Senior Backend Developer

UNAVAILABLE; Remote; CAD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading advertising agency is seeking an experienced Back End Developer for an innovative AI initiative. The role requires at least 6 years of experience building scalable backend systems using Java and Spring Boot, with a focus on API design and microservices architecture. This fully remote position offers competitive benefits, including extended holidays and comprehensive insurance. Candidates must already reside in Canada and hold legal work authorization.

Benefits

Competitive annual vacation program

Extended statutory holidays

Sick and personal days

Work Your World program

Comprehensive group insurance benefits

Qualifications

• 6+ years of professional experience in backend development.
• Strong proficiency in Java (11+) and Spring ecosystem.
• Experience designing and building RESTful APIs.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop scalable backend services using Java.
• Build microservices architecture for AI/ML integration.
• Develop RESTful APIs that are well-documented.

Skills

Java (11+)

Spring Boot

RESTful APIs

Microservices architecture

Relational databases (PostgreSQL)

NoSQL databases (MongoDB)

Docker

Git version control

Automated testing (JUnit)

Job description

Company Description

Saatchi & Saatchi is an advertising agency with the belief that creativity, data, media and technology should all work together, and we use that to influence human behavior and drive success for clients. S&S is one of the world's largest agency networks with 114 offices and more than 6000 employees globally. Here in our Toronto office we work with some of the countries most valued brands including Toyota, Buckley's, and Children's Advil, as well as several under the Mondelez banner (Crispers, Oreo, and Chips Ahoy just to name a few). We’re an award winning agency in both creativity and effectiveness, so it’s really important for us here to convert that innovation and the great ideas into real tangible business results for the organization.

Job Description

We are looking for aBack End Developer for an innovative new AI initiative. Full-time and freelance opportunities are available, with positions starting immediately. You should have at least 6 years of experience building robust, scalable backend systems with Java. You are passionate about clean architecture, API design, and building services that power intelligent applications. You understand the importance of performance, security, and creating systems that are accessible and reliable for all users.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop scalable backend services and APIs using Java and Spring Boot.
• Build microservices architecture that supports AI/ML integration and real-time processing requirements.
• Develop RESTful APIs that are well-documented, versioned, and designed for accessibility across diverse client applications.
• Implement secure authentication and authorization mechanisms for enterprise users.
• Integrate with AI/ML services, LLM APIs, and other intelligent automation capabilities.
• Optimize application performance, including database queries, caching strategies, and async processing.
• Collaborate with front-end developers, data engineers, and DevOps to deliver end-to-end solutions.
• Participate in code reviews, technical design discussions, and documentation efforts.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines and maintain high code quality through automated testing.

Qualifications

• +6 years of professional experience in backend development.
• Strong proficiency in Java (11+) and the Spring ecosystem (Spring Boot, Spring Security, Spring Data).
• Experience designing and building RESTful APIs and microservices architectures.
• Familiarity with cloud platforms (GCP preferred) with willingness to develop deeper expertise.
• Experience with relational databases (PostgreSQL or similar) and query optimization.
• Familiarity with NoSQL databases (MongoDB, Redis, or similar) for appropriate use cases.
• Understanding of containerization concepts (Docker) and cloud-native development patterns.
• Experience with message queuing and event-driven architectures.
• Understanding of security best practices including OAuth 2.0, JWT, and API security.
• Experience with Git version control and collaborative development workflows.
• Familiarity with automated testing frameworks (JUnit, Mockito, integration testing).

Required Soft Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication skills for technical discussions and documentation.
• Collaborative mindset for working with cross-functional teams.
• Self-motivated with ability to work independently and manage priorities.
• Attention to detail with commitment to code quality and best practices.
• Passion for learning new technologies and staying current with industry trends.

Nice to Have

• Experience integrating with AI/ML services and LLM APIs (OpenAI, Vertex AI, etc.).
• Experience with multiple cloud platforms (GCP, AWS, Azure).
• Experience with GraphQL or gRPC for API development.
• Knowledge of reactive programming (Spring WebFlux, Project Reactor).
• Experience with API gateway patterns and service mesh technologies.
• Familiarity with OpenAPI/Swagger for API documentation.

Additional Information

• Fully remote position; candidates must already be based in Canada and have legal work authorization in the country.
• Competitive annual vacation program, enhanced between Christmas and New Year’s when our offices are closed.
• Extended statutory holidays (we give you the Mondays and Fridays of provincial holidays so you can enjoy long 4-day weekends!).
• 6 sick days per year and 2 personal days per year.
• “Work Your World” program, allowing you to work remotely for up to 6 weeks in any country where we have an office (50+ countries).
• Comprehensive group insurance benefits (medical and dental care, vision care, psychological and paramedical services, disability insurance, fertility support, and gender-affirming care).
• Internal support and guidance program for cancer, fertility, and gender transition.

Saatchi is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome and encourage applications from all interested parties. Accommodations are available, upon request, for all stages of the interview and employment process for those with a disability or medical need during any stage of the recruitment process.