Principal/Senior Software Engineer

Summary

Join Turnitin, a global leader in educational technology, as a Principal Fullstack/Backend Engineer. You will play a key role in developing and enhancing the foundational systems that power our award-winning platform. This hands-on role requires expertise in Java, serverless architectures, and distributed systems. You will lead and mentor a team, ensuring high-quality software delivery. Turnitin offers a remote-centric culture, competitive benefits, and a commitment to your overall well-being. We are seeking a highly skilled engineer passionate about building scalable and reliable software solutions for the education sector. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to a company making a difference in global education.

Requirements

• Over 10 years of experience in backend development with deep proficiency in Java and extensive hands-on experience with serverless frameworks (e.g., AWS Lambda, Google Cloud Functions)
• Solid understanding of frontend technologies, including React and Web Components, with the ability to contribute when needed
• Expertise in designing and managing distributed systems, ensuring scalability, and advanced data modeling techniques
• Demonstrated ability to lead and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders across multiple locations, including distributed teams in Europe and the USA, to deliver impactful, high-quality solutions
• Practical expertise in cloud technologies, specifically developing serverless applications on AWS using services such as Lambda, DynamoDB, API Gateway, SNS/SQS, and EventBridge
• Deep understanding of software development best practices, including design patterns, test-driven development (TDD), and clean code principles
• Experience implementing and managing CI/CD pipelines for automated build, deployment, and testing
• Familiarity with modern DevOps practices and infrastructure-as-code (IaC)
• Proven ability to conduct comprehensive system design reviews, ensuring architectural alignment, scalability, performance, and adherence to best practices
• Proven experience as a Tech Lead, with a strong track record of mentoring and coaching junior engineers, promoting skill development, and driving adherence to best practices to ensure team growth and technical excellence
• Exceptional collaboration skills, working effectively across cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Architects, and other engineering leads
• Ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Strong problem-solving skills, with a track record of troubleshooting and optimizing existing systems for performance, scalability, and cost efficiency
• Ability to make strategic technical decisions while balancing project deadlines and business goals

Responsibilities

• Lead and design, development, and optimization of scalable backend services using Java and serverless technologies (e.g., AWS Lambda)
• Architect and implement RESTful APIs and event-driven systems to support high-performance, distributed applications
• Provide technical leadership to the team, ensuring alignment with architectural standards and best practices
• Contribute to the development and integration of user-facing frontend components when needed
• Analyze and optimize existing services to enhance performance, scalability, and cost-efficiency
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Architects, Product Managers, and engineering leads, to deliver innovative and impactful solutions
• Mentor and guide junior developers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing
• Oversee the implementation and maintenance of CI/CD pipelines to ensure efficient and reliable software delivery
• Maintain high standards of code quality through rigorous peer reviews, comprehensive testing, and adherence to industry best practices
• Create comprehensive documentation for the developed shared components, including usage guidelines and examples

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with frontend technologies such as React, Angular, or Web Components is a plus
• Familiarity with monitoring and observability tools (e.g., CloudWatch, New Relic, Datadog)
• Knowledge of data modeling and working with both NoSQL databases
• Understanding of agile methodologies, including Scrum and Kanban
• Understanding or experience with AI/ML

Benefits

• Remote First Culture
• Health Care Coverage*
• Education Reimbursement*
• Competitive Paid Time Off
• 4 Self-Care Days per year
• National Holidays*
• 2 Founder Days + Juneteenth Observed
• Paid Volunteer Time*
• Charitable contribution match*
• Monthly Wellness or Home Office Reimbursement/*
• Access to Modern Health (mental health platform)
• Parental Leave*
• Retirement Plan with match/contribution*