Full Stack Engineer (AI-Forward)

Location: New Zealand (Hybrid: In-office Tue, Thu, Fri)

Stack: React, Tailwind, TypeScript, Kotlin/Java, Spring Boot, 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 seeking a Full Stack Engineer with a strong backend foundation who can also craft exceptional web experiences. At Emerge, AI isn't a feature—it’s our operating system, and we need someone who will proactively integrate AI into our systems to boost intelligence and 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 and maintain robust backend systems using Kotlin/Java and Spring Boot, while building sleek web interfaces with React and Tailwind.

• Web Development: Implement and optimise responsive web platforms using TypeScript, ensuring high-performance user experiences.

• AI Integration: Propose and implement meaningful AI integrations to boost system intelligence or developer flow.

• Performance: Design efficient database schemas and write optimised PostgreSQL queries for latency-sensitive flows.

• Infrastructure: Use AWS services (ECS, S3, Lambda) appropriately and move toward automating infrastructure as code.

• 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 5 years of professional experience in software development, with a deep focus on backend technologies.

• AI-Native: You see AI as a teammate and force multiplier, moving beyond simple prompts to building AI-first dev 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

• Backend Mastery: 5+ years of experience with Spring Boot (Kotlin or Java) and PostgreSQL.

• Frontend Proficiency: Proven experience in React.js, Tailwind CSS, and TypeScript.