Lead Backend Architect - Scale Global Platform (Hybrid NZ)

Bigwave Digital; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 150,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Big Wave Digital is seeking a Lead Software Engineer in Auckland, New Zealand to design and build modern backend services. You will shape platform architecture, drive reliability and performance, and own systems from design to production.

You’ll lead in an engineering-first culture with a global audience and collaborate with Product and Design to scale the digital platform. You’ll bring 10+ years building backend platforms, strong Python/Django experience, and expertise in REST/GraphQL,

Qualifications

• 10+ years building modern backend platforms.
• Strong Python experience, ideally Django.
• REST and GraphQL API expertise.
• PostgreSQL or MySQL.
• AWS cloud experience.
• Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, AWS CDK or similar).
• Docker and containerised applications.
• CI/CD and modern DevOps practices.
• Experience designing distributed systems.
• Strong understanding of reliability, scalability and observability.
• Experience working in product-led engineering teams.

Responsibilities

• Design and build modern backend services that are reliable, scalable and built to last.
• Tackle architectural, reliability and performance challenges across platform components.
• Own systems from early design through to production, continually improving how the platform evolves.

Skills

Python

Django

REST API

GraphQL

PostgreSQL

MySQL

AWS

IaC Terraform

AWS CDK

Docker

CI/CD

Distributed systems

Observability

Product-led engineering

Tools

Terraform

AWS CDK

Docker

Job description

Big Wave Digital is seeking a Lead Software Engineer in Auckland, New Zealand to design and build modern backend services. You will shape platform architecture, drive reliability and performance, and own systems from design to production.

You’ll lead in an engineering-first culture with a global audience and collaborate with Product and Design to scale the digital platform. You’ll bring 10+ years building backend platforms, strong Python/Django experience, and expertise in REST/GraphQL,