Overview
Senior Backend Software Engineer - Product & Features (Java) - Open to remote across ANZ
Canva Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Job Description: Join the team redefining how the world experiences design. We’re looking for a backend engineer to help build scalable services that power Canva’s product features at scale.
What You’d Be Doing In This Role
Backend roles at Canva can vary significantly depending on the team. You might help build scalable APIs powering millions of user interactions, improve system performance and reliability at scale, or contribute to shared services and internal tools. You’ll work closely with product managers, designers, and frontend engineers to deliver end-to-end experiences with real user impact. You’ll design new systems or maintain critical infrastructure, playing a key role in Canva’s mission to empower the world to design.
As the team grows, the typical focus includes day-to-day activities such as:
- Leading the design and development of scalable, reliable backend services using contemporary frameworks and tools
- Driving collaboration with PMs, designers, and fellow engineers to scope, define, and deliver impactful product features
- Evolving and scaling Canva’s backend architecture through thoughtful service design, system decomposition, and shared tooling
- Championing reliability, performance, and engineering best practices across multiple service domains
- Writing robust, well-tested code and proactively identifying areas for technical improvement or refactor
- Guiding design and code reviews, mentoring peers, and raising the technical bar for your team
- Maitaining and improving service health, observability, and incident resilience in partnership with your team
You’re probably a match if
- You are highly experienced building complex backend systems in production environments
- You have strong Java fundamentals and can confidently write production-grade code, applying backend concepts like multithreading, service design, and performance optimisation in real-world systems
- You’re comfortable taking ownership of features end-to-end—from architecture to delivery—and thrive in environments where you drive the “how”
- You balance attention to detail with pragmatism, and consistently ship reliable, maintainable code at speed
- You’re a thoughtful collaborator who works well across disciplines and proactively brings others on the journey
- You understand the bigger picture—how your systems connect to product goals, reliability, and long-term scalability
- You enjoy mentoring others, offering constructive feedback, and lifting the technical bar for your team
- You have hands-on experience using AI in coding/programming to drive greater impact
Engineering at Canva
Join a vibrant engineering community solving complex problems for millions of users worldwide. Canva emphasizes rapid iteration, value delivery for users, and a culture of ownership, purpose, and excellence. We mentor and support one another generously.
What’s in it for you?
We strive toward ambitious goals while also offering moments of magic, connectivity, and fun. Canva provides a range of benefits to support your success at work and beyond.
Here’s a Taste Of What’s On Offer
- 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
Check out lifeatcanva.com for more info.
Other Stuff To Know
We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills and passion, as well as how you can enhance Canva and our culture. We see AI as a powerful amplifier of creativity and technology at Canva. We’re evolving how we assess AI skills in our Technology hiring experience — you may tackle interactive, real-time challenges and use an AI tool in interviews to demonstrate your approach.
Please note that interviews are conducted virtually.
Seniority level
- Mid-Senior level
Employment type
- Full-time
Job function
- Other
- Industries: Human Resources
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📌 Senior Backend Software Engineer - Product & Features (Java) - Open to remote across ANZ
🏢 Canva
📍 Canberra