupt the banking industry and enhance the financial wellbeing of customers everywhere. Here, you'll have the chance to work with cutting-edge technology stacks, all while being part of a diverse and inclusive workplace. In this role, you'll connect with product managers to design and build scalable solutions that form the backbone of Varo's core banking and lending infrastructure. You’ll lead large projects from conception to completion with a customer-first approach, driving innovation every step of the way. You'll also have the chance to mentor other engineers and collaborate across various teams, making it an ideal environment if you thrive on teamwork. Varo values personal growth, initiative, and ownership, so you’ll find ample opportunities to influence engineering strategies. You should bring over 15 years of experience in software development, preferably in fintech or banking, along with a deep understanding of microservices and scalable systems. Familiarity with technologies like Java, Kotlin, AWS, and PostgreSQL will serve you well. With a competitive salary range of $220,000 - $260,000, this role offers not just exciting challenges but also a rewarding career path where you can truly make a difference.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Principal Software Engineer Role at Varo Bank
What are the primary responsibilities of a Principal Software Engineer at Varo Bank?

As a Principal Software Engineer at Varo Bank, you will take charge of designing and building the core banking and lending infrastructure. Your responsibilities include leading cross-functional teams, guiding engineering initiatives from ideation to production, and ensuring that the solutions you create are scalable and customer-focused. You'll collaborate closely with product managers to translate business needs into technical solutions and mentor junior engineers to foster a culture of growth and collaboration.

Join Rise to see the full answer
What qualifications are needed for the Principal Software Engineer role at Varo Bank?

To qualify for the Principal Software Engineer position at Varo Bank, candidates should have at least 15 years of industry experience in software development, with a proven track record of leading strategic engineering projects, particularly in banking or fintech sectors. A strong grasp of scalable distributed systems, microservices, event-driven architectures, and secure software practices is essential, along with proficiency in technologies such as Java, Kotlin, and various AWS services.

Join Rise to see the full answer
How important is team collaboration for the Principal Software Engineer at Varo Bank?

Team collaboration is crucial for the Principal Software Engineer at Varo Bank. This role involves working in tandem with product managers and other engineering teams to align on project goals and deliver effective technical solutions. Collaboration fosters innovation and allows for diverse perspectives that enhance product development. The company's culture actively promotes teamwork, enabling engineers to share knowledge and drive projects to completion together.

Join Rise to see the full answer
What technologies will I be working with as a Principal Software Engineer at Varo Bank?

As a Principal Software Engineer at Varo Bank, you'll be working with an array of technologies including Java, Kotlin, Spring, and AWS services like EKS and S3. You'll also engage with tools and frameworks such as PostgreSQL, Kafka, and Jenkins. Experience in microservices architecture and distributed systems will serve you well, as the infrastructure you build aims to deliver robust and reliable financial solutions to customers.

Join Rise to see the full answer
What is the expected salary for the Principal Software Engineer position at Varo Bank?

The expected salary for a Principal Software Engineer at Varo Bank ranges from $220,000 to $260,000 per year. This range is set based on factors such as function, experience level, and market comparisons with similar growth-stage companies. Final compensation may vary depending on individual candidate expertise and qualifications, offering lucrative financial rewards in line with industry standards.

Join Rise to see the full answer
Common Interview Questions for Principal Software Engineer
Can you describe your experience leading large-scale software projects as a Principal Software Engineer?

In this question, be sure to highlight specific projects where you took the lead, elaborating on your responsibilities, the technologies used, and the outcomes achieved. Discuss the methods you used to keep the team aligned and focused on project goals, as well as how you handled any challenges that arose during the project lifecycle.

Join Rise to see the full answer
What strategies do you use to ensure code quality and maintainability?

Discuss your commitment to a test-first approach, including your use of automated testing and code reviews. You could mention any relevant experience you have with DevOps practices and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines that enable you to maintain high code quality and system reliability as products evolve.

Join Rise to see the full answer
How do you ensure effective collaboration across cross-functional teams?

Provide examples of how you have previously worked with product managers and other stakeholders to gather requirements and ensure alignment on project goals. Emphasize your communication skills and any tools you use (like Jira or Confluence) to facilitate collaboration and transparency among teams.

