Senior Software Engineer - Backend (Java)

We are looking for a Senior Backend Engineer with deep expertise in Java/Spring and cloud infrastructure who can drive architectural decisions, lead cross-team initiatives, and provide technical leadership for our backend systems. This role combines hands-on engineering excellence with team leadership, mentorship, and strategic thinking to shape the future of our platform.

Craver is a leading provider of custom-branded mobile apps for the restaurant industry, specializing in features like loyalty & rewards, subscription services, and single tap reordering. We are dedicated to transforming customer engagement for quick-service restaurants and coffee shops, working with local brands such as Stumptown Coffee, Rook and Go Get Em Tiger, as well as many other restaurants across North America, 

As we scale rapidly, we need a Senior Backend Engineer who can manage technical aspects across multiple epics, interface with other teams, and provide the technical leadership necessary to build robust, scalable backend infrastructure that powers our entire platform.

• Own all technical aspects for the Server Team, managing backend infrastructure, APIs, services, and databases
• Scope epics from scratch with stakeholders and create epic-level acceptance criteria
• Step in for the team manager when needed, demonstrating comprehensive understanding of business and organizational context
• Lead team-wide initiatives with demonstrable understanding of business and customer impact
• Drive E2E ownership of all backend technical deliverables and epics

• Contribute meaningfully to roadmapping through technical guidance, estimation, and identifying solutions
• Participate in quarterly planning meetings, offering valuable insights to inform strategic decisions
• Advocate for infrastructure investments that drive scalability and business growth
• Applies first principles and operational data to propose scalability improvements

• Design and implement complex distributed systems and microservices architectures
• Make critical decisions about system architecture, data storage, and API design with scalability in mind
• Apply advanced patterns including SOLID, DDD, Hexagonal Architecture, designing low-dependency architectures
• Lead infrastructure improvements to Craver's backend systems, cloud infrastructure, and deployment processes
• Drive API design standards across teams ensuring consistency and maintainability

• Interface with Mobile, Web, and Admin teams to ensure backend services meet their needs
• Lead integration efforts with Point-of-Sale and Payment systems
• Participate in cross-team initiatives as the backend representative
• Ensure API documentation and technical artifacts are comprehensive and up-to-date

• Serve as a strong mentor for junior and intermediate backend engineers
• Challenge the team to adopt best practices in testing, monitoring, and operational excellence
• Participate in hiring and review processes for backend engineers
• Create and maintain a culture of technical excellence and continuous learning

• Assume responsibility for backend system health, performance, and reliability
• Lead incident response and implement solutions that minimize blast radius
• Review and improve RCAs ensuring systematic improvements are implemented
• Drive automation initiatives reducing manual work and operational burden
• Maintain high standards for monitoring, alerting, and system observability

• Technical expert in backend development with mastery of distributed systems and cloud architecture
• Expert in Java/Spring (or equivalent) with ability to work across different technologies
• Deep understanding of microservices, API design, and system integration patterns
• Strong database expertise in both relational and document stores
• Cloud infrastructure mastery with hands-on experience in GCP, AWS, or Azure

• Go-to individual for backend architecture decisions and complex technical problems
• Proactive communicator who can translate technical concepts for various stakeholders
• Effective at driving consensus on technical decisions across teams
• Models best practices in code reviews, documentation, and technical discussions

• Operational mindset with focus on reliability, performance, and scalability
• Internalized Agile principles with ability to deliver value incrementally
• Strong focus on quality through comprehensive testing and monitoring
• Data-driven decision making using metrics to guide technical choices

• 7+ years of professional backend development experience
• Strong background in software engineering and computer science fundamentals
• Expertise in Java/Spring or equivalent backend frameworks
• Proven experience with cloud platforms and microservices architecture
• Track record of leading technical initiatives and mentoring engineers
• Excellence in communication both verbal and written

We're looking for someone who:

• Comprehensively understands how backend decisions impact the entire platform
• Can design systems that scale with our rapid growth
• Drives team delivery through incremental, well-tested releases
• Takes ownership of backend reliability and performance
• Creates elegant solutions to complex integration challenges
• Advocates for long-term architectural health over quick fixes

• Close-knit team practicing empathy, compassion, and mutual support
• Remote-first, hybrid environment with Downtown Vancouver office
• Flexible hours - we value contribution and output
• Professional development support including training and conferences
• Generous benefits including prescription drug coverage, massage, and dental
• Stock option plan - participate in our success
• On-call rotation with strong operational support and incident management practices

Base salary: $100,000 - $160,000 CAD

• Share your experience designing and scaling backend systems
• Highlight cross-team collaboration and API design work
• Include examples of architectural decisions and their business impact
• Demonstrate your mentorship and technical leadership experience
• Share your Github and personal projects
• Focus on both technical excellence and team impact
• 1-2 pages is plenty

If you're passionate about building robust backend systems, leading technical excellence, and making significant business impact through scalable infrastructure, we want to hear from you - even if you don't check every box!