Senior Backend Engineers @ Emerge

Icehouseventures; Auckland; On-site; NZD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Icehouseventures is seeking a Senior Backend Engineer (AI-Forward) located in Auckland, New Zealand. The role involves designing scalable backend systems and integrating AI into workflows, requiring a minimum of 7 years of experience with Java/Kotlin.

As part of a hybrid work model, candidates will be expected to share knowledge and mentor team members while contributing to innovative financial solutions.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of backend development experience with Java/Kotlin.
• Deep understanding of Spring Boot, JPA, and PostgreSQL.
• Hands-on experience with AWS services including ECS, Lambda, and S3.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and maintain robust, scalable backend systems.
• Proactively propose and implement meaningful AI integrations.
• Lead DB performance tuning for latency-sensitive flows.

Skills

Java/Kotlin

Spring Boot

PostgreSQL

AWS

AI integration

Tools

Terraform

Job description

Senior Backend Engineer (AI-Forward)

Location: New Zealand (Hybrid: In-office Tue, Thu, Fri)

Stack: Kotlin/Java, Spring Boot, PostgreSQL, AWS

The Mission

At Emerge, we aren't just building a company; we’re building a movement. Our vision is to be New Zealand’s most ambitious challenger bank, flipping the current model to give every Kiwi access to a better financial future. We move fast, prioritise “Beautiful Simplicity,” and treat our customers as real people with real stories, not just data points.

We are looking for a versatile Senior Backend Engineer who is not only a master of robust systems but is also genuinely “AI-Curious”. At Emerge, AI isn't a feature—it’s our operating system. We need someone who will proactively integrate AI into our backend flows to boost system intelligence and developer velocity.

Why Emerge is a Developer’s Dream

We don't just “plug in” third‑party tools; we build the future from the ground up because we demand more than off-the-shelf solutions can provide.

• Ground‑Up Infrastructure: We have built our own products from the ground up, including 2 native iOS Apps, 2 native Android Apps, 2 Web Apps, 4 CRMs, 3 dashboards, and over 17 backend services.
• Full Control: We’ve built real‑time card authorisation flows, giving us full control over transaction approvals and declines to create customised controls.
• Core Innovation: We have successfully built integrations with blockchain ledgers and modular architectures that allow us to switch services without downstream issues.
• Internal AI Innovation: We have built AI into several parts of the company, most recently with an AI tool in our CRM that converts natural language into real‑time data queries, empowering every team to interrogate our data directly.
• High‑Impact Environment: You’ll be working on core financial infrastructure in a company that rewards leverage and impact over tenure.

What You’ll Tackle

• Architect & Build: Design, develop, and maintain robust, scalable backend systems using Kotlin, Spring Boot, and PostgreSQL.
• AI Integration: You won’t just use LLMs to write code; you will proactively propose and implement meaningful AI integrations to boost system intelligence and internal workflows.
• Infrastructure: Leverage AWS services (ECS, Lambda, S3) and move toward automating infrastructure as code using tools like Terraform.
• Performance: Design efficient schemas and lead DB performance tuning for latency‑sensitive flows.
• Mentorship: Review PRs and share knowledge across the team to foster a culture of trust and high performance.

Who You Are

• Experienced: You have a minimum of 7 years of backend development experience with Java/Kotlin and the Spring ecosystem.
• AI‑Native: You see AI as a “force multiplier” and are ready to move from “Capable” (using AI for unit tests) to “Transformative” (shipping AI‑powered features and building AI‑first pipelines).
• First‑Class Thinker: You live in “1st and 2nd place” – you don’t just raise problems; you bring fixes or reasoned solutions.
• Grit & Ownership: You have the toughness to push through when things get hard and the “grit” to finish what you start.
• Clear Communicator: You communicate clearly in stand‑ups and can explain complex technical decisions to both teammates and non‑engineers.

The Emerge Way

• Default to Trust: Authority comes from trust earned through action, not titles or hierarchy.
• Energy Modes: We protect deep‑work “Builder” time (Mon/Wed) and maximise “Facilitator” time for in‑office collaboration (Tue/Thu/Fri).
• We All Sweep the Deck: No task is beneath us – if it helps the mission, we pitch in.

• Reward Leverage: We reward impact and outcomes over tenure. If you create massive leverage, you’ll be rewarded fast.

Qualifications & Stack

• Experience: Minimum 7 years of backend development experience specifically with Java/Kotlin.
• Technical Mastery: Deep understanding of Spring Boot, JPA, and PostgreSQL.
• Cloud Infrastructure: Hands‑on experience with AWS services including ECS, Lambda, and S3.
• Architecture: Proven knowledge of designing efficient, scalable, and robust backend solutions.
• Database Design: Deep understanding of database design, optimisation, and management (preferably PostgreSQL).
• API Design: Proficiency with RESTful API design and development.