Backend Software Engineer (Java, Python)

About the Company

Atlassian is a leading provider of collaboration and productivity software designed to help teams work more effectively and efficiently. With a global presence, Atlassian develops innovative tools that facilitate seamless communication, project management, and software development across diverse industries. The company's mission is to unleash the potential of every team by providing solutions that foster collaboration, transparency, and agility. Committed to creating an inclusive and supportive work environment, Atlassian values diversity, innovation, and continuous improvement. The organization offers a flexible work culture, allowing employees to choose their preferred work environment—whether in-office, remote, or hybrid—while supporting work-life balance and personal growth.

About the Role

We are seeking a highly skilled Principal Backend Software Engineer to join our dynamic engineering team. In this role, you will be instrumental in designing, developing, and delivering scalable backend solutions that support our suite of products. You will work closely with cross-functional teams to unblock development challenges, establish architectural standards, and drive technical excellence. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in software development, a deep understanding of cloud-based architectures, and a passion for mentoring junior engineers. This position offers an exciting opportunity to influence the technical direction of our products, lead large-scale projects, and contribute to a culture of innovation and continuous improvement. The role is fully remote, requiring candidates to be located within the US Pacific or Mountain time zones.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in software or technology leadership roles with end-to-end responsibility across the software development lifecycle
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Computer Science or related field
• Expertise in one or more prominent programming languages such as Java, Python, Kotlin, Go, or Scala
• Hands-on experience with SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS industry models, including public cloud platforms like AWS, GCP, or Azure
• Strong understanding of trade-offs between correctness, robustness, performance, space, and time
• Proven experience in mentoring engineers and influencing organizational decisions
• Customer-centric approach to technical decision-making
• Experience in Developer Experience or Developer Productivity initiatives (preferred)
• Proficiency in Java or NodeJS (preferred)
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines and practices (preferred)
• Additional language skills and cloud certifications are a plus

Responsibilities

• Regularly unblock challenges encountered during the software development cycle, from technical design to deployment
• Create and implement solutions that are utilized by other teams and products, including planning and executing large projects
• Address complex architecture challenges by applying and establishing architectural standards for new and existing projects
• Lead code reviews, ensure comprehensive documentation, and handle complex bug fixes, especially high-risk issues
• Set high standards for meaningful code reviews and collaborate with engineering teams on company-wide initiatives
• Transfer technical knowledge across teams to foster a culture of learning and continuous improvement
• Mentor junior engineers, guide their technical growth, and support their career development
• Participate in defining best practices and technical strategies to enhance product quality and team efficiency

Benefits

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans
• Paid time off and flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance
• Paid volunteer days to encourage community engagement
• Professional development opportunities and continuous learning resources
• Wellbeing programs and mental health resources
• Equity options and performance-based bonuses (where applicable)
• Support for remote work setup and ergonomic resources