Principal Engineer (Backend)

PayNet (Payments Network Malaysia); Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

PayNet in Kuala Lumpur seeks a senior backend architect to own scalable, secure back-end systems on AWS and shape API design and data architecture.

Lead engineering standards, reduce vendor reliance, and drive DevSecOps and CI/CD practices across teams. Strong architectural judgment and leadership are essential.

Qualifications

• Deep backend engineering expertise across languages such as Java, Go, Python, Ruby, or Node.js
• Strong architectural judgment in designing distributed, scalable, and secure systems
• Proven ability to lead technical direction and influence engineering practices at scale
• Experience building and operating systems on cloud platforms such as AWS

Responsibilities

• Own the design and evolution of scalable, secure back-end systems built on AWS
• Drive engineering standards across code quality, architecture, and system design decisions
• Build, influence, and grow internal engineering capability while reducing reliance on vendors
• Lead complex technical problem-solving across performance, scalability, and reliability challenges
• Shape API design, data architecture, and integration strategies across platforms
• Drive adoption of DevSecOps, CI/CD, and automated quality practices across engineering teams

Skills

Backend engineering

Java

Go

Python

Ruby

Node.js

Cloud platforms

AWS

Job description

• Strengthen backend platforms critical to onboarding participants into Malaysia's payment ecosystem
• Scale and stabilize systems as onboarding volumes, complexity, and integration demands increase
• Reduce long-term operational and performance risk through better backend architecture and design
• Own backend decisions that directly affect platform reliability, security, and partner experience

TL;DR

• Own and shape the back-end architecture powering high-scale payment systems on AWS
• Lead the shift from outsourced development to strong internal engineering capability
• Drive engineering standards, system performance, and secure, scalable design
• Influence how PayNet builds, deploys, and evolves mission-critical services

Why This Role Matters

• PayNet's ability to scale securely and reliably depends on strong architectural decisions made at this level
• Poor system design or weak engineering standards create long-term risk across performance, security, and cost
• This role defines how fast PayNet can modernise and how effectively it controls its own technology stack
• Requires judgment over process-balancing speed, quality, risk, and long-term maintainability

What You Will Actually Do

• Own the design and evolution of scalable, secure back-end systems built on AWS
• Drive engineering standards across code quality, architecture, and system design decisions
• Build, influence, and grow internal engineering capability while reducing reliance on vendors
• Lead complex technical problem-solving across performance, scalability, and reliability challenges
• Shape API design, data architecture, and integration strategies across platforms
• Drive adoption of DevSecOps, CI/CD, and automated quality practices across engineering teams

Examples of This Role in Practice

• Decide whether to refactor a core payment service or redesign it for cloud-native scalability—and lead the implementation path
• Identify performance bottlenecks in high-volume transaction systems and drive architectural fixes that reduce latency at scale
• Transition a vendor-owned system into an internally built and maintained platform without disrupting live operations
• Set organisation-wide standards for API design, testing, and deployment that multiple teams adopt
• Evaluate trade-offs between speed of delivery and system resilience when launching new payment capabilities

What Will Help You Succeed

Required strengths

• Deep backend engineering expertise across languages such as Java, Go, Python, Ruby, or Node.js
• Strong architectural judgment in designing distributed, scalable, and secure systems
• Proven ability to lead technical direction and influence engineering practices at scale
• Experience building and operating systems on cloud platforms such as AWS

Helpful advantages

• Exposure to high-availability or transaction-heavy systems (e.g., financial services, large-scale platforms)
• Familiarity with modern DevSecOps practices, CI/CD pipelines, and observability tools
• Experience designing APIs and integrating complex distributed systems
• Strength in mentoring engineers and raising the overall engineering bar