Join Rise to see the full answer
Can you explain a time when you had to make a critical technical decision?

In answering this question, describe the context of the decision, the factors you considered, the stakeholders involved, and the outcome. Highlight your analytical and leadership skills, illustrating how your decision positively impacted the project's trajectory.

Join Rise to see the full answer
What is your approach to mentoring junior engineers?

Articulate your philosophy on mentorship, incorporating specific techniques you use to foster growth and knowledge sharing among junior team members. Share examples of how you have helped them develop their skills and confidence through hands-on guidance or structured learning opportunities.

Join Rise to see the full answer
How do you stay updated on emerging technologies and trends in software engineering?

Discuss the resources you utilize to keep your knowledge fresh, such as online courses, tech blogs, webinars, or community meetups. This shows your commitment to continuous learning and staying at the forefront of technological advancements relevant to your role.

Join Rise to see the full answer
What methodologies do you prefer in software development, and why?

Explain your experience with Agile, Scrum, or other methodologies, articulating the advantages each approach provides. Highlight how specific methodologies have influenced your ability to adapt to changing requirements and deliver high-quality products that meet customer needs.

Join Rise to see the full answer
How do you manage technical debt in your projects?

Describe processes you have in place to identify, prioritize, and address technical debt, such as regular code reviews or refactoring sessions. Explain how you communicate the importance of managing technical debt to stakeholders and team members to maintain project quality over time.

Join Rise to see the full answer
What role does software security play in your engineering decisions?

Emphasize the importance of incorporating software security practices into the software development lifecycle. Share examples of how you've implemented security measures throughout your projects and ensured compliance with industry standards to protect sensitive customer information.

Join Rise to see the full answer
Can you provide an example of a challenge faced while building a scalable distributed system?

In this scenario, narrate a specific challenge related to scalability that you encountered, how you approached solving it, and the lessons learned from that experience. This showcases your problem-solving skills and ability to think critically in high-pressure situations.

Join Rise to see the full answer
Similar Jobs
Photo of the Rise User
Posted 12 days ago
Photo of the Rise User
Posted 12 days ago
Photo of the Rise User
Inclusive & Diverse
Empathetic
Collaboration over Competition
Growth & Learning
Photo of the Rise User
IDT Remote No location specified
Posted 9 days ago
Photo of the Rise User
Inclusive & Diverse
Empathetic
Customer-Centric
Mission Driven
Growth & Learning
Transparent & Candid
Diversity of Opinions
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Family Medical Leave
Paid Holidays
Sabbatical
Photo of the Rise User
Figma Hybrid San Francisco, CA • New York, NY • United States
Posted 8 days ago
Empathetic
Collaboration over Competition
Growth & Learning
Passion for Exploration
Fast-Paced
Startup Mindset
Diversity of Opinions
Rise from Within
Posted 13 days ago
Photo of the Rise User
Inclusive & Diverse
Rise from Within
Mission Driven
Diversity of Opinions
Work/Life Harmony
Take Risks
Collaboration over Competition
Growth & Learning
Transparent & Candid
Customer-Centric
Social Impact Driven
Rapid Growth
Passion for Exploration
Dare to be Different
Reward & Recognition
Friends Outside of Work
Medical Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Mental Health Resources
Life insurance
Disability Insurance
Health Savings Account (HSA)
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
Conferences Stipend
Bias Training
Employee Resource Groups
401K Matching
Paternity Leave
Maternity Leave
Some Meals Provided
Social Gatherings

After decades in financial services, our CEO, Colin Walsh, was fed up with the growing disconnect between what customers want: an affordable bank account that helps them solve everyday financial problems, and what traditional banks offer: expensiv...

32 jobs
MATCH
Calculating your matching score...
FUNDING
SENIORITY LEVEL REQUIREMENT
TEAM SIZE
EMPLOYMENT TYPE
Full-time, remote
DATE POSTED
December 21, 2024

Subscribe to Rise newsletter

Risa star 🔮 Hi, I'm Risa! Your AI
Career Copilot
Want to see a list of jobs tailored to
you, just ask me below!