Senior Software Engineer, Search Platform
Backend Engineer · Senior · Full Time
Opens Airwallex's application page
Role
What you'll do.
Airwallex is seeking a Senior Software Engineer for their Search Platform Team in Singapore to build advanced application infrastructure using cutting-edge technologies like distributed systems, vector databases, and streaming solutions. The role focuses on developing production-grade streaming ingestion systems with Flink, requiring 5+ years of backend experience and expertise in Java/Kotlin, PostgreSQL, and Kafka.
Responsibilities
- Product Collaboration: Work closely with Product Managers to analyze requirements and produce technical solutions with execution plans
- Streaming Infrastructure Development: Design, implement and deliver production-grade streaming ingestion using Flink with focus on low-latency, high-throughput, and fault-tolerant design
- Technical Problem Solving: Tackle challenging problems in timely computation, stateful stream processing, partitioning, and resilience while proactively troubleshooting technical bottlenecks
- Code Quality Assurance: Participate in and contribute to critical code, design, and performance reviews to raise the technical bar across the team
- Roadmap Planning: Engage with Technical leads in building a backlog that continuously contributes to the execution of the product roadmap
- Cross-Team Collaboration: Collaborate with local/global engineering teams, infrastructure teams, and product development teams to translate business requirements into robust engineering solutions
- Platform Infrastructure: Build advanced application infrastructure to alleviate common challenges across the organization and lower maintenance costs for developers
- Technology Integration: Deploy cutting-edge technologies including distributed systems, vector databases and data pipeline solutions to address organization-wide challenges
Qualifications
What we look for.
Technical
Backend Development Experience
More than 5 years of backend development experience with large-scale distributed systems
Programming Languages
Proficient in Java/Kotlin, C++, or Python with strong software and system design abilities
Code Quality Standards
Deep familiarity with standard library, idiomatic usage, and best practices with ability to write clear, maintainable, and efficient code
Database and Streaming
In-depth knowledge of storage and streaming technologies including PostgreSQL and Kafka
Education
Computer Science Background
Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field preferred
Experience
Distributed Systems
Hands-on experience developing and maintaining large-scale distributed systems
Production Systems
Experience deploying and maintaining production-grade software systems
Agile Development
Experience working in collaborative, fast-paced development environments
Skills
Required
Java/Kotlin Programming
Advanced proficiency in JVM languages for backend development
Distributed Systems Design
Expertise in designing and implementing scalable distributed architectures
PostgreSQL
Deep knowledge of relational database design and optimization
Apache Kafka
Experience with event streaming platforms and message queues
System Architecture
Strong software and system design capabilities for complex applications
Preferred
Apache Flink
Nice to haveExperience with real-time stream processing frameworks
Event-Driven Architecture
Nice to haveKnowledge of event-driven design patterns and parallelization techniques
ElasticSearch
Nice to haveExperience building search engines and search platform functionality
Cloud-Native Technologies
Nice to haveExposure to Docker, Kubernetes, and microservice architectures
AI-Powered Search
Nice to haveExperience with embeddings, semantic search, or re-ranking models for search enhancement
Apache Spark
Nice to haveExperience with big data processing pipelines and batch processing
Observability
Nice to haveKnowledge of monitoring, logging, and observability tools for distributed systems
Tech stack
Languages
Frameworks
Databases
Tools
Other
Compensation
Pay and benefits.
Equity·Stock options
Benefits
Global Company Culture
Work with over 2,000 innovative professionals across 26 offices worldwide
High-Growth Environment
Join a US$8 billion valued fintech company backed by world-leading investors including T. Rowe Price, Visa, and Mastercard
Career Development
Accelerated learning opportunities and true ownership in building the future of global banking
Cutting-Edge Technology
Work with latest technologies including AI, distributed systems, and cloud-native infrastructure
Equal Opportunity
Diverse and inclusive workplace that values merit, qualifications, and talent regardless of background
Disability Accommodation
Supportive environment with accommodations for employees with disabilities or special needs
Process
Interview steps.
- 01
Application Review
Initial screening of resume and application materials focusing on backend development experience and technical qualifications
- 02
Technical Phone Screen
45-minute phone interview covering distributed systems concepts, Java/Kotlin programming, and system design fundamentals
- 03
Technical Deep Dive
90-minute technical interview focusing on stream processing, database design, and hands-on coding in Java/Kotlin
- 04
System Design Interview
60-minute session designing scalable search platform architecture using distributed systems and streaming technologies
- 05
Behavioral and Team Fit
45-minute interview assessing collaboration skills, problem-solving approach, and alignment with Airwallex's operating principles
- 06
Final Round
Meeting with senior engineering leadership to discuss technical vision, career goals, and mutual fit
Full posting
Original listing.
