Senior Staff Software Engineer - Carbon

As a Senior Staff Software Engineer at Workiva, your primary responsibilities include leading the technical direction of our engineering team, ensuring high-quality software delivery, and architecting scalable microservices for our carbon accounting solutions. You'll collaborate cross-functionally with product managers, designers, and other engineers to translate business needs into innovative technical solutions. Additionally, you will mentor junior engineers, write maintainable code, and participate in product discovery activities.

To be considered for the Senior Staff Software Engineer role at Workiva, you should possess at least 6 years of relevant experience with a Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. Preferred qualifications include 7+ years of software development experience, a strong foundation in computer science, hands-on experience with cloud-based distributed systems, and expertise in technologies such as AWS, TypeScript, and React. A background in SaaS development and familiarity with microservices architecture will also benefit your application.

The salary range for a Senior Staff Software Engineer at Workiva in the US falls between $151,000.00 and $242,000.00, depending on various factors like your experience, skills, and qualifications. There are also opportunities for discretionary bonuses, 401(k) matches, and comprehensive benefits, providing a well-rounded compensation package.

Workiva is committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within its workforce, especially for roles like Senior Staff Software Engineer. We believe that diverse backgrounds and perspectives lead to innovation, and we actively encourage applications from historically marginalized groups. We ensure fair employment decisions without discrimination and offer reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities.

Workiva supports a flexible work environment for its Senior Staff Software Engineers, promoting a healthy work-life balance. This role allows for remote work from various locations, helping you maintain that balance while enjoying up to 10% travel. We believe that happy team members contribute more effectively to our mission.

When discussing your experience with cloud-based architectures, focus on specific projects where you designed, implemented, or maintained cloud solutions. Highlight your familiarity with platforms like AWS, your understanding of scalability, and any relevant certifications like AWS Solutions Architect. Be prepared to describe challenges faced and how you overcame them to reinforce your problem-solving skills.

To guarantee high-quality software delivery, I follow a combination of best practices such as code reviews, unit testing, and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. I also emphasize collaboration with QA to create comprehensive test plans and ensure that feedback loops are quick to catch issues early in the process. Discussing your approach to Agile methodologies can also showcase your commitment to continuous improvement.

I mentor junior engineers by fostering an open environment where they feel comfortable asking questions and seeking guidance. I prioritize knowledge sharing through pair programming and regular technical workshops, ensuring they understand both theoretical concepts and practical applications. Sharing my own experiences and challenges helps them learn from real-world scenarios.

When discussing a complex technical issue, pick an example that illustrates your problem-solving abilities. Describe the context, the challenge, the steps you took to identify the root cause, and how you implemented a solution. Emphasize your communication efforts to involve team members and stakeholders, showcasing your collaborative mindset.

I actively pursue continued education by attending conferences, participating in webinars, and following industry leaders on platforms like LinkedIn. I also engage in online courses to broaden my skills and regularly review tech blogs. Sharing what I learn with my team encourages a culture of continuous improvement.

In discussing microservices architecture, provide concrete examples of projects where you adopted this approach. Detail the benefits you saw, such as greater scalability and easier maintenance, and speak to any challenges you encountered, such as service communication issues. Highlight your understanding of tools commonly used in a microservices environment.

I view collaboration with product managers and designers as a critical aspect of software development. I engage in regular meetings to ensure alignment on project goals and communicate technical possibilities and constraints. I find that early involvement in the design phase enhances the technical feasibility of the project, leading to a smoother development process.

Automated testing and CI/CD are integral to my development workflow. I utilize frameworks like Jest or Selenium for automated testing and tools like Jenkins or GitHub Actions for CI/CD. I have implemented strategies that allow for early detection of issues and seamless updates, thereby enhancing software reliability and deployment speed.

Handling tight deadlines requires prioritization and efficient time management. I break the work into smaller, manageable tasks and use agile methodologies to focus the team's efforts. I communicate openly about project timelines while ensuring that proper testing and code reviews are still part of the process, thus maintaining code quality even under pressure.

My experience with agile methodologies includes participating in daily stand-ups, sprint planning meetings, and retrospectives to facilitate transparent communication within the team. Emphasize that I adapt my work based on feedback and utilize tools like JIRA or Trello to track progress. I also encourage open dialogue about roadblocks to enhance collaboration and keep projects on track.