Senior Backend Engineer (Java)

TL;DR

Senior Backend Engineer (Java): Building and evolving core backend frameworks, shared services, and developer APIs to accelerate product development with an accent on scalability and developer experience. Focus on designing modular architectures, improving observability, and mentoring engineers to raise engineering standards across the platform.

Location: Hybrid in Melbourne, Australia (Must be based in Melbourne)

Company

Canva is a global design platform redefining how the world experiences design.

What you will do

• Build and evolve core backend frameworks, shared services, and developer APIs to 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 to raise engineering standards across the company.
• 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.

Requirements

• 6+ years of experience building scalable backend systems in modern cloud environments.
• Proficiency in Java or other JVM-based languages such as Kotlin or Scala.
• Strong understanding of API design, modular architecture, and developer experience principles.
• Experience with service frameworks, deployment pipelines, and shared libraries.
• Familiarity with cloud infrastructure, preferably AWS.
• Must be based in Melbourne, Australia.

Culture & Benefits

• Equity packages to share in the company's success.
• Inclusive parental leave policy supporting all parents and carers.
• Annual Vibe & Thrive allowance for wellbeing, social connection, and office setup.
• Flexible leave options to recharge and provide personal support.
• Hybrid work model combining remote flexibility with in-person collaboration.