Staff Software Engineer, Backend - Onboarding
Backend Engineer · Staff · Full Time
Opens Airwallex's application page
Role
What you'll do.
Airwallex is seeking a Staff Software Engineer for their Backend Onboarding team to design scalable microservices for KYC and customer onboarding systems. This role involves architecting high-availability Java/Kotlin backend services, implementing data-driven solutions for global expansion, and ensuring security and compliance across financial platforms that serve over 200,000 businesses worldwide.
Responsibilities
- Microservices Architecture: Architect, develop, and maintain scalable microservices using Java/Kotlin for high-traffic, global financial platform serving 200,000+ businesses
- KYC Systems Integration: Design and implement scalable systems for document verification, liveness verification, and ID verification to support global expansion and automation
- Data Pipeline Development: Collaborate with data scientists and product managers to build data pipelines, analytics platforms, and event-driven architectures
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Frontend, Product, Design, and Marketing teams to translate business requirements into scalable backend solutions
- Performance Optimization: Define measurable SLOs for service performance and continuously improve operations through metrics monitoring and process optimization
- Security and Compliance: Implement secure coding practices and frameworks to protect user data and maintain global regulatory compliance for financial services
- Code Quality Leadership: Participate in architectural reviews, code reviews, and strategy sessions to elevate backend service quality and performance
- Technical Mentorship: Act as technical bar raiser, setting high standards and mentoring team members to elevate overall engineering capabilities
Qualifications
What we look for.
Technical
Backend Development Expertise
Extensive experience in Java/Kotlin with proven ability to design and build scalable microservices architectures
High-Scale Systems
Demonstrated experience building high-traffic, high-availability systems with global user base and stringent uptime requirements
Microservices Architecture
Deep understanding of service-to-service communication, orchestration, fault tolerance, and distributed systems patterns
Data Engineering
Experience designing data pipelines, analytics platforms, and event-driven architectures for data-driven decision making
Security and Compliance
Knowledge of secure coding practices, authentication/authorization mechanisms, and regulatory compliance in financial services
Performance Monitoring
Experience with SLO definition, metrics monitoring, and system performance optimization techniques
Education
Technical Degree
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
Continuous Learning
Demonstrated commitment to staying current with emerging technologies and best practices in backend engineering
Experience
Staff-Level Impact
8+ years of software engineering experience with demonstrated ability to lead complex technical initiatives and mentor other engineers
Fintech or Financial Services
Experience building systems handling sensitive financial data with compliance requirements and regulatory constraints
Global Scale Systems
Track record of building systems that serve international markets with multi-region deployment and localization requirements
Cross-Functional Leadership
Proven ability to collaborate effectively with product managers, data scientists, and other engineering teams
Skills
Required
Java/Kotlin Expertise
Advanced proficiency in Java or Kotlin for enterprise-scale backend development
Microservices Architecture
Proven experience designing and implementing microservices for high-scale distributed systems
Data-Driven Development
Ability to interpret and leverage data analytics for product performance optimization and decision-making
System Design
Strong architectural skills for designing scalable, reliable, and extensible backend systems
Security Implementation
Knowledge of secure coding practices and compliance frameworks for financial services
Cross-Team Collaboration
Excellent communication skills for working with Frontend, Product, Design, and Marketing teams
Preferred
KYC/Identity Verification
Nice to haveExperience with Know Your Customer processes, document verification, and identity validation systems
Financial Services Domain
Nice to haveUnderstanding of fintech, payments, or banking industry requirements and regulations
Event-Driven Architecture
Nice to haveExperience with asynchronous messaging patterns and event sourcing for scalable systems
Data Pipeline Engineering
Nice to haveHands-on experience building ETL processes and real-time data streaming platforms
Cloud Platforms
Nice to haveExperience with AWS, GCP, or Azure for cloud-native application development and deployment
Performance Optimization
Nice to haveTrack record of optimizing system performance and implementing comprehensive monitoring solutions
Tech stack
Languages
Frameworks
Databases
Tools
Other
Compensation
Pay and benefits.
Base·CNY 40,000 – 80,000
Benefits
Professional Development
Opportunities for learning, growth, and career path development in a fast-paced, innovative fintech environment
Global Impact
Contribute directly to core user growth systems in a company reshaping global financial services for 200,000+ businesses
Innovation Culture
Work with talented, passionate individuals driven to create extraordinary financial technology solutions
Equal Opportunity
Inclusive workplace that values diversity and considers candidates based on merit, qualifications, and talent regardless of background
Accommodation Support
Disability and special needs accommodation available during application and employment
Process
Interview steps.
