Senior Software Engineer

Confluent1 weeks ago

Location

Remote, Ontario, Canada

Workplace

Remote

Type

Full Time

Salary

CAD 144,200 – 169,400

Level

Senior

Role

Backend Engineer

Posted

Mar 3, 2026

Full TimeRemoteSenior

The role

Summary

Confluent is seeking a Senior Software Engineer to build large-scale distributed backend systems for their data streaming platform based on Apache Kafka. The role involves working on cloud services, microservices architecture, and high-availability systems across multiple product teams. Requires 3+ years of backend development experience with distributed systems and cloud platforms.

What you'll do

Backend Service Development: Design, build, and operate secure, reliable, and scalable backend services in cloud-native environments

End-to-End Feature Ownership: Own complete project lifecycle from requirements gathering to production deployment and ongoing improvements

Distributed Systems Architecture: Work with microservices architecture focusing on performance, resiliency, and clear API contracts

Service Reliability Operations: Contribute to monitoring, alerting, incident response, and on-call participation for production systems

Cross-Team Collaboration: Partner with engineering teams on architecture design, data modeling, and platform integration points

Code Quality Assurance: Write clean, well-tested, documented code and participate in comprehensive code reviews

Engineering Process Improvement: Enhance development practices, tooling, and automation to improve code shipping safety and efficiency

Team Culture Development: Foster healthy team environment through clear communication, inclusive collaboration, and knowledge sharing

What we look for

Technical

Backend Systems Experience3+ years designing, building, and supporting production backend systems

Programming ProficiencyStrong algorithmic skills in Java, Go, C/C++, or Python with ability to learn new technologies

Distributed Systems KnowledgeExperience with microservices, data pipelines, event-driven architectures, or high-throughput APIs

Cloud Platform ExpertiseHands-on experience with AWS, GCP, or Azure including containers and Kubernetes orchestration

Database Systems UnderstandingFamiliarity with relational databases, NoSQL stores, distributed data systems, and performance optimization

Quality Engineering FocusKnowledge of testing strategies, observability tools, metrics, logging, tracing, and incident response

Education

Computer Science DegreeBS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science, Engineering, or related field

Equivalent ExperienceEquivalent practical experience in software engineering and backend development

Experience

Industry ExperienceMinimum 3+ years of professional backend development experience in production environments

Large-Scale SystemsExperience building and maintaining distributed systems at scale

Cross-Functional CollaborationProven ability to work effectively with product managers, designers, and engineering teams across time zones

Skills

Required skills

Backend DevelopmentProficiency in designing and implementing scalable backend services and APIs

Distributed SystemsUnderstanding of microservices architecture, event-driven design, and system reliability

Cloud TechnologiesExperience with public cloud platforms, containerization, and orchestration tools

Database ManagementKnowledge of relational and NoSQL databases with performance optimization skills

Programming LanguagesStrong coding abilities in Java, Go, Python, or C/C++ with algorithmic problem-solving

System OperationsExperience with monitoring, logging, alerting, and production system maintenance

Nice to have

Apache KafkaExperience with Apache Kafka or other data streaming technologies

DevOps PracticesKnowledge of CI/CD pipelines, infrastructure as code, and automated testing

Security EngineeringUnderstanding of secure coding practices and access control systems

Performance OptimizationExperience with system performance tuning and scalability optimization

Data EngineeringFamiliarity with data pipelines, ETL processes, and real-time data processing

Leadership SkillsMentoring experience and technical leadership in engineering teams

Compensation & benefits

Salary

CAD 144,200 – 169,400 (annual)

Stock options

Available

Benefits

Equity Compensation

Stock options and equity participation in company growth

Remote Work Flexibility

Fully remote position with flexible work arrangements

Professional Development

Learning opportunities and skill development programs

Inclusive Culture

Equal opportunity workplace with focus on belonging and diversity

Cross-Timezone Collaboration

Global team collaboration with flexible scheduling

Growth Opportunities

Career advancement paths and leadership development

Interview process

1
Initial Application Review — Resume and portfolio screening focusing on backend development experience and technical skills
2
Phone/Video Screening — 30-45 minute conversation with recruiter about background, interest, and role alignment
3
Technical Interview Round 1 — Coding interview focusing on algorithms, data structures, and system design fundamentals
4
Technical Interview Round 2 — System design interview covering distributed systems, scalability, and architecture decisions
5
Team Fit Interview — Behavioral interview with potential team members assessing collaboration and cultural alignment
6
Final Interview — Senior engineering manager interview covering technical leadership and growth potential
7
Reference Checks — Professional reference verification and background check process