Principal Backend developer

The Principal Backend Developer is a high-impact technical leadership role responsible for the architectural vision, scalability, and robust performance of Finaira’s core server-side systems.
This role serves as the ultimate technical authority for our backend ecosystem, driving the development of the AI-powered FinTech engines that power our global solutions.
You will be responsible for bridging the gap between complex business requirements and elegant, high-performance engineering, ensuring our systems are secure, resilient, and future-proof.
The difference you will make ·       Architect and oversee the design of highly scalable, distributed backend systems and microservices that support Finaira’s high-frequency FinTech and AI operations.
·       Define and drive the long-term technical roadmap for the backend stack, ensuring alignment with emerging technologies and long-term business objectives.
·       Lead by example through hands-on development of mission-critical features, setting the gold standard for code quality, security, and performance.
·       Mentor and elevate a team of senior and mid-level developers, fostering a culture of deep technical inquiry, peer review excellence, and continuous learning.
·       Optimize system performance and reliability by identifying bottlenecks, re-engineering legacy components, and implementing sophisticated monitoring and observability patterns.
·       Collaborate closely with Product Managers, Data Scientists, and Frontend Leads to ensure seamless integration of AI models and unified user experience.
·       Establish and enforce engineering best practices, including rigorous API design standards, comprehensive documentation, and advanced CI/CD automation.
·       Mitigate technical debt and risk by making informed build-vs-buy decisions and ensuring architectural consistency across different service domains.
  What you will bring to the role   ·       Education: Bachelor’s or master’s degree in computer science, Software Engineering, or a related technical field.
·       Experience: o   8+ years of progressive experience in backend software development, with a focus on enterprise-grade distributed systems.
o   3+ years in a Principal, Staff, or Lead Architect role, providing technical direction to multiple engineering squads.
o   Proven track record of successfully deploying and maintaining high-traffic, low-latency applications within the FinTech, Banking, or high-scale AI sectors.
  Technical Skills: o   Expertise in modern backend languages, with mastery in at least two (e.
g., Python, Go, Java, or Node.
js). o   Deep understanding of microservices architecture, event-driven design, and message brokers (e.
g., Kafka, RabbitMQ).
o   Extensive experience with both SQL (PostgreSQL, MySQL) and NoSQL (MongoDB, Cassandra, Redis) databases, including schema design and query optimization.
o   Strong proficiency in cloud-native technologies (AWS, GCP, or Azure) and container orchestration using Kubernetes and Docker.
o   Proven track record of building production-grade observability frameworks and SRE practices, including SLA/SLO definition, incident response playbooks, and post-mortem culture for large-scale distributed systems.
o   Advanced knowledge of API security standards (OAuth2, OIDC, JWT) and implementing "Security by Design" in financial environments.
o   Familiarity with integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) or Machine Learning pipelines into production backend environments.
  ·       Soft Skills: o   Strong ownership and accountability for assigned work.
o   Clear and professional verbal and written communication.
o   Effective time management and task prioritization.
o   Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills.
o   Ability to work independently, collaborate effectively and mentor junior team members.
o   Ability to actively listen to customers and accurately understand their needs, expectations, and challenges.
o   Adaptability and learning agility in a fast-paced environment.
o   Strong attention to detail and a commitment to quality.
o   Receptiveness to feedback and continuous improvement mindset.