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

Location: Team Engineering

Team: Country Melbourne / 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 scalable services that power millions of creative interactions, collaborating closely with product managers, designers, and frontend engineers to deliver innovative features that empower everyone to design. Our Engineering team thrives on solving complex problems at scale while maintaining a culture of ownership, mentorship, and relentless focus on user impact. Open to remote across ANZ with hybrid flexibility from our Sydney or Melbourne campuses. In this role, you'll design and implement backend features using Java within our service architecture, optimise systems for performance and reliability, and leverage AI tools to accelerate development. Expect to write production-grade code, participate in code reviews and pair programming, and contribute to observability while tackling real-world challenges like multithreading and distributed systems. Your work will directly enhance Canva's design platform, helping millions create stunning visuals effortlessly. We're looking for Java experts passionate about clean, maintainable code and collaborative problem-solving. If you excel in RESTful APIs, have production backend experience, and love using AI to amplify your impact, you'll thrive in our vibrant engineering community. Canva's innovative culture celebrates bold ideas, generous support, and continuous learning—join us to shape the future of design technology.

Key Responsibilities

• Designing and implementing backend features within existing service architecture
• Building and maintaining services that power user experiences and internal systems at scale
• Writing clean, well-tested, and maintainable Java code with guidance from senior engineers
• Collaborating with product managers, designers, and frontend engineers to deliver end-to-end experiences
• Participating in code reviews, pair programming, and technical discussions
• Contributing to system health through testing, observability improvements, and bug fixes
• Optimising performance and reliability of backend systems handling millions of users
• Leveraging AI tools to enhance coding efficiency and problem-solving
• Supporting Canva's mission to empower the world to design through innovative backend solutions
• Continuously learning and adapting to evolving product needs in a fast-paced environment

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 basics and RESTful APIs
• Hands-on experience using AI in coding/programming to drive impact
• Experience applying backend concepts like multithreading, service design, and performance optimisation
• Familiarity with sound engineering practices including testing, monitoring, and documentation
• Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams including product managers and designers

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience building scalable APIs powering millions of user interactions
• Knowledge of system performance and reliability at scale
• Contributions to shared services and internal tools
• Experience with observability and maintaining system health
• Background in design-focused products or creative tools

Required Skills

• Java programming (expert level)
• RESTful API development and consumption
• Distributed systems fundamentals
• Multithreading and concurrency
• Service design and architecture
• Performance optimisation
• Testing and test-driven development
• Monitoring and observability
• Clean code principles
• Collaboration with cross-functional teams
• Problem-solving from design to deployment
• AI-assisted coding and programming
• Documentation practices
• Code review participation
• Adaptability in fast-scaling environments
• User-impact focus

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
• Choice in work location across Sydney, Melbourne, or remote in ANZ
• Vibrant engineering community with mentorship and collaboration
• Hybrid work model balancing flexibility and team connection
• Exposure to cutting-edge design and technology challenges

Canva is an equal opportunity employer.