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Staff Software Engineer, (Backend)

Varo is an entirely new kind of bank. All digital, mission-driven, FDIC insured and designed for the way our customers live their lives. A bank for all of us.


Varo is an entirely new kind of bank. All digital, mission-driven, FDIC insured and designed for the way our customers live their lives. A bank for all of us.


The Banking Engineering Team at Varo Bank is small but is growing rapidly. Our 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.


This is a backend focused position that deals with reliability, load, and scale in every thing that we do. System design thinking, reliable and quality code, and extreme customer focus are what you bring to the table. You’ll get to work in a fast-paced environment, with modern technology stacks, be part of a great and diverse workplace, and improve the financial lives of others.


What you'll be doing
  • Design and build scalable distributed solutions that our customers or employees can build their lives around
  • Evolve our core banking platform systems to support the latest financial services
  • Lead large-scale projects from ideation to creation with a customer-first mindset
  • Mentor engineers and help build a tech culture that makes magical products
  • Influence the technical strategy with a drive to improve products, infrastructure, processes, or organizations
  • Work cross-functionally with various engineering, product, and operations teams


You'll bring the following required skills and experiences
  • 10+ years of industry experience in software development leading large and strategic high-impact areas in business
  • 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, and caching systems
  • Deep understanding of the software security practices
  • Experience with testing methodologies including contract testing and testing in vendor environments


Technologies we use
  • Kotlin, Java, Spring Boot
  • AWS - EKS, S3, SNS, SQS, KMS
  • PostgreSQL, Kafka, Airflow, Kubernetes, Istio
  • Gitlab, Grafana, Loki


$160,000 - $200,000 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 $160,000 - $200,000. Final offer amounts are determined by multiple factors as well as candidate experience and expertise and may vary from the identified range.

#MidSenior


We recognize not everyone will have all of these requirements. If you meet most of the criteria above and you’re excited about the opportunity and willing to learn, we’d love to hear from you!


About Varo

Varo launched in 2017 with the vision to bring the best of fintech into the regulated banking system. We’re a new kind of bank – all-digital, mission-driven, FDIC-insured, and designed around the modern American consumer. 


As the first consumer fintech to be granted a national bank charter in 2020, we make financial inclusion and opportunity for all a reality by empowering everyone with the products, insights, and support they need to get ahead. Through our core product offerings and suite of customer-first features, we aim to address a broad range of consumer needs while profitably serving underserved communities that have been historically excluded from the traditional financial system.


We are growing quickly in our hub locations of San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and Charlotte along with colleagues located across the country. We have been recognized among Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies, Forbes’ Fintech 50, and earned the No. 7 spot on Inc. 5000’s list of fastest-growing companies across the country.


Varo. A bank for all of us.


Our Core Values

- Customers First

- Take Ownership

- Respect

- Stay Curious

- Make it Better


Learn more about Varo by following us:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/varomoney

Instagram - www.instagram.com/varobank

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/varobank



Varo is an equal opportunity employer. Varo embraces diversity and we are committed to building teams that represent a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.


Beware of fraudulent job postings!

Varo will never ask for payment to process documents, refer you to a third party to process applications or visas, or ask you to pay costs. Never send money to anyone suggesting they can provide work with Varo.  If you suspect you have received a phony offer, please e-mail careers@varomoney.com with the pertinent information and contact information.


CCPA Notice at Collection for California Employees and Applicants:

https://www.varomoney.com/privacy-legal/

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CEO of Varo Bank
Varo Bank CEO photo
Colin Walsh
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$200000K

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What You Should Know About Staff Software Engineer, (Backend), Varo Bank

Join Varo as a Staff Software Engineer, Backend, and help us redefine the banking landscape! At Varo, we pride ourselves on being a mission-driven, all-digital bank that is FDIC insured and designed to cater to the modern consumer. Our dynamic Banking Engineering Team is on the lookout for a seasoned engineer like you to help build scalable, reliable systems that will reshape how our customers manage their financial wellbeing. As a key player in this role, you’ll take charge of designing and implementing robust backend solutions, fostering technical leadership, and guiding large-scale projects with a customer-first philosophy. Your talents will shine as you mentor fellow engineers and influence the development of innovative products that truly make a difference. Collaborating across various teams, you’ll ensure our platforms are continuously evolving to meet the latest financial services demands. With responsibilities ranging from enhancing core banking systems to fostering a tech culture that values creativity and excellence, your work will directly impact our mission of financial inclusion. If you possess over 10 years of industry experience, a passion for backend technologies like Kotlin and AWS, and a knack for building secure, distributed systems, we’d love for you to join our enthusiastic team at Varo. This is an exciting opportunity in an ever-growing company recognized among the top innovative firms, and together, we can create a bank for everyone.

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

As a Staff Software Engineer at Varo, you'll be responsible for designing and building scalable distributed solutions that enhance our banking platform. You'll lead projects from ideation to deployment, mentor a team of engineers, and influence our technical strategy to better serve our customers. Your role will demand deep expertise in microservices, event-driven architectures, and the latest software security practices to ensure our systems are both reliable and secure.

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What qualifications are needed for the Staff Software Engineer position at Varo?

To qualify for the Staff Software Engineer position at Varo, you should have at least 10 years of industry experience in software development, particularly in leading high-impact projects. We're looking for candidates with a strong understanding of distributed systems, technical leadership experience, and familiarity with languages and technologies such as Kotlin, Java, and AWS. Also, experience in ensuring code quality and a solid approach to testing methodologies is essential.

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What technologies will I be working with as a Staff Software Engineer at Varo?

In your role as a Staff Software Engineer at Varo, you will primarily work with Kotlin, Java, and Spring Boot as part of our technology stack. Furthermore, you’ll engage with numerous AWS services like EKS, S3, and SNS, alongside container orchestration tools like Kubernetes and advanced data processing systems like Kafka and Airflow to create efficient and innovative banking solutions.

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What is Varo's approach towards team culture and work environment for Staff Software Engineers?

Varo fosters a collaborative and diverse workplace culture, emphasizing respect, curiosity, and ownership. As a Staff Software Engineer, you'll be part of a supportive team that values creative ideas and encourages professional growth. Our goal is to cultivate an environment where innovative thinking thrives, allowing you to contribute meaningfully to our mission of financial inclusion.

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How does Varo measure success for the Staff Software Engineer role?

At Varo, success for the Staff Software Engineer role is measured by the impact you have on our banking solutions and the extent to which you improve the customer experience. Success is also determined by your ability to lead projects effectively, mentor fellow engineers, and drive the adoption of best practices in software development and architecture.

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Common Interview Questions for Staff Software Engineer, (Backend)
What experience do you have in designing scalable distributed systems?

To answer this question, highlight specific projects where you designed distributed systems. Discuss the challenges faced, the architecture used, and how your solutions made a significant impact, especially in terms of scalability and reliability.

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How do you ensure code quality in your development process?

Discuss your approach to maintaining high code quality through practices such as code reviews, unit testing, and integration testing. Mention any automated testing frameworks or methodologies you prefer, especially with a focus on a test-first approach.

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Can you explain a challenging project you've led and its outcomes?

Share a detailed account of a project where you played a leadership role. Describe the objectives, the approach taken, and the results achieved, emphasizing your contributions to team dynamics, problem-solving, and successful delivery.

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What strategies do you use to mentor junior engineers?

Explain your mentoring philosophy, focusing on how you tailor your approach to individual learning styles. Highlight examples where your mentorship resulted in tangible improvements in their skills and confidence.

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What is your understanding of microservices architecture?

Define microservices architecture and explain its advantages over monolithic systems. Provide insights on how you’ve implemented microservices in previous projects, emphasizing scalability, fault tolerance, and team autonomy.

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Describe your experience with cloud services, particularly AWS.

Talk about your direct experience with AWS services, citing specific services you've used (like EC2, RDS, DynamoDB) and how you've integrated them into your projects to improve system scalability and efficiency.

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How do you handle tight deadlines while ensuring quality?

Describe your time management skills and how you prioritize tasks. Discuss your practices for maintaining quality, such as setting realistic milestones or incorporating testing phases within tight schedules.

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How do you approach collaboration across cross-functional teams?

Emphasize your communication skills and give examples of how you've successfully worked with product and operations teams to align project goals and ensure effective execution.

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What is your experience with transactional databases, and how do you optimize their performance?

Detail your hands-on experience with transactional databases, discussing optimization techniques you've employed, such as indexing, query optimization, and using caching mechanisms.

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Why do you want to work for Varo as a Staff Software Engineer?

Share your enthusiasm for Varo's mission and values. Connect your career aspirations with Varo's innovative approach to banking and how you believe your skills can contribute towards their goal of improving financial inclusion.

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DATE POSTED
March 26, 2025

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