Staff Software Engineer, Backend - Onboarding

Airwallex9 months ago

Location

SG - Singapore

Type

Full Time

Salary

CNY 40,000 – 80,000

Level

Staff

Role

Backend Engineer

Posted

Jun 17, 2025

Full TimeStaff

The role

Summary

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.

What you'll do

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

What we look for

Technical

Backend Development ExpertiseExtensive experience in Java/Kotlin with proven ability to design and build scalable microservices architectures

High-Scale SystemsDemonstrated experience building high-traffic, high-availability systems with global user base and stringent uptime requirements

Microservices ArchitectureDeep understanding of service-to-service communication, orchestration, fault tolerance, and distributed systems patterns

Data EngineeringExperience designing data pipelines, analytics platforms, and event-driven architectures for data-driven decision making

Security and ComplianceKnowledge of secure coding practices, authentication/authorization mechanisms, and regulatory compliance in financial services

Performance MonitoringExperience with SLO definition, metrics monitoring, and system performance optimization techniques

Education

Technical DegreeBachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience

Continuous LearningDemonstrated commitment to staying current with emerging technologies and best practices in backend engineering

Experience

Staff-Level Impact8+ years of software engineering experience with demonstrated ability to lead complex technical initiatives and mentor other engineers

Fintech or Financial ServicesExperience building systems handling sensitive financial data with compliance requirements and regulatory constraints

Global Scale SystemsTrack record of building systems that serve international markets with multi-region deployment and localization requirements

Cross-Functional LeadershipProven ability to collaborate effectively with product managers, data scientists, and other engineering teams

Skills

Required skills

Java/Kotlin ExpertiseAdvanced proficiency in Java or Kotlin for enterprise-scale backend development

Microservices ArchitectureProven experience designing and implementing microservices for high-scale distributed systems

Data-Driven DevelopmentAbility to interpret and leverage data analytics for product performance optimization and decision-making

System DesignStrong architectural skills for designing scalable, reliable, and extensible backend systems

Security ImplementationKnowledge of secure coding practices and compliance frameworks for financial services

Cross-Team CollaborationExcellent communication skills for working with Frontend, Product, Design, and Marketing teams

Nice to have

KYC/Identity VerificationExperience with Know Your Customer processes, document verification, and identity validation systems

Financial Services DomainUnderstanding of fintech, payments, or banking industry requirements and regulations

Event-Driven ArchitectureExperience with asynchronous messaging patterns and event sourcing for scalable systems

Data Pipeline EngineeringHands-on experience building ETL processes and real-time data streaming platforms

Cloud PlatformsExperience with AWS, GCP, or Azure for cloud-native application development and deployment

Performance OptimizationTrack record of optimizing system performance and implementing comprehensive monitoring solutions

Compensation & benefits

Salary

CNY 40,000 – 80,000 (annual)

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

Interview process

1
Initial Application Review — Resume and portfolio evaluation focusing on backend engineering experience and system design capabilities
2
Technical Phone Screen — 45-minute technical discussion covering Java/Kotlin expertise, microservices experience, and system design fundamentals
3
System Design Interview — 90-minute session designing a KYC or onboarding system at scale, focusing on architecture decisions and trade-offs
4
Coding Interview — Technical coding session emphasizing backend problem-solving, data structures, and algorithms relevant to financial systems
5
Behavioral Interview — Leadership and collaboration assessment covering cross-functional work, mentorship experience, and cultural fit
6
Technical Deep Dive — Detailed discussion of past projects, focusing on scalability challenges, security implementations, and technical decision-making
7
Final Interview — Senior leadership interview covering vision alignment, growth potential, and long-term career goals at Airwallex