Senior Backend Developer (Services)

payabl.; Town of Poland (NY); Hybrid; USD 81,000 - 127,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Provident Fund

Annual Learning Budget

Wolt €150 monthly allowance

Sports Benefits

Company car (after 1 year)

Free parking

25 days vacation + holidays + 10 sick

Discount card

Greek language classes

Company celebrations

Global events

Job summary

payabl. is seeking a Senior Python Backend Developer (Services) to evolve our service layer. You will design reliable microservices, extract business logic from legacy code, and build scalable Python services.

The role combines greenfield work with refactoring, APIs, and a product-focused mindset, collaborating across teams in an Agile environment. You will contribute to CI/CD pipelines and infra, with opportunities to engage in Docker/Kubernetes and modern tech choices.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of backend engineering with Python.
• Deep AsyncIO proficiency for non-blocking microservices.
• Production-grade FastAPI experience.
• Experience with MySQL and/or PostgreSQL, including schema design.
• Experience with pytest for unit/integration tests.
• Expertise in designing and consuming external APIs with webhooks and retry policies.
• Willingness to own high-traffic, always-up applications.
• Comfort in complex distributed systems and reliable software.
• Ability to explain technical decisions and code rationale.
• Curiosity for product impact and end-user value.
• Strong English written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Legacy Modernisation: read legacy code and reimplement logic in modern microservices.
• Reliability First: ensure idempotency, data integrity, and robust error handling.
• Greenfield & Refactoring: build new features and refactor legacy modules.
• API Engineering: design and consume external APIs with robust retry policies.
• Agile Collaboration: communicate clearly with stakeholders in sprints.
• Product Thinking: understand business impact and user value of features.
• Infrastructure Contribution: participate in CI/CD, Docker, Kubernetes where relevant.
• Innovation: propose tools or technologies to improve performance and security.

Skills

Python Mastery

AsyncIO

FastAPI

MySQL

PostgreSQL

pytest

API Design

Webhooks & Retries

Reliability Patterns

Ownership Mindset

Distributed Systems

Clean Code

Product Mindset

English Communication

Docker

CI/CD

Kubernetes

Kafka

Redis

Legacy Migration

Job description

The role is about:

We are looking for a Senior Python Backend Developer (Services) to join our engineering team and contribute to the evolution of our service layer architecture.

This role is focused on designing and building reliable, scalable microservices while also working with and gradually transforming legacy systems. You will play a key role in extracting business logic from existing codebases and reimplementing it into modern, maintainable Python services.

This is a hands-on engineering role requiring strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of backend systems reliability. Success in this role means going beyond "it works" ensuring correctness, resilience, and long-term maintainability.

• Location:Remote from Poland (Contractor arrangement) or Cyprus Onsite (employment arrangement)
• Reporting to: Technical Lead

What you will do:

• Legacy Modernisation:Read legacy code (PHP, Perl, or JavaScript), extract the business logic, and reimplement it correctly within a modern microservices architecture.
• Reliability First:Ensure idempotency, data integrity, and graceful error handling across all services - "almost working" is never good enough.
• Greenfield & Refactoring:Split your time between building new features from scratch and refactoring existing legacy modules into clean, maintainable code.
• API Engineering:Design and consume external APIs with a deep understanding of webhooks, callbacks, and complex retry policies.
• Agile Collaboration:Maintain clean and strong English communication to effectively collaborate with multiple stakeholders across departments working in agile sprints.
• Product Thinking:Go beyond the "what" and "how" of the code - bring a product-focused mindset to understand the business logic and end-user impact of what you build.
• Infrastructure Contribution:Contribute to CI/CD pipelines, Docker, or Kubernetes infrastructure where relevant. If you have a passion for infra, you are more than welcome to bring it.
• Innovation:Propose and advocate for tools or technologies that can demonstrably improve our performance, security, or development speed.

