Senior Backend Engineer

Merkle Schweiz; Chicago (IL); Remote; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading technology company is seeking a skilled backend developer to provide technical guidance and improve processes. The role emphasizes designing APIs and microservices using .NET and Azure, ensuring high-performance standards and code maintainability. Candidates should have extensive experience in backend development and strong technical leadership capabilities, along with a passion for innovation and collaboration within a distributed team environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7+ years of experience in backend system development.
• Proficiency with Azure services, especially Azure OpenAI.
• Experience with microservices architecture and asynchronous programming.

Responsibilities

• Design and optimize .NET microservices and APIs.
• Automate CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams on technical and business goals.

Skills

C#

.NET

Azure

API Management

OAuth 2.0

CI/CD

DevOps

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science

Tools

Azure DevOps

GitHub Actions

Terraform

Job description

About the job

The purpose of this role is to provide technical guidance and suggest improvements in development processes. Develop required software features, achieving timely delivery in compliance with the performance and quality standards of the company.

Reports to: SVP, Head of Data, Technology& Analytics
Location: Remote – Global (must be available through 2p.m. U.S. Eastern Time)
Employment Type: Full-time • Long-term Contract (Annual Renewal)

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement, and optimize .NET-based microservices and Azure Functions that operationalize GPT capabilities and connect with external ad tech APIs (e.g., Google Ads, Microsoft Advertising).
• Develop authenticated REST and GraphQL APIs using OAuth 2.0, Azure AD, and API Management.
• Implement advanced backend patterns including rate limiting, caching, batching, and streamed responses to handle high-throughput, low-latency workloads.
• Ensure long-term code maintainability, testability, and reusability, following best practices in TDD, async/await, and dependency injection.

DevOps & Observability

• Automate CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions.
• Manage and deploy infrastructure using Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Bicep or Terraform.
• Monitor and debug production services with Application Insights, Log Analytics, and structured logging.
• Lead incident response, root cause analysis, and implement service health improvements.

Technical Leadership & Collaboration

• Take ownership of complex features and resolve key architectural challenges related to performance, security, and scalability.
• Work independently and proactively within a distributed team environment.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, frontend engineers, data scientists, and platform teams to align on technical and business goals.
• Mentor junior engineers, participate in knowledge sharing, and contribute to internal documentation and training.
• Drive innovation by integrating Azure OpenAI services using prompt engineering, embedding strategies, and cost-performance tuning.
• Stay informed about emerging backend technologies, AI capabilities, and DevSecOps practices.
• Follow and enforce internal release management and security standards.

Qualifications & Certifications

Education

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information Systems, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 7+ years of experience building and supporting production-grade backend systems in .NET/C#.
• Strong experience with Azure OpenAI Service, including prompt design, token management, and optimization.
• Proven experience integrating third-party APIs at scale and handling API security, throttling, and transformation logic.
• Proficiency with core Azure services: Azure Functions, API Management, Key Vault, Cosmos DB/SQL, Service Bus/Event Grid.
• Hands-on experience managing microservice architecture, asynchronous programming, and test-driven development.

Certifications

• Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) or equivalent is a plus.

Key Skills

Mandatory Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in .NET 8 / C#, especially with async/await, DI, and unit testing frameworks.
• Experience designing secure, scalable APIs using OAuth 2.0, Azure AD, and API Management.
• Strong grasp of Azure OpenAI, prompt engineering, and AI integration patterns.
• CI/CD automation using Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions.
• Infrastructure management using Bicep or Terