Backend Engineer at HF Group

Principle Accountabilities

• Design and implement scalable, high-performance backend applications and microservices using Spring Boot, Python, and PostgreSQL, ensuring alignment with both business goals and customer needs.
• Collaborate closely with Product Owners, Business Analysts, and Solution Architects during the requirements engineering phase to clearly understand and document both functional and non-functional requirements for backend systems.
• Work alongside scrum teams to translate user stories, work items, and business requirements into well-structured, maintainable code, ensuring that each feature is delivered with efficiency and precision according to Agile practices.
• Design and optimize databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MSSQL), implementing advanced indexing, query tuning, and replication strategies to maintain high availability and optimal performance in production environments.
• Implement event-driven architectures using Kafka and ActiveMQ, enabling efficient asynchronous processing and seamless system integrations.
• Be accountable for the entire software development lifecycle, from initial requirements gathering and solution design review to user test planning, defect tracking, and ensuring the timely delivery of reliable backend services.
• Integrate robust application controls during the design phase to mitigate risk exposure, ensuring that security, data integrity, and compliance standards are upheld throughout the system lifecycle.
• Analyze and resolve software defects and performance bottlenecks, contributing to continuous improvement efforts aimed at increasing system resilience, fault tolerance, and scalability in production environments.
• Design, develop, and execute unit and integration tests, conducting thorough testing to ensure that backend code is reliable, secure, and high-performing. Focus on maintaining high standards of Test-Driven Development (TDD).
• Collaborate with Enterprise Architecture teams to evaluate product requirements and design backend architectures that adhere to organizational policies, industry best practices, and compliance standards.
• Partner with Technology Operations and Support teams to ensure smooth system handovers, providing comprehensive documentation, and establishing Operational Level Agreements (OLAs) for Level 3 support to ensure seamless ongoing maintenance.

Key Competencies and Skills

• Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking -Ability to debug complex issues methodically.
• Analytical mindset to weigh trade-offs (e.g., performance vs. scalability).
• Strong Communication and Interpersonal skills
• Collaboration & Teamwork skills
• Adaptability & Learning Agility - Keeping up with new technologies/tools (e.g., transitioning from monoliths to microservices).
• Handling shifting priorities in agile environments.
• Business Acumen -Understanding how backend work impacts ROI (e.g., cost optimization in cloud infra).

Minimum Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or a related discipline from a recognized university.
• 3+ years of backend software development experience, with a proven track record of building scalable, efficient backend services and systems in fast-paced, dynamic environments.
• Proficiency in Spring Boot, Java, and Python, with extensive experience developing modern backend services and integrating them with web applications.
• Hands-on experience with PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MSSQL databases, including expertise in database design, optimization, and maintenance for high-performance, scalable systems.
• Experience with messaging platforms like Kafka and ActiveMQ, utilizing these technologies for asynchronous processing, queuing, and system integration in distributed architectures.
• Proficiency with GitHub, Jenkins, or Azure DevOps, focusing on source code management, automated deployments, and maintaining CI/CD pipelines to ensure smooth development workflows.
• At least 2 years of hands-on experience with configuration management and deployment tools such as Puppet, Ansible, Chef, or Terraform, enabling automated infrastructure provisioning and deployment.
• Solid experience in developing CI/CD pipelines, using tools like Azure DevOps, Jenkins, and Bamboo, to streamline development processes, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery.
• Experience with containerization technologies such as Docker and Kubernetes, ensuring efficient deployment, scaling, and management of applications in containerized environments.
• Experience with cloud platforms, particularly Azure, for deploying and managing scalable, secure, and cost-effective cloud-based solutions and services.
• Strong background in Agile environments, with a focus on Test-Driven Development (TDD), iterative delivery, and close collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure high-quality software development.
• Experience with banking systems is a plus, demonstrating familiarity with financial services, regulatory compliance, and integration with core banking applications