Staff Backend Engineer (Java) – Admin Experience

Job Title: Staff Backend Engineer (Java) – Admin Experience

Company: Canva

Location: Auckland, New Zealand (Open to Remote across ANZ)

Work Type: Full-time, Hybrid

Application: Easy Apply on LinkedIn

About the Role

Canva is looking for a Staff Backend Engineer to help design and scale backend systems supporting admin tools used by businesses of all sizes — from small teams to large enterprises.

You’ll work closely with cross-functional teams, mentor engineers, shape architecture, and contribute to building a seamless admin experience across Canva.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Lead the design and evolution of scalable backend systems for Canva’s admin features.
• Work across teams to identify needs and build reliable, enterprise-ready solutions.
• Mentor engineers and promote best engineering practices.
• Shape the admin experience by exploring ideas, prototyping solutions, and launching features.
• Help navigate ambiguous product scopes, bringing technical clarity and strategic thinking.
• Improve operational performance by fixing backend issues and enhancing observability.
• Make high-impact architectural decisions for high-volume and high-data services.
• Stay updated with industry trends and bring in new ideas.

You’re a Strong Match If You Have

• Experience as a Staff or Principal Engineer, especially with Java or Kotlin (JVM-based).
• Designed backend strategies for large-scale distributed systems.
• Strong decision-making skills in ambiguous or complex scenarios.
• Proven leadership in mentoring, code quality, and cross-team collaboration.
• Experience influencing long-term product and technical strategies.
• Solid knowledge of software design, testing, documentation, and clean code.
• Excellent communication — able to connect product goals to technical solutions.
• Bonus: Familiarity with Protocol Buffers and AWS services like DynamoDB, SNS, and SQS.

About the Team

The Admin Experience Group builds tools for managing and configuring Canva in team or organizational settings — from classrooms to large companies. They focus on making team management powerful yet easy to use. The group values collaboration, product insight, and long-term thinking.

Benefits

• Equity packages — share in Canva’s success.
• Inclusive parental leave for all caregivers.
• Vibe & Thrive allowance for wellbeing, connection, and office setup.
• Flexible leave options for recharging or personal needs.