Principal Backend developer

The Principal Backend Developer is a high-impact technical leadership role responsible for the architectural vision, scalability, and robust performance of Finaira’s core server-side systems. This role serves as the ultimate technical authority for our backend ecosystem, driving the development of the AI-powered FinTech engines that power our global solutions. You will be responsible for bridging the gap between complex business requirements and elegant, high-performance engineering, ensuring our systems are secure, resilient, and future-proof.

The difference you will make

• Architect and oversee the design of highly scalable, distributed backend systems and microservices that support Finaira’s high-frequency FinTech and AI operations.
• Define and drive the long-term technical roadmap for the backend stack, ensuring alignment with emerging technologies and long-term business objectives.
• Lead by example through hands-on development of mission-critical features, setting the gold standard for code quality, security, and performance.
• Mentor and elevate a team of senior and mid-level developers, fostering a culture of deep technical inquiry, peer review excellence, and continuous learning.
• Optimize system performance and reliability by identifying bottlenecks, re-engineering legacy components, and implementing sophisticated monitoring and observability patterns.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Data Scientists, and Frontend Leads to ensure seamless integration of AI models and unified user experience.
• Establish and enforce engineering best practices, including rigorous API design standards, comprehensive documentation, and advanced CI/CD automation.
• Mitigate technical debt and risk by making informed build-vs-buy decisions and ensuring architectural consistency across different service domains.

Requirements

What you will bring to the role

• Education: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
• Experience:

o 8+ years of progressive experience in backend software development, with a focus on enterprise-grade distributed systems.

o 3+ years in a Principal, Staff, or Lead Architect role, providing technical direction to multiple engineering squads.

o Proven track record of successfully deploying and maintaining high-traffic, low-latency applications within the FinTech, Banking, or high-scale AI sectors.

Technical Skills:

o Expertise in modern backend languages, with mastery in at least two (e.g., Python, Go, Java, or Node.js).

o Deep understanding of microservices architecture, event-driven design, and message brokers (e.g., Kafka, RabbitMQ).

o Extensive experience with both SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis) databases, including schema design and query optimization.

o Strong proficiency in cloud-native technologies (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and container orchestration using Kubernetes and Docker.

o Proven track record of building production-grade observability frameworks and SRE practices, including SLA/SLO definition, incident response playbooks, and post-mortem culture for large-scale distributed systems.

o Advanced knowledge of API security standards (OAuth2, OIDC, JWT) and implementing "Security by Design" in financial environments.

o Familiarity with integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) or Machine Learning pipelines into production backend environments.

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  Soft Skills:

o Strong ownership and accountability for assigned work.

o Clear and professional verbal and written communication.

o Effective time management and task prioritization.

o Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.

o Ability to work independently, collaborate effectively and mentor junior team members.

o Ability to actively listen to customers and accurately understand their needs, expectations, and challenges.

o Adaptability and learning agility in a fast-paced environment.

o Strong attention to detail and a commitment to quality.

o Receptiveness to feedback and continuous improvement mindset.