What we need:

• Python Mastery:5+ years of backend engineering experience with strong Python expertise. Deep AsyncIO proficiency - you must be comfortable building non-blocking, high-reliability microservices.
• Framework Expertise:Production-grade experience withFastAPI(not just familiarity).
• Databases:Experience with MySQL and/or PostgreSQL - query design, schema understanding, and migration strategies.
• Testing Discipline:Experience writing unit and integration tests (pytest preferred).
• API & Reliability Patterns:Expertise in designing and consuming external APIs with a deep understanding of webhooks, callbacks, and complex retry policies.
• Ownership Mindset:Willingness to take full ownership of high-traffic, always-up applications and operate independently within an established architectural vision.
• Confidence in Complex Systems:Comfortable in complex distributed environments where reliability is non-negotiable.
• Clean & Intentional Code:We value deep engineering logic over AI-generated snippets. You must be able to explain the reasoning behind every line you ship.
• Curiosity for Product:You care about the "why" behind a feature - how it works for the end-user and what it means for the business.
• Strong English:Both written and verbal to collaborate effectively across multi-functional teams.
• Nice to Have:
• Experience with PHP, Perl, or JavaScript - a strong bonus signal for legacy comprehension.
• Kafka / Redis experience.
• Docker / CI/CD / Kubernetes familiarity.
• Financial industry exposure - fintech, payments, 3DS, Token Management Systems, or payment gateway integrations.
• Track record of successfully migrating systems from one language or paradigm to another.

Hiring Process:

• Step 1 - Thinking in Action (40 minutes) Your first conversation will be with our Talent Acquisition team. We'll explore your background, career journey, motivations, and overall fit for the role. As part of this discussion, you'll also complete a short technical screening that will be reviewed by our engineering team. This stage helps us understand both your experience and how you approach technical challenges.
• Step 2 - Build in Production (60-90 minutes) Meet with the Team Lead and technical experts for a practical assessment. Depending on the role, this may involve a live coding exercise or a real-world scenario designed to evaluate your technical skills, problem-solving approach, and ability to work through challenges similar to those faced by our teams.
• Step 3 - Final Interview (45 minutes) The final stage is a group interview with senior members of our Technology squad, which may include the CTO, CPO, and Team Lead. Together, we'll discuss team fit, collaboration style, expectations from both sides, and any remaining questions about the role, team, or technology domain. This is also an opportunity for you to learn more about our culture and ways of working.

The perks of being a payabl.er:

• Future-Proof Your Finances: Once you’ve passed probation, we’ll kickstart your Provident Fund to secure your future.
• Grow with Us: Annual Learning Budget for professional development (eligible after probation) - because your growth is our growth.
• Wolt Your Way Through Lunch: €150 monthly Wolt allowance to keep you fueled and happy.
• Stay Active Your Way: Enjoy a SportsBenefits membership giving you access to a wide variety of gyms and sports facilities to support your active lifestyle.
• Drive in Style: After one year with us, you may be eligible for a company car - performance and availability permitting.
• Park with Ease: Complimentary parking space just steps from the office, so your commute is as smooth as your workday.
• Max Out Your Downtime: 25 days of vacation + public holidays + 10 days of sick leave.
• Shop & Save: Exclusive local discount card + tickets for exciting events like Beonix, basketball games, and more.
• Speak Like a Local: Join free Greek language classes, twice a week, open to all team members.
• Celebrate Together: We bring colleagues from all offices together for unforgettable company celebrations.
• Global Collaboration & Events: Opportunities to participate in international company events and initiatives, connecting with colleagues from all regions and contributing to a truly global community

The benefits listed above are for our Cyprus office location only, a list of benefits and contract type will be assessed subject to your location and discussed in the first interview with your Talent Acquisition Partner.

Let's embark on a journey to redefine the landscape of payments together. We're not just offering a role; we're inviting you to be a part of something bigger. Join our team, and let's innovate, disrupt, and lead the future of payments. Together, we can make an impact that resonates. Welcome to the team!

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