About Airwallex
Airwallex is the only unified payments and financial platform for global businesses. Powered by our unique combination of proprietary infrastructure and software, we empower over 200,000 businesses worldwide – including Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more – with fully integrated solutions to manage everything from business accounts, payments, spend management and treasury, to embedded finance at a global scale.
Proudly founded in Melbourne, we have a team of over 2,000 of the brightest and most innovative people in tech across 26 offices around the globe. Valued at US$8 billion and backed by world-leading investors including T. Rowe Price, Visa, Mastercard, Robinhood Ventures, Sequoia, Salesforce Ventures, DST Global, and Lone Pine Capital, Airwallex is leading the charge in building the global payments and financial platform of the future. If you’re ready to do the most ambitious work of your career, join us.
Attributes We Value
We hire successful builders with founder-like energy who want real impact, accelerated learning, and true ownership. You bring strong role-related expertise and sharp thinking, and you’re motivated by our mission and operating principles. You move fast with good judgment, dig deep with curiosity, and make decisions from first principles, balancing speed and rigor.
You're humble and collaborative; turn zero‑to‑one ideas into real products, and you “get stuff done” end-to-end. You use AI to work smarter and solve problems faster. Here, you’ll tackle complex, high‑visibility problems with exceptional teammates and grow your career as we build the future of global banking. If that sounds like you, let’s build what’s next.
What you’ll do
As a vital member of the Search Platform Team, you will be part of a specialized force that meticulously bridges the gap between business exigencies and architectural finesse. You will engage in:
An advanced application infrastructure meticulously crafted to alleviate common challenges across the entire organization, significantly lowering maintenance costs for developers and streamlining innovation;
Masterfully addressing intricate, organization-wide challenges through the strategic deployment of cutting-edge technologies such as distributed systems, vector databases and data pipeline solutions;
Comprehensive, organization-wide evaluations of strategic solutions.
Responsibilities:
Work closely with Product Managers to analyze the product requirements and then produce the technique solutions & execution plan to deliver the software products;
Hands-on design, implement and deliver production-grade streaming ingestion using Flink (or similar technologies), focusing on low-latency, high-throughput, and fault-tolerant design
Tackle challenging problems in timely computation, stateful stream processing, partitioning, and resilience. Proactively troubleshooting and addressing technical bottlenecks.
Participate in and contribute to critical code, design, and performance reviews, raising the technical bar across the team
Engage with the Technical leads in building a backlog that continuously contributes to the execution of the roadmap;
Collaborate with local/global engineering teams, infrastructure teams, and product development teams and translate business requirements into robust engineering solutions
Who you are
We're looking for people who meet the minimum qualifications for this role. The preferred qualifications are great to have, but are not mandatory.
Minimum qualifications:
More than 5 years of back-end development experience; Have experience in developing large-scale distributed systems.
Proficient in coding and scripting languages (Java(Kotlin) /C++ /Python, etc.) with strong software and system design abilities.
Deep familiarity with the standard library, idiomatic usage, and best practices of your primary programming languages. Able to write clear, maintainable, and efficient code
In depth knowledge on storage & streaming over PostgreSQL or Kafka.
Preferred qualifications:
Experience on event driven architecture & parallelisation
Prior work on large-scale data processing pipelines and Search engine(e.g., using Kafka, Spark, or Flink & ElasticSearch)
Exposure to microservice architectures, observability, and cloud-native infrastructure (e.g., Docker, Kubernetes).
Experience integrating AI-powered search enhancements, such as embeddings, semantic search, or re-ranking models is a plus.
Applicant Safety Policy: Fraud and Third-Party Recruiters
To protect you from recruitment scams, please be aware that Airwallex will not ask for bank details, sensitive ID numbers (i.e. passport), or any form of payment during the application or interview process. All official communication will come from an @airwallex.com email address. Please apply only through careers.airwallex.com or our official LinkedIn page.
Airwallex does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms/recruiters. Airwallex will not pay any fees to search firms/recruiters if a candidate is submitted by a search firm/recruiter unless an agreement has been entered into with respect to specific open position(s). Search firms/recruiters submitting resumes to Airwallex on an unsolicited basis shall be deemed to accept this condition, regardless of any other provision to the contrary.
Equal opportunity
Airwallex is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and anyone seeking employment at Airwallex is considered based on merit, qualifications, competence and talent. We don’t regard color, religion, race, national origin, sexual orientation, ancestry, citizenship, sex, marital or family status, disability, gender, or any other legally protected status when making our hiring decisions. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know.
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