Senior Software Engineer, Search Platform

Backend Engineer · Senior · Full Time

SG - Singapore4mo ago
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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 have

    Experience with real-time stream processing frameworks

  • Event-Driven Architecture

    Nice to have

    Knowledge of event-driven design patterns and parallelization techniques

  • ElasticSearch

    Nice to have

    Experience building search engines and search platform functionality

  • Cloud-Native Technologies

    Nice to have

    Exposure to Docker, Kubernetes, and microservice architectures

  • AI-Powered Search

    Nice to have

    Experience with embeddings, semantic search, or re-ranking models for search enhancement

  • Apache Spark

    Nice to have

    Experience with big data processing pipelines and batch processing

  • Observability

    Nice to have

    Knowledge of monitoring, logging, and observability tools for distributed systems

Tech stack

Languages

JavaKotlinC++Python

Frameworks

Apache FlinkApache SparkSpring BootMicroservices Architecture

Databases

PostgreSQLElasticSearchVector Databases

Tools

Apache KafkaDockerKubernetesGit

Other

Event-Driven ArchitectureDistributed SystemsStream ProcessingAI/ML Integration

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.

  1. 01

    Application Review

    Initial screening of resume and application materials focusing on backend development experience and technical qualifications

  2. 02

    Technical Phone Screen

    45-minute phone interview covering distributed systems concepts, Java/Kotlin programming, and system design fundamentals

  3. 03

    Technical Deep Dive

    90-minute technical interview focusing on stream processing, database design, and hands-on coding in Java/Kotlin

  4. 04

    System Design Interview

    60-minute session designing scalable search platform architecture using distributed systems and streaming technologies

  5. 05

    Behavioral and Team Fit

    45-minute interview assessing collaboration skills, problem-solving approach, and alignment with Airwallex's operating principles

  6. 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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