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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Join us to tackle challenging technical problems and enhance our engineering productivity.
- Company: Depop is a vibrant marketplace connecting buyers and sellers in a unique way.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working options, a supportive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team driving innovation and making a real impact in the tech world.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in solving complex challenges and building scalable applications is essential.
- Other info: Ideal for those who thrive in fast-paced environments and love mentoring others.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Depop is looking for an experienced Staff Engineer to join our team. You will be motivated to solve Depop's most challenging technical problems within and across our backend, platform, and data domains. Your extensive technical experience will enable you to identify and address common pain points, enhancing productivity and streamlining practices for our engineering teams.
Responsibilities:
- Work closely with Backend, Platform, and Data teams to identify and resolve constraints, improving developer experience and efficiency (Cross-Team Collaboration)
- Identify and address backend challenges before they escalate, ensuring system reliability and smooth operations (Proactive Problem-Solving)
- Apply deep backend knowledge to resolve issues, contribute substantial code solutions, and improve team productivity (Technical Expertise & Code Contributions)
- Design backend systems and data pipelines with scalability, maintainability, and developer experience in mind (Scalable System Design)
- Align technical decisions with business strategy, drive organizational change, and adopt industry trends to future-proof systems (Strategic Leadership & Innovation)
Requirements:
- Proven track record of solving complex technical challenges and building scalable, high-traffic applications (Extensive Engineering Expertise)
- Strong understanding of cloud environments (we use AWS) and system design principles with a focus on reducing complexity and cognitive load (Cloud & System Design Mastery)
- Ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies, anticipate issues, and prevent problems from escalating (Problem-Solving & Adaptability)
- Experience mentoring engineers, being a technical go-to person, and effectively communicating complex concepts (Mentorship & Communication)
- Proficient in testing at various levels (unit, integration, etc.) and analyzing problem-solving insights to improve outcomes (Robust Testing & Analysis)
Must haves:
- Ability to persevere through setbacks with energy and drive, ensuring project delivery
- Approachable and supportive demeanour, capable of building strong relationships across all levels
- Skilled in aligning technical decisions with business strategy, working closely with engineering leadership
- Ability to navigate complex political situations tactfully, ensuring initiatives progress smoothly
- Comfort with ambiguity, uncertainty, and risk, maintaining agility in changing situations
- Openness to actively seek and act on feedback and coaching, enhancing organisational effectiveness
- Knowledge of event-driven architectures and different data storage systems
Nice to haves:
- Experience with ecommerce and marketplace systems in a business-to-consumer environment
- Proficiency with Infrastructure as Code, ideally using Terraform
- Experience using Datadog for monitoring and observability
- Track record of successfully implementing company-wide technical initiatives
Contact Detail:
Depop Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Staff Engineer
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in backend development and cloud environments, especially AWS. This knowledge will not only help you during interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to staying current in the field.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your problem-solving skills by preparing examples of complex technical challenges you've faced in previous roles. Be ready to discuss how you approached these issues and the impact of your solutions on team productivity.
✨Tip Number 3
Highlight your experience in mentoring and communication. Prepare to share specific instances where you've guided less experienced engineers or effectively communicated complex concepts to non-technical stakeholders.
✨Tip Number 4
Demonstrate your strategic thinking by aligning your past projects with business outcomes. Be prepared to discuss how your technical decisions have driven organisational change and improved overall efficiency.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Staff Engineer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights your experience with backend systems, cloud environments, and any relevant technical challenges you've solved. Use specific examples that align with the responsibilities mentioned in the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, emphasise your problem-solving skills and how you've contributed to team productivity in previous roles. Mention your experience with mentoring and communication, as these are key aspects of the role at Depop.
Showcase Technical Expertise: Include specific projects or achievements that demonstrate your deep knowledge of backend systems and scalable application design. Highlight any experience with AWS and event-driven architectures to show you meet their technical requirements.
Prepare for Potential Questions: Anticipate questions related to your adaptability and how you've navigated complex situations in past roles. Be ready to discuss your approach to mentoring and how you align technical decisions with business strategy.
How to prepare for a job interview at Depop
✨Showcase Your Technical Expertise
Be prepared to discuss your previous experiences in solving complex technical challenges. Highlight specific projects where you designed scalable systems or improved backend processes, as this will demonstrate your capability to handle the responsibilities outlined by Depop.
✨Emphasise Cross-Team Collaboration
Since the role involves working closely with various teams, share examples of how you've successfully collaborated with different departments in the past. This could include resolving constraints or enhancing developer experience, which is crucial for the position.
✨Demonstrate Proactive Problem-Solving
Prepare to discuss instances where you identified potential issues before they escalated. Show how your proactive approach has led to improved system reliability and smooth operations, aligning with the expectations of the role.
✨Communicate Your Mentorship Experience
As mentoring is a key aspect of the role, be ready to talk about your experience in guiding other engineers. Share how you've communicated complex concepts effectively and supported team members in their professional growth.