- 01
Initial Application Review
Resume and portfolio evaluation focusing on backend engineering experience and system design capabilities
- 02
Technical Phone Screen
45-minute technical discussion covering Java/Kotlin expertise, microservices experience, and system design fundamentals
- 03
System Design Interview
90-minute session designing a KYC or onboarding system at scale, focusing on architecture decisions and trade-offs
- 04
Coding Interview
Technical coding session emphasizing backend problem-solving, data structures, and algorithms relevant to financial systems
- 05
Behavioral Interview
Leadership and collaboration assessment covering cross-functional work, mentorship experience, and cultural fit
- 06
Technical Deep Dive
Detailed discussion of past projects, focusing on scalability challenges, security implementations, and technical decision-making
- 07
Final Interview
Senior leadership interview covering vision alignment, growth potential, and long-term career goals at Airwallex
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.
The Opportunity: Be Part of Our Onboarding Team
Onboarding team plays a pivotal role in Airwallex's mission by facilitating the rapid integration of businesses into our platform. As a data-driven team, we utilize extensive analytics to refine our processes and ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of our operations. Our primary mission involves performing Know Your Customer (KYC) and risk-based operations to maintain the highest standards of compliance and security as we handle sensitive financial data, and empower business customers through robust, secure, and intuitive user and account management solutions.
This team is instrumental in our regional expansion, helping to onboard a growing number of customers into new and existing markets. By supporting global expansion, we are also tasked with increasing the coverage of our product offerings, ensuring that businesses worldwide can benefit from our innovative financial solutions. Through our efforts, we aim to streamline the onboarding process, reduce barriers to entry, and foster a secure and compliant environment that empowers businesses to thrive in the digital economy.
What You’ll Do
Design and Build Scalable Systems
Architect, develop, and maintain microservices in Java/Kotlin (or similar languages), ensuring our high-traffic, high-availability systems meet global user demands. Implement best practices for service-to-service communication, orchestration, and fault tolerance.
Design scalable, reliable, and extensible systems for integrating with KYC verifications such as document verification, liveness verification, ID verification to support Global Expansions and maximize efficiency for automations
Enable Data-Driven Decisions
Collaborate with data scientists and product managers to design data pipelines, analytics platforms, and event-driven architectures.
Ensure the data powering our Growth and Onboarding initiatives is accurate, reliable, and easily accessible.
Collaborate and Innovate
Work closely with cross-functional teams—Frontend, Product, Design, and Marketing—to translate business requirements into scalable backend solutions.
Participate in architectural reviews, code reviews, and strategy sessions to continually elevate the quality and performance of our backend services.
Define a measurable SLO for service performance. Improving operations involves optimizing processes, monitoring metrics, and ensuring alignment with SLOs to enhance reliability, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
Promote Security & Compliance
Integrate secure coding practices and frameworks to protect user data and maintain global regulatory compliance.
Identify potential vulnerabilities, ensure robust authentication and authorization mechanisms, and proactively address security risks.
Who You Are
Experienced and Technically Proficient: You possess a wealth of experience in software development, underpinned by a robust expertise in Java/Kotlin. Your approach goes beyond mere coding; you are a craftsman of comprehensive solutions. As a technical bar raiser, you set high standards and lead by example, elevating the capabilities of those around you.
Empathetic and Insightful: Your deep empathy for customer needs drives your development process, allowing you to create intuitive and impactful products. This understanding is not just about meeting requirements, but about enriching user experiences.
Data-Driven and Analytical: You view data as a narrative element of development, a critical tool that informs your decision-making process. Your ability to interpret data enhances product performance and elevates user satisfaction, making you a pivotal member of our team.
Collaborative and Knowledge-Sharing: True collaboration is second nature to you. You thrive in team settings and are committed to sharing knowledge and ideas, which you see as vital to fostering innovation. Your role as a coach involves mentoring peers and promoting a learning culture within the team.
Adaptable and Continuously Learning: In the fast-paced world of fintech, you stand out for your agility and eagerness to adopt new skills and technologies. Challenges are opportunities for growth, and you are always prepared to expand your horizons.
Proactive and Ownership-Driven: You are self-motivated and take initiative, demonstrating a strong sense of ownership in your projects. Your proactive approach ensures that you are always ahead of the curve, ready to take on responsibilities and lead projects to successful outcomes.
Efficient and Prioritization-Savvy: You excel at prioritizing tasks, which enables you to manage your workload effectively while maintaining high standards of quality. This skill ensures that critical project components receive the attention they need without sacrificing overall progress.
Why Join Us
Be Part of Something Big: Join a team that's redefining the future of finance. Contribute directly to the core engine of user growth in a company that is reshaping global financial services.
Grow With Us: At Airwallex, we're committed to your professional development. You'll have opportunities to learn, grow, and shape your career path in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
Collaborate With the Best: Work with a team of talented and passionate individuals who are driven by the desire to create something extraordinary.
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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