Principal Engineer _ Backend

About ZetaZeta is a Next-Gen Banking Tech company that empowers banks and fintechs to launch banking products for the future. It was founded by and Ramki Gaddipati in 2015.Our flagship processing platform - Zeta Tachyon - is the industry’s first modern, cloud-native, and fully API-enabled stack that brings together issuance, processing, lending, core banking, fraud & risk, and many more capabilities as a single-vendor stack. 20M+ cards have been issued on our platform globally.Zeta is actively working with the largest Banks and Fintechs in multiple global markets transforming customer experience for multi-million card portfolios.Zeta has over 1700+ employees - with over 70% roles in R&D - across locations in the US , EMEA , and Asia . We raised $340 million at a $2 billion valuation from Softbank, Mastercard, and other investors in 2021.Learn more @ , , , About the CEO Office As a Principal Engineer specializing in System Architecture and Distributed Systems, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the technical landscape of our projects. With expertise in languages such as Java, deep knowledge of system internals, and mastery of distributed systems, you will lead the way in architecting scalable, secure, and reliable solutions. Your role extends to troubleshooting complex issues, optimizing performance, and actively mentoring engineering teams. Proven leadership in project delivery, familiarity with cloud technologies, and a keen sense of fraud detection and risk management round out the key attributes we seek. If you're a proactive, independent decision-maker with a passion for cutting-edge technologies, this role offers a dynamic opportunity to drive innovation and operational excellence in a cross-functional environment

Responsibilities:

Architect, design, and develop scalable backend systems using Java Spring Boot and PostgreSQL. Champion a culture of test-driven development, observability, and clean code. Drive best practices in system design, code quality, and performance optimization. Utilize tools like Cursor, Windsurf, and GitHub Copilot throughout the SDLC for Requirements synthesis and spec generation, Code scaffolding and test creation, Refactoring, documentation, and deployment optimization. Own the end-to-end delivery pipeline including CI/CD and automated testing. Ensure code quality through code reviews. Work closely with project managers to define deliverables and estimate timelines. Coordinate with cross-functional teams, including product management and quality assurance. Identify opportunities for process improvement and drive implementation of best practices. Monitor and optimize the performance of applications. Address scalability and performance issues.

Skills:

Expertise in Java and Spring Boot, message-oriented systems (Kafka), ELK stack Deep understanding of OOAD, efficient data structures and algorithms. Strong SQL/database skills Experience designing RESTful APIs and Service Oriented architecture Familiarity with frontend platforms like React, React native and Flutter Familiarity with containerization and deployment pipelines Knowledge of Cloud technologies Understanding of performance tuning, distributed systems, and backend scalability Proficiency with modern AI tools such as: Cursor / Windsurf

Experience and Qualifications:

10+ years of backend development experience. Track record of delivering production-grade systems from concept to launch Engineering degree in computer science Zeta is an equal opportunity employer. At Zeta, we are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of job history, disability, gender identity, religion, race, marital/parental status, or another special status. We are proud to be an equitable workplace that welcomes individuals from all walks of life if they fit the roles and responsibilities.

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