As a Senior Backend Engineer in the Product Platform Supergroup at Canva, you will design and implement scalable shared backend services, frameworks, and developer tools that accelerate product development across the organization. You'll collaborate with platform and product teams to improve architecture, reliability, and developer productivity while mentoring engineers and advocating for simplicity and innovation.
What You'll Do
- Build and evolve core backend frameworks, shared services, and developer APIs that accelerate product development.
- Design and deliver scalable systems that are easy to use, maintain, and extend.
- Partner with product teams to co-design abstractions that make feature delivery faster and safer.
- Contribute to service patterns, conventions, and tooling that raise engineering standards across Canva.
- Collaborate across Platform and Product teams to improve observability, rollout processes, and developer workflows.
- Mentor engineers and advocate for a culture of simplicity, reliability, and innovation.
What We're Looking For
- 6+ years of experience building scalable backend systems in modern cloud environments.
- Proficiency in Java or other JVM-based languages (Kotlin, Scala, etc.).
- Strong understanding of API design, modular architecture, and developer experience principles.
- Experience with service frameworks, deployment pipelines, and shared libraries.
- Familiarity with cloud infrastructure (AWS preferred).
- Excellent collaboration and communication skills; you thrive in cross-functional teams.
- Strong grasp of data structures and algorithms, with an ability to reason about complexity and scalability in distributed systems.
Technical Stack
- Java
- Kotlin
- Scala
- AWS
- API design
- service frameworks
- deployment pipelines
- shared libraries
- cloud infrastructure
- distributed systems
Team & Environment
- Part of the Product Platform Supergroup (SG), which includes Client Platform, Application Platform, and Product Insights Enablement (PIE). Works across Platform and Product teams.
Benefits & Compensation
- Equity packages - we want our success to be yours too
- Inclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carers
- An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support your wellbeing, social connection, office setup & more
- Flexible leave options that empower you to be a force for good, take time to recharge and supports you personally
Work Mode
- Choice in where and how you work — in the office (if near one), at home, or a hybrid of both. Remote across ANZ.
We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills and passion, as well as how you can enhance Canva and our culture. When you apply, please tell us the pronouns you use and any reasonable adjustments you may need during the interview process. Interviews are conducted virtually.
