Backend Engineer (Java)

Dada Consultants; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 380,000 - 570,000; Full time

Job summary

Dada Consultants is hiring a Backend Engineer (Java) to design, build, and maintain core services powering a regulated fintech platform in Singapore. You will own API development, database design, and performance optimisations, while collaborating with frontend teams and ensuring secure, scalable systems.

Ideal candidates bring 3+ years of Java backend experience, strong Spring Boot skills, and fluency in Mandarin to coordinate with Mandarin-speaking stakeholders and business counterparts.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of professional backend experience in Java with hands-on Spring or Spring Boot experience.
• Strong knowledge of relational databases (MySQL / PostgreSQL) including SQL query optimisation.
• Familiarity with microservices and message queue technologies (Kafka or RabbitMQ).
• Experience with multithreading, memory management, and JVM performance fundamentals; unit testing with JUnit/Mockito; Git version control.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent in CS/Engineering; ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with Docker and Kubernetes is a plus; exposure to AWS/GCP/Azure advantageous.
• Proficiency in Mandarin is required to communicate with Mandarin-speaking stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Design, build, and maintain backend services and RESTful APIs in Java (Spring Boot or equivalent).
• Own database schema design and optimized queries across relational and NoSQL stores.
• Ensure performance, scalability, and security through solid architecture and coding practices.
• Write unit, integration, and end-to-end tests; participate in code reviews to maintain quality.
• Collaborate with frontend engineers to define API contracts and document APIs.
• Troubleshoot production issues and diagnose performance bottlenecks and bugs.
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines and deployment automation for reliable releases.
• Document APIs, services, and key architectural decisions for technical records.

Skills

Java

Spring Boot

RESTful APIs

Microservices

SQL & query optimisation

Multithreading

JUnit/Mockito

Git

Mandarin language

Cloud exposure (AWS/GCP/Azure)

Education

Bachelor's degree in Computer Science/Engineering or equivalent

Tools

Docker

Kubernetes

Kafka

RabbitMQ

MySQL

PostgreSQL

MongoDB

Redis

OAuth2/JWT

Job description

Our client is a MAS-licensed Major Payment Institution headquartered in Singapore, offering regulated digital payment and digital asset services to business clients across cross-border payments, custody, and brokerage. They operate a comprehensive platform that enables businesses to build and scale their digital asset offerings with a strong emphasis on compliance, security, and operational integrity.

As a Backend Engineer (Java), you will play a central role in designing, building, and maintaining the core services and APIs that power this platform. This is an excellent opportunity to work at the intersection of fintech and digital assets within a regulated, fast-growing environment in Singapore.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain backend services and RESTful APIs using Java (Spring Boot or equivalent framework)
• Own database schema design and write efficient queries across relational and non-relational data stores as required
• Ensure application performance, scalability, and security through sound architectural decisions and disciplined coding practices
• Write unit, integration, and end-to-end tests; participate actively in peer code reviews to uphold code quality
• Collaborate closely with frontend engineers to define, refine, and document API contracts
• Troubleshoot and resolve production issues, including diagnosing performance bottlenecks and critical bugs
• Contribute to CI/CD pipelines and deployment automation to support reliable, repeatable releases
• Document APIs, services, and key architectural decisions to maintain clear and accessible technical records

Requirements

• Minimum 3 years of professional experience developing backend systems in Java, with strong hands-on knowledge of Spring or Spring Boot (or a comparable Java framework)
• Solid understanding of relational databases (MySQL or PostgreSQL) including SQL query optimisation, and experience designing and consuming RESTful APIs
• Familiarity with microservices architecture and message queue technologies such as Kafka or RabbitMQ
• Good working knowledge of multithreading, memory management, and JVM performance fundamentals, along with experience using unit testing frameworks (e.g. JUnit, Mockito) and Git for version control
• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Engineering, or a related discipline - or equivalent practical experience - with strong problem-solving ability and comfort working independently in a fast-paced setting
• Experience with containerisation (Docker) and orchestration (Kubernetes) (is a bonus)
• Exposure to cloud platforms such as AWS, GCP, or Azure (is a bonus)
• Familiarity with NoSQL databases (e.g. MongoDB, Redis) and security best practices such as OAuth2/JWT and encryption (is a bonus)
• Proficiency in Mandarin is required due to the need to communicate and collaborate with Mandarin-speaking stakeholders and business counterparts.