About the role

Role overview

Staff Software Engineer (Backend) — hands-on technical leader responsible for building, optimizing, and maintaining core backend systems for a real-time digital marketplace. The role is execution-focused: writing code, debugging production issues, improving system performance, and contributing to technical decisions while mentoring engineers.

Location: Remote within Canada (Toronto preferred)

Responsibilities

Design and implement backend systems and features using Java and Spring Boot
Own and resolve complex production issues, including root cause analysis and long-term fixes
Profile and optimize performance across code, database queries, and infrastructure
Monitor system health and proactively address scalability and reliability concerns
Translate product and business requirements into technical solutions
Lead technical problem-solving within the team and support engineers during debugging/implementation
Improve code quality and engineering standards via code reviews and mentorship
Collaborate with other teams to support integrations and ensure reliable system interactions
Participate in technical planning, estimation, and delivery of initiatives

Qualifications

7+ years of professional software development
Strong backend experience with Java (Spring / Spring Boot)
Experience with high-scale, high-concurrency, real-time systems
Ability to debug complex production issues and perform root cause analysis
Proven performance optimization (database queries and application bottlenecks)
Strong backend architecture/system design fundamentals
Ability to own features end-to-end (design → deployment → support)
Cross-functional communication with technical and non-technical stakeholders
North American product environment experience strongly preferred

Nice to have

CI/CD pipelines (e.g., Maven, Git)
Frontend exposure (React, TypeScript, or similar)
Infrastructure as code / broader cloud platform experience

Compensation

Base salary: CAD $170,000–$190,000 (flexible up to ~$200K for strong candidates)
Performance bonus: ~10% of base
Benefits: extended health & dental, RRSP matching, flexible PTO

About Sage Recruiting Inc.

Sage Recruiting Inc. is a recruiting firm that helps place engineering talent. The role is for a backend Staff Software Engineer supporting a real-time digital marketplace platform, focused on building and operating core backend systems at scale.

Tags