Backend Software Engineer - Product & Features (Java) - Open to remote across ANZ

Location: Team Engineering

Team: Country Perth / Australia

About the Role

Join the team redefining how the world experiences design at Canva! As a Backend Software Engineer - Product & Features (Java), you'll build the scalable services that power millions of daily user interactions, enabling creators worldwide to bring their ideas to life. Our Engineering team thrives in a collaborative, innovative culture where backend work directly impacts user delight—from crafting APIs for seamless design experiences to optimising systems that handle massive scale. Open to remote across ANZ, you'll have flexibility to choose the work balance that empowers you and your team. In this role, you'll design and implement backend features using Java within Canva's service architecture, working closely with product managers, designers, and frontend engineers to ship high-impact solutions. Expect to write production-grade code, leverage AI tools for greater efficiency, participate in code reviews and pair programming, and contribute to system reliability through testing and observability. Whether enhancing performance for design tools or building shared services, your work will play a key role in Canva's mission to empower everyone to design. Canva's engineering culture is built on ownership, purpose, and excellence. Join a vibrant community solving complex problems at scale, with generous mentorship, rapid iteration, and a shared commitment to craft. We value diverse perspectives and see AI as a creativity amplifier. Interviews are virtual with real-time challenges reflecting our innovative work—sometimes using AI tools to showcase modern problem-solving.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement backend features within Canva's existing service architecture
• Build and maintain scalable services powering millions of user interactions
• Write clean, well-tested, maintainable Java code with guidance from senior engineers
• Collaborate with product managers, designers, and frontend engineers to deliver end-to-end experiences
• Participate in code reviews, pair programming, and technical discussions
• Contribute to system health through testing, observability improvements, and bug fixes
• Optimise system performance and reliability at scale
• Leverage AI tools to accelerate development and solve complex problems
• Support internal tools and shared services used across Canva teams
• Continuously learn through mentorship and exposure to Canva's engineering stack
• Ship high-quality solutions that empower users to create beautiful designs

Required Qualifications

• Experienced in building backend systems using Java in a production environment
• Strong Java fundamentals with ability to write production-grade code
• Understanding of distributed systems and RESTful APIs
• Hands-on experience using AI in coding/programming to drive greater impact
• Experience applying backend concepts like multithreading, service design, and performance optimisation
• Familiarity with sound engineering practices including testing, monitoring, and documentation
• Ability to work through problems from design to deployment with team support
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience)

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working on high-scale consumer-facing products
• Knowledge of cloud platforms (AWS, GCP) and containerization (Docker, Kubernetes)
• Familiarity with database systems (SQL/NoSQL) and caching strategies
• Previous experience in design tools or creative software ecosystems
• Contributions to open-source projects or technical blogging
• Experience with observability tools and system monitoring

Required Skills

• Java (core proficiency)
• RESTful API design and consumption
• Distributed systems fundamentals
• Multithreading and concurrency
• Service architecture and microservices
• Performance optimisation
• Testing frameworks (JUnit, etc.)
• Monitoring and observability
• Clean code principles
• Git and version control
• AI-assisted coding tools
• Collaborative problem-solving
• Cross-functional teamwork
• User empathy and impact focus
• Technical documentation
• Code review participation
• Agile methodologies

Benefits

• Equity packages to share in Canva's success
• Inclusive parental leave policy supporting all parents and carers
• Annual Vibe & Thrive allowance for wellbeing, social connection, and office setup
• Flexible leave options to recharge and support personal needs
• Hybrid work model - open to remote across ANZ with choice in work location
• Vibrant engineering community with mentorship and career growth opportunities
• Regular team events, magic moments, and connectivity woven into work life
• Access to Canva's flagship campuses and co-working spaces across Australia
• Delightful benefits package focused on every success in and outside work

Canva is an equal opportunity employer.