Software Engineer II, Yield
Backend Engineer · Mid · Full Time
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Role
What you'll do.
Airwallex's Yield team is seeking a Software Engineer II to build high-integrity backend systems for their investment product that helps businesses earn returns on idle cash. This role involves designing mission-critical financial infrastructure including reconciliation controls and investment ledgers using Kotlin, Temporal, and Kafka technologies.
Responsibilities
- Backend System Architecture: Contribute to the architecture and long-term technical vision of backend systems, helping define engineering strategy and framework selection for the Yield squad
- Core Investment Workflow Development: Own end-to-end delivery of core investment workflows including client signup, investment, and redemption processes from design to production
- Financial Infrastructure Development: Build and maintain mission-critical financial infrastructure such as reconciliation controls, unit registries, and investment ledgers
- High-Quality Code Development: Write high-quality, testable code with focus on reliability and maintainability, ensuring seamless integration with external investment providers
- Engineering Best Practices: Promote and uphold engineering best practices with strong emphasis on observability, API design, and robust integration rails
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Product, Infrastructure, and Design to deliver optimal business experience
- System Scalability: Solve distributed systems challenges including scalability, consistency, and latency optimization for high-volume financial transactions
- Quality Assurance: Implement automated testing strategies and participate in quality control processes to ensure system reliability
Qualifications
What we look for.
Technical
Backend Development Experience
Mastery of backend technologies with experience in distributed systems, scalability, consistency, and latency challenges
Programming Languages
Strong proficiency in backend programming languages, preferably Kotlin with vert.x framework experience
Workflow Orchestration
Experience with Temporal workflow orchestration platform for managing complex business processes
Message Streaming
Hands-on experience with Apache Kafka for event-driven architecture and real-time data processing
Cloud Platforms
Experience with Google Cloud Platform or AWS, including containerization with Docker and orchestration with Kubernetes
Observability Tools
Experience integrating with observability tooling such as Splunk, NewRelic, Prometheus, and Grafana for system monitoring
Automated Testing
Experience working with automated testing frameworks and involvement in quality control processes
Education
Computer Science Degree
Bachelor's degree or above in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related technical field
Experience
Professional Experience
Minimum 2+ years of professional software engineering experience in backend development
Distributed Systems
Proven experience solving distributed systems challenges in production environments
Financial Systems
Experience building or working with financial systems, payment processing, or fintech applications (preferred)
Skills
Required
Backend Development
Strong proficiency in backend programming languages and distributed systems architecture
Kotlin/Java
Experience with JVM-based languages, preferably Kotlin for building scalable backend systems
Cloud Technologies
Hands-on experience with GCP or AWS, including Docker containerization and Kubernetes orchestration
System Integration
Experience with API design, system integration, and working with external service providers
Automated Testing
Proficiency in test-driven development and automated testing frameworks for quality assurance
Preferred
Vert.x Framework
Nice to haveExperience with reactive programming using Vert.x framework for high-performance applications
Temporal Workflows
Nice to haveKnowledge of workflow orchestration platforms for managing complex business processes
Apache Kafka
Nice to haveExperience with event streaming and message queue systems for real-time data processing
Financial Systems
Nice to haveBackground in fintech, payment processing, or financial services technology
Observability Stack
Nice to haveExperience with monitoring tools like Splunk, NewRelic, Prometheus, and Grafana
Microservices Architecture
Nice to haveUnderstanding of microservices patterns and distributed system design principles
Tech stack
Languages
Frameworks
Databases
Tools
Other
Compensation
Pay and benefits.
Base·AUD 90,000 – 130,000
Equity·Stock options
Benefits
Equity Participation
Stock options and equity participation in a US$8 billion valued fintech unicorn with significant growth potential
Career Growth
Accelerated learning opportunities in one of the fastest-growing business units operating like a startup within a startup
Global Impact
Work on products that serve over 200,000 businesses worldwide including major brands like Brex, Rippling, Navan, and SHEIN
Innovation Environment
Access to cutting-edge financial technology and AI tools to work smarter and solve complex problems
Professional Development
Opportunity to define engineering strategy and technical vision in a high-growth fintech environment
Equal Opportunity
Inclusive workplace culture that values diversity and provides equal opportunities regardless of background
Work-Life Balance
Sydney-based role with flexible working arrangements in modern office environments
Process
Interview steps.
- 01
Application Review
Initial screening of resume and portfolio focusing on backend development experience and technical skills alignment
- 02
Recruiter Phone Screen
30-minute conversation with talent acquisition team covering background, motivation, and basic technical experience
- 03
Technical Assessment
Online coding challenge or take-home assignment focusing on backend development, system design, and problem-solving skills
- 04
Technical Interview Round 1
60-minute technical interview with senior engineers covering coding skills, system design, and distributed systems knowledge
- 05
Technical Interview Round 2
System design interview focusing on financial systems architecture, scalability, and integration patterns
- 06
Team Fit Interview
Cultural fit and team collaboration discussion with hiring manager and potential team members
- 07
Final Round
Leadership interview covering career goals, technical vision, and alignment with Airwallex's mission and values
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.
About the Team
The Yield Team is the strategic force behind our investment product—a solution that empowers businesses to earn competitive returns on their idle cash without the restrictions of traditional term deposits. Following our recent market launch, we are focused on leveraging this flexibility to drive customer stickiness and long-term engagement.
As one of the fastest-growing business units at Airwallex, Yield operates like a startup within a startup, offering unparalleled opportunities for innovation and career growth. We are expanding aggressively on a global scale. If you're driven by innovation and eager to make a meaningful impact, Yield is the perfect place for you. Apply now and help shape the future of fintech!
This role is based in Sydney.
What you'll do
As a Software Engineer on the Yield team, you will design and build the high-integrity backend systems that allow businesses to earn returns on their idle cash with total liquidity.
Contribute to the architecture and long-term technical vision of our backend systems, helping define the engineering strategy and framework selection for the Yield squad.
Own the end-to-end delivery of core investment workflows, including client signup, investment, and redemption processes—from design to production.
Build and maintain mission-critical financial infrastructure, such as reconciliation controls, unit registries, and investment ledgers.
Write high-quality, testable code with a focus on reliability and maintainability, ensuring seamless integration with our external investment providers.
Promote and uphold engineering best practices, with a strong emphasis on observability, API design, and robust integration rails.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Product, Infrastructure, and Design to ensure our product delivers the best possible experience for businesses.
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:
2+ years of professional software engineering experience.
Bachelor degree or above in computer science or software engineering related majors.
Have experience solving distributed systems challenges - scalability, consistency, latency.
Mastery of backend technologies is essential. While we do not mind what language you have most recently been using, we are using Kotlin w/ vert.x, Temporal & Kafka
Experience working with automated tests and been involved in quality control processes.
Cloud technologies experience with GCP or AWS, including Docker and Kubernetes.
Experience integrating with observability tooling such as Splunk, NewRelic, Prometheus, Grafana.
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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