Chief Software Engineer - (Backend) (Hybrid/Onsite) - job 1 of 22

As the Chief Software Engineer - Backend at Visa, you will be responsible for driving the architecture for cross-team development projects, setting software development patterns, mentoring engineering teams, and contributing to GenAI initiatives. You’ll work on B2B Payables and Commercial Solutions Hub products, ensuring solutions align with Visa’s platform standards.

Candidates applying for the Chief Software Engineer - Backend position at Visa should ideally possess a robust background in software engineering with extensive experience in backend development. Proficiency in designing secure and scalable architectures, solid knowledge of distributed systems, and experience with various programming languages and frameworks are essential qualifications.

The Chief Software Engineer - Backend plays a crucial role in driving innovation at Visa by contributing to GenAI initiatives and leading the development of new payment flows. This role encourages you to influence technology choices and mentor engineers on best practices, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and forward-thinking.

Visa promotes a collaborative and inclusive work culture for the Chief Software Engineer - Backend role. You will be part of a community of innovators and problem solvers, engaging deeply with cross-functional teams while working in a hybrid setup that values both remote collaboration and in-office interaction.

The Chief Software Engineer - Backend is integral to Visa’s business strategy, as you will lead significant technology initiatives that align with growth areas like commercial payments and money movement. Your work will directly affect how Visa supports financial institutions and facilitates secure, efficient payment solutions globally.

In preparing for this question, highlight your understanding of architectural principles, detail your process for brainstorming and developing architectural documents, and share instances of previous successful cross-product collaboration.

When answering this, specify the types of distributed systems you’ve worked with, your role in their development, and any challenges faced. Provide concrete examples of your problem-solving strategies and the outcomes.

Discuss your methods for establishing best practices, such as mentorship programs, internal workshops, or documentation of standards. Highlight your experience in leading teams to achieve consistent coding standards and shared knowledge.

Describe how you approach mentoring. This can include one-on-one meetings, pairing for coding sessions, encouraging participation in code reviews, and fostering an open environment where junior engineers feel comfortable asking questions.

Emphasize your criteria for technology selection, including scalability, community support, integration capabilities, and alignment with business objectives. Provide examples of technologies you’ve selected and the rationale behind your choices.

Explain your view on failure as a learning opportunity. Share a specific experience where a project did not go as planned, what steps you took to address the issues, and what you learned from that situation.

Discuss the importance of security in your decision-making process. Mention specific security best practices you follow and how you ensure that security measures are integrated throughout the development lifecycle.

Share your methods for staying informed about technological advancements, whether through conferences, networking, online courses, or reading relevant publications, and how you apply what you learn in your projects.

Talk about any past experiences you have had with GenAI technologies, how you utilized them in your projects, and your vision for integrating GenAI solutions to enhance developer productivity and innovation at Visa.

Discuss the key performance indicators you would focus on, such as team performance, successful project delivery, adherence to timelines, and the impact of solutions developed on Visa's overall business strategy.