MTS 2, Staff Backend Software Engineer

eBay; Toronto; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global e-commerce company in Toronto is looking for a Staff Engineer to architect and evolve distributed systems. Responsibilities include designing software and cloud-based tools, mentoring junior engineers, and influencing technical direction. Candidates should have a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Computer Science, extensive experience in Node.js, Java, and building RESTful applications, alongside a strong focus on collaboration and problem-solving.

Qualifications

• 9–10+ years of professional experience in software engineering.
• Deep expertise in distributed systems and computer science fundamentals.
• Creative problem-solving skills focused on high-impact products.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement core software and cloud-based tools.
• Build scalable high-availability applications using RESTful APIs.
• Mentor junior engineers for quality and professional development.

Skills

Node.js

Java

JavaScript

RESTful applications

System architecture

OOP

Debugging

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or related field

Tools

Oracle

NoSQL databases

Spring MVC

Job description

We are seeking a dynamic and collaborative Staff Engineer to architect new experiences and evolve the distributed systems that power eBay at an unmatched scale. In this role, you will design and implement core software and cloud-based tools that keep us at the forefront of the industry. You will build scalable systems, refine architecture, and contribute high-level ideas to our technology and algorithms. By partnering closely with product and design teams, you will translate user requirements into technical reality and deliver world-class results.

What You Will Do And Learn

• Build and scale high-availability, user-facing applications using RESTful and GraphQL APIs.
• Master object-oriented analysis and design (OOAD), SOLID principles, and modern software engineering methodologies.
• Gain hands‑on experience with backend services like Java, Node.js, and C++ alongside frontend technologies like React and Marko.
• Collaborate within an internal open‑source community to share code and contribute to diverse projects.
• Partner with Architecture, Product, QA, and Operations to deliver scalable solutions that align with business goals and performance standards.
• Mentor junior engineers to maintain high software quality and professional development standards.
• Deepen your technical and domain expertise to solve complex, real‑world product challenges.
• Sharpen your analytical and problem‑solving skills in a high‑stakes engineering environment.
• Lead engineering estimations, implementation planning, and system rollouts across multi‑functional teams.
• Translate requirements into clean, efficient, maintainable, and extensible code.
• Take ownership of large functional areas, becoming a recognized subject matter expert.
• Influence technical direction across domain teams to guide high‑level architectural decisions.
• Drive team productivity by identifying and evangelizing new tools and workflows.
• Design flexible systems that anticipate future changes to increase overall engineering velocity.
• Practice evidence‑centered design to ensure testability and high quality within continuous delivery pipelines.
• Manage the project lifecycle by breaking features into sub‑tasks and resolving execution blockers.
• Provide technical guidance through code reviews and contribute to Architecture Decision Records (ADRs).
• Identify systemic gaps and build long‑term engineering roadmaps to resolve them.
• Own the release process and on‑call responsibilities to support a 24/7 "always-on" global site.

What You Will Bring

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or a related field with 9–10+ years of professional experience.
• Deep expertise in system architecture, distributed systems, and core computer science fundamentals.
• Advanced proficiency in data structures, algorithms, OOP, OOA/D, and functional programming.
• Hands‑on experience with Node.js, JavaScript, Java, Scala, and Oracle or NoSQL databases.
• Proven track record of building and scaling web technologies and RESTful applications.
• Extensive experience working with enterprise frameworks such as Spring MVC.
• A "builder" mindset with a history of developing, debugging, and refining complex software applications.
• Creative problem‑solving skills focused on delivering high‑impact, real‑world products.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across teams.
• Proven ability to make high‑level technical decisions and present complex ideas to diverse audiences.
• Strong sense of ownership and a self‑driven approach to project execution and system reliability.
• Continuous learner who is excited by innovative technologies and committed to developing transferable skills.
• Active participant in the engineering community, attending knowledge‑sharing sessions both internally and externally.
• Natural innovator and team player who thrives in a collaborative, fast‑paced environment.
• Demonstrated passion for the craft through GitHub contributions, side projects, or open‑source involvement.

Additional Details

eBay is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability.