Staff Backend Software Engineer - Developer Experience

Location: Team Engineering

Team: Country Perth / Australia

About the Role

Join Canva's Engineering team as a Staff Backend Software Engineer - Developer Experience in Perth, Australia, where you'll lead the creation of AI-powered SDKs and platform APIs that empower developers to build seamless integrations for our visual design platform serving a billion users. In this hybrid, full-time role within the Ecosystem Experiences Group, you'll architect intelligent developer interfaces leveraging LLMs for real-time guidance, code suggestions, and best practices—drawing from source code, UI metadata, and user signals. Champion automation across the SDK lifecycle with self-documenting APIs, interactive docs, and sandboxed environments, while partnering with UX, infrastructure, and product teams to deliver exceptional ergonomics and scalability. Canva's Ecosystem team is building the world's richest marketplace of apps and integrations, fueled by generative AI innovations and complex enterprise workflows. As a Staff Engineer, you'll drive our engineering strategy, mentor peers, and infuse developer insights into our product roadmap—ensuring secure, reliable tools that accelerate MAU growth. Thrive in our collaborative culture where challenges have no known solutions, sparking daily innovation, just like Software Engineer Abbie Wade who loves 'creating and innovating each day.' At Canva, our design-focused, innovative spirit means you'll work on crazy big goals with equity packages, inclusive parental leave, Vibe & Thrive allowances, and flexible options that support your wellbeing. We're a global team saying g'day from Sydney to Perth, celebrating diverse skills, pronouns, and backgrounds. Even if you don't match every qualification, apply to help redefine how the world experiences design through developer empowerment.

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 cross-functional teams to ensure exceptional developer ergonomics, scalability, and platform alignment
• Champion automation-first principles including 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
• Contribute engineering insights to product roadmaps focused on developer success
• Leverage behavioral signals, source code, and UI metadata for enhanced developer tools
• Enable rapid app building, testing, and deployment for Canva's billion-user platform

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
• Proficiency in TypeScript and/or Python
• Familiarity with modern SDK scaffolding frameworks, API design conventions (e.g., OpenAPI), and developer tooling ecosystems
• Background in developer relations, API advocacy, or platform enablement
• Experience thriving in collaborative, cross-functional teams

Preferred Qualifications

• Staff-level engineering experience shaping platform strategy
• Mentoring engineers and contributing to developer platform vision
• Experience with automation-first principles in SDK lifecycles
• Partnership experience with UX, infrastructure, and product teams
• Passion for solving real-world problems with AI in developer tools

Required Skills

• TypeScript
• Python
• SDK development
• API design (OpenAPI)
• LLM integration (OpenAI, Anthropic)
• Developer tooling ecosystems
• Platform architecture
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Mentoring and leadership
• Automation principles
• Type-safe interfaces
• Real-time developer guidance
• Code summarization and autocomplete
• Versioning and discovery tools
• Strategic thinking
• Innovation mindset
• Problem-solving with AI

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, Perth, and more
• Collaborative culture with moments of magic, connectivity, and fun
• Opportunities to innovate on world-class design and AI platforms
• Virtual interview process with reasonable adjustments available

Canva is an equal opportunity employer.