Senior Backend Engineer (AI-Forward)

Location: New Zealand (Hybrid: In-office Tue, Thu, Fri )
Stack: Kotlin/Java, Spring Boot, PostgreSQL, AWS

The Mission

At Emerge, we aren't just building a company; we’re building a movement. Our vision is to be New Zealand’s most ambitious challenger bank, flipping the current model to give every Kiwi access to a better financial future. We move fast, prioritise "Beautiful Simplicity," and treat our customers as real people with real stories, not just data points.

We are looking for a versatile Senior Backend Engineer who is not only a master of robust systems but is also genuinely "AI-Curious". At Emerge, AI isn't a feature—it’s our operating system. We need someone who will proactively integrate AI into our backend flows to boost system intelligence and developer velocity.

Why Emerge is a Developer’s Dream

We don't just "plug in" third-party tools; we build the future from the ground up because we demand more than off-the-shelf solutions can provide.

• Ground-Up Infrastructure: We have built our own products from the ground up, including 2 native iOS Apps, 2 native Android Apps, 2 Web Apps, 4 CRMs, 3 dashboards, and over 17 backend services.

• Full Control: We’ve built real-time card authorisation flows, giving us full control over transaction approvals and declines to create customised controls.

• Core Innovation: We have successfully built integrations with blockchain ledgers and modular architectures that allow us to switch services without downstream issues.

• Internal AI Innovation: We have built AI into several parts of the company, most recently we have built an AI tool in our CRM that converts natural language into real-time data queries, empowering every team to interrogate our data directly.

• High-Impact Environment: You’ll be working on core financial infrastructure in a company that rewards leverage and impact over tenure.

What You’ll Tackle

• Architect & Build: Design, develop, and maintain robust, scalable backend systems using Kotlin, Spring Boot, and PostgreSQL.

• AI Integration: You won't just use LLMs to write code; you will proactively propose and implement meaningful AI integrations to boost system intelligence and internal workflows.

• Infrastructure: Leverage AWS services (ECS, Lambda, S3) and move toward automating infrastructure as code using tools like Terraform.

• Performance: Design efficient schemas and lead DB performance tuning for latency-sensitive flows.

• Mentorship: Review PRs and share knowledge across the team to foster a culture of trust and high performance.

Who You Are

• Experienced: You have a minimum of 7 years of backend development experience with Java/Kotlin and the Spring ecosystem.

• AI-Native: You see AI as a "force multiplier" and are ready to move from "Capable" (using AI for unit tests) to "Transformative" (shipping AI-powered features and building AI-first pipelines).

• First-Class Thinker: You live in "1st and 2nd place"—you don't just raise problems; you bring fixes or reasoned solutions.

• Grit & Ownership: You have the toughness to push through when things get hard and the "grit" to finish what you start.

• Clear Communicator: You communicate clearly in stand-ups and can explain complex technical decisions to both teammates and non-engineers.

The Emerge Way

• Default to Trust: Authority comes from trust earned through action, not titles or hierarchy.

• Energy Modes: We protect deep-work "Builder" time (Mon/Wed) and maximise "Facilitator" time for in-office collaboration (Tue/Thu/Fri).

• We All Sweep the Deck: No task is beneath us—if it helps the mission, we pitch in.

• Reward Leverage: We reward impact and outcomes over tenure. If you create massive leverage, you’ll be rewarded fast.
  
  

Qualifications & Stack

• Experience: Minimum 7 years of backend development experience specifically with Java/Kotlin.

• Technical Mastery: Deep understanding of Spring Boot, JPA, and PostgreSQL.

• Cloud Infrastructure: Hands-on experience with AWS services including ECS, Lambda, and S3.

• Architecture: Proven knowledge of designing efficient, scalable, and robust backend solutions.

• Database Design: Deep understanding of database design, optimisation, and management (preferably PostgreSQL).

• API Design: Proficiency with RESTful API design and development.