Staff Software Engineer - Java - job 1 of 3

As a Staff Software Engineer - Java at Visa, your responsibilities will include developing integrations with financial institutions to allow consumers access to their aggregated financial data. You’ll work on high-load systems, ensuring high uptime, and will engage with Java technologies, AWS, Kubernetes, Docker, and SQL. The role involves building components that interact with bank APIs and automating integrations, monitoring, and alerting to enhance service reliability.

To be qualified for the Staff Software Engineer - Java position at Visa, you should have extensive experience with Java technologies and familiarity with DevOps methodologies. A background in agile frameworks and operational excellence, including on-call responsibilities, is ideal. Additionally, mentoring junior colleagues and a passion for continuous learning and team development are essential for this role.

In your role as a Staff Software Engineer - Java at Visa, you will work with a stack that primarily includes Java, AWS, Kubernetes, Docker, SQL, and Datadog. Mastery of these technologies is crucial as you will develop systems that integrate with various bank APIs and ensure real-time transactions while maintaining high availability.

At Visa, you can expect a collaborative and innovative work environment as a Staff Software Engineer - Java. The company embraces a hybrid work model, allowing for flexibility between remote and in-office work. You will be part of a team focused on continuous improvement and operational excellence, where your ideas and contributions will be highly valued.

Visa is committed to the professional growth of its Staff Software Engineers through continuous learning opportunities, mentorship programs, and a culture that encourages sharing knowledge. You will have the chance to coach junior colleagues, which not only enhances your skills but also fosters a supportive community within the team.

When answering this question, highlight specific projects where you used Java. Discuss your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. Showcasing both your technical skills and problem-solving skills will give interviewers confidence in your abilities.

Share a concrete example where you had to work with an undocumented API. Detail your approach to understanding it, the tools you used for testing, and how you eventually created a successful integration. Highlighting your critical thinking and adaptability is key here.

Discuss your approach to prioritizing tasks by using methods like the Eisenhower Matrix or Agile prioritization. Emphasize your ability to balance speed and quality while maintaining communication with your team to adapt to changing priorities.

Clearly outline your experience with Agile methodologies and how you've applied them in your previous projects. Explain the importance of tracking engineering key metrics and how it has helped you drive continuous improvement.

Discuss strategies such as implementing monitoring systems, automating processes, and following best coding practices. Providing examples of how you've successfully reduced downtime or improved service delivery will show your commitment to operational excellence.

Provide details about specific projects you've worked on using AWS, mentioning the services you've utilized (like EC2, Lambda, S3). Explain how you leveraged these services to enhance performance or reduce costs, showcasing your technical knowledge.

Describe your approach to mentorship, using specific examples and experiences. Highlight how you've helped junior colleagues grow and the impact this has had on team performance.

Explain the monitoring tools you prefer, such as Datadog or Prometheus, and your rationale behind choosing them. Discuss your experience setting up alerts to proactively address potential issues before they impact service.

Share a specific challenge you've faced, detailing the steps you took to diagnose and resolve the issue. Focus on your analytical thinking and determination, emphasizing both the technical and team aspects of your solution.

Discuss your approach to being on-call, including how you prepare and respond to incidents. Emphasize the importance of maintaining a calm demeanor, thorough documentation, and the steps you take to ensure resolution and follow-up.