Senior Backend Engineer - Distributed Systems

As a Senior Backend Engineer at Verkada, your primary responsibilities will include designing and developing scalable distributed systems to handle high traffic from IoT devices, working with key-value storage systems, and implementing a microservices architecture. You'll also play a crucial role in leading and mentoring junior engineers, driving the technical direction of projects to ensure effective and timely execution.

Verkada requires candidates for the Senior Backend Engineer position to possess a degree in Computer Science or a similar field, alongside at least 5 years of relevant experience in the industry. Mastery in programming languages such as Python or Go, experience with distributed systems, and strong communication skills are vital to success in this role.

For the Senior Backend Engineer position at Verkada, proficiency in at least one common server programming language is crucial—specifically Python or Go. This expertise will enable you to effectively contribute to the architecture and development of our cloud-based security solutions.

Yes! Verkada values the growth of its employees. As a Senior Backend Engineer, you'll have opportunities to lead projects, mentor junior staff, and participate in a collaborative environment that fosters innovation and skill enhancement, contributing to your professional development.

At Verkada, Senior Backend Engineers can enjoy a robust benefits package that includes generous medical, dental, and vision coverage, unlimited paid time off, wellness allowances, daily healthy meals, and support programs for parental leave and fertility. This holistic approach to employee wellness is designed to support your work-life balance.

When addressing your experience with scalable distributed systems, highlight specific projects where you've successfully designed and implemented such systems. Discuss architectural choices, the technologies used (like Microservices or specific databases), and how these solutions improved performance and handling high traffic.

In your response, detail specific challenges like service communication, monitoring, or data consistency within microservices. Share how you addressed these challenges, the tools you employed, and the learnings that came from these experiences, which showcase your problem-solving abilities.

Explain your systematic approach to debugging in distributed systems. Discuss the importance of log aggregation, monitoring tools, and how you diagnose issues. Mention any specific tools you prefer and maybe share a real-world scenario where you successfully resolved a tough bug.

Discuss your comfort level with Python or Go if you've worked with them, providing examples of projects where you've used these languages effectively. Explain your preference based on factors like performance, ease of use, and community support, reinforcing your fit for Verkada's backend needs.

Share your familiarity with key-value storage systems, such as Redis or DynamoDB. Detail specific use cases, the scale of applications you’ve built, and how they performed under operational loads. Highlight metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the efficiency of your implementations.

Outline a situation where you took the lead on a technical project. Discuss your decision-making process, stakeholder interactions, and how you motivated your team to overcome obstacles. Highlight the impact of the project and any metrics that illustrate its success.

Talk about your active involvement in learning—whether that's through online courses, attending tech conferences, subscribing to relevant publications, or participating in community forums. Share examples of how new technologies or trends have influenced your work.

Describe your experience with version control systems like Git. Discuss how you manage branch strategies, pull requests, and code reviews within a team. Mention any collaborative tools you employ for effective team communication during project execution.

Explain the practices you follow to maintain high code quality, such as writing unit tests, conducting regular code reviews, and adhering to best coding standards. Emphasize the importance of documentation and refactoring as part of your development process.

In your answer, express your passion for cloud-based solutions and physical security technologies. Discuss how Verkada's mission aligns with your career goals, and highlight specific aspects of the company culture, projects, or innovation efforts that excite you.