Senior Backend Engineer (Java/Spring) - Avalor

As a Senior Backend Engineer at Avalor, you will primarily focus on developing and maintaining high-quality backend services within a microservices architecture using Java and Spring Boot. Your responsibilities include delivering robust features for a high-scale web environment, monitoring production performance, and collaborating with team members from various disciplines. This role also requires you to stay updated with industry trends to continually improve our technology stack.

To qualify for the Senior Backend Engineer position at Avalor, you should have a minimum of 5 years of proven backend development experience primarily using Java and Spring Boot. Additionally, familiarity with microservices and cloud environments, such as AWS, Kubernetes, and proficiency in message brokers like RabbitMQ or SQS, is essential. Experience with various databases like PostgreSQL or MongoDB will also be a significant advantage.

A Senior Backend Engineer at Avalor should be well-versed in Java and Spring Boot as primary programming tools. Familiarity with microservices architecture is crucial, along with experience in cloud technologies such as AWS and container orchestration systems like Kubernetes. Understanding message queuing systems like RabbitMQ or SQS and working with databases like PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redshift, or Snowflake would also help you succeed in this role.

The work culture at Avalor, as part of Zscaler, promotes an inclusive and supportive environment that values collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. You'll find yourself surrounded by a diverse group of talented professionals eager to share knowledge and foster teamwork. We believe that diverse perspectives drive success, and everyone is encouraged to contribute ideas that can enhance both processes and products.

Avalor is dedicated to the professional growth of its team members. As a Senior Backend Engineer, you'll not only get to mentor junior engineers, but you’ll also have opportunities to stay updated with industry trends and practices. We offer education reimbursement, workshops, and access to conferences so you can continually enhance your skill set and remain at the forefront of the field.

In your response, provide specific examples of projects where you utilized Java and Spring Boot, focusing on the architecture you built and the outcomes achieved. Be sure to mention the features you developed and how you ensured code quality and scalability.

Discuss specific strategies such as implementing monitoring tools, optimizing database queries, and employing best practices in API design. You can also mention your use of metrics and logging to identify and resolve performance bottlenecks proactively.

Explain your thought process, including how you decompose a monolithic application into microservices. Discuss considerations such as service boundaries and inter-service communication, and how you ensure that individual services remain loosely coupled yet cohesive.

Share a specific situation where you took the time to mentor a junior developer. Discuss the approach you took, how you helped them grow in their role, and the positive impacts it had on both their development and the team's overall productivity.

Detail the projects you've worked on that involved AWS and Kubernetes, highlighting how you utilized these technologies to deploy and manage your applications. Discuss any challenges you faced and the results of your implementations.

Mention various methods you use to stay informed, including participating in relevant online communities, attending conferences, and engaging with thought leaders in the field. This is an excellent opportunity to showcase your passion for continuous learning.

Elaborate on your approach to incident management, particularly in high-pressure situations. Discuss how you prioritize issues, communicate with your team, and ensure that necessary fixes are implemented promptly while maintaining a calm demeanor.

Discuss your testing strategy, making a distinction between unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests. Highlight how your approach to testing ensures a robust and maintainable codebase, contributing to both quality and efficiency.

Provide examples of how you've implemented message brokers in your projects, discussing the architecture and the benefits of using message queues for communication between microservices, as well as how it contributes to decoupling components.

Outline your appraisal process for new technologies, including research, pilot projects, and evaluation criteria. Discuss your experience with bringing new solutions to life and how you work with your team to ensure a smooth integration with existing systems.