Staff Backend Software Engineer - Developer Experience

Location: Team Engineering

Team: Country Adelaide / Australia

About the Role

Join Canva's Engineering team in Adelaide, Australia as a Staff Backend Software Engineer - Developer Experience, where you'll lead the charge in building the world's richest ecosystem of apps and integrations for visual design. At the heart of Canva's mission to empower a billion users, you'll design and implement AI-powered SDKs and platform APIs that enable developers to rapidly create high-quality apps integrating seamlessly with our platform. Architect intelligent interfaces providing real-time guidance from source code, UI metadata, and behavioral signals, while innovating with LLMs for scaffolding, type-safe interfaces, and in-editor suggestions. Partner cross-functionally to deliver exceptional developer ergonomics, scalability, and automation—reducing friction through self-documenting APIs and sandboxed environments. Our Ecosystem Experiences Group powers the App Marketplace, Developer Portal, and SDKs, supercharging Canva's growth through generative AI innovations and complex enterprise workflows. As a Staff Engineer, you'll mentor teams, shape strategy, and bring an engineering mindset to our developer-focused roadmap, solving novel challenges without known solutions. Thrive in our collaborative, design-obsessed culture where your insights directly influence products loved by millions. Canva's hybrid model in Adelaide offers flexibility across our Australian campuses, paired with equity, inclusive leave, wellbeing allowances, and a fun, connective environment. If you've led AI-augmented SDK platforms, love simplifying developer velocity, and are excited to make visual design accessible worldwide, join us in redefining how the world creates.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and implementation of AI-powered SDKs and platform APIs for seamless Canva app integration
• Architect intelligent, context-aware developer interfaces with real-time guidance and API feedback
• Drive innovation in SDK tooling using LLMs for scaffolding, type-safe interfaces, and in-editor code suggestions
• Partner with UX, infrastructure, and product teams to ensure exceptional developer ergonomics and scalability
• Champion automation-first principles with self-documenting APIs, automated changelogs, and sandboxed environments
• Mentor engineers and shape the strategic direction of Canva’s developer platform
• Build secure, reliable products while managing trade-offs to achieve ambitious ecosystem goals
• Collaborate with developers to inform product roadmaps and enhance the App Marketplace experience
• Leverage behavioral signals, source code, and UI metadata to create intuitive developer tools
• Contribute to Canva's vision for AI-augmented visual design platforms serving a billion users

Required Qualifications

• Led SDK or API platforms for developer ecosystems, particularly in AI-augmented environments
• Experience building SDKs and tools that simplify integration, versioning, and discovery across web-based and multi-platform contexts
• Worked with LLMs (OpenAI, Anthropic, or open source) to enhance developer experience through intelligent documentation, code summarization, or autocomplete
• Proficient in TypeScript and/or Python with familiarity in modern SDK scaffolding frameworks and API design conventions (e.g., OpenAPI)
• Background in developer relations, API advocacy, or platform enablement
• Thrives in collaborative, cross-functional teams translating complex platform capabilities into intuitive SDKs
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, or equivalent practical experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Canva's Apps SDK or similar visual design platforms
• Contributions to open-source developer tools or SDKs
• Knowledge of model-centric architectures and AI-driven developer tooling
• Previous work in high-scale, developer-facing platforms serving millions of users
• Familiarity with Canva's public REST API or app marketplace ecosystems

Required Skills

• TypeScript
• Python
• SDK development
• API design (OpenAPI)
• LLM integration (OpenAI, Anthropic)
• Developer tooling ecosystems
• Platform architecture
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Mentoring and technical leadership
• Automation and CI/CD pipelines
• Versioning and changelog management
• Real-time feedback systems
• Type-safe interfaces
• Interactive documentation
• AI-driven code generation
• Scalable backend systems
• Developer experience (DX) advocacy
• Problem-solving in ambiguous environments

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 with choice in location across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide campuses
• Delightful, collaborative culture focused on innovation and fun
• Virtual interview process with reasonable adjustments available
• Opportunities to redefine how the world experiences design at a global scale

Canva is an equal opportunity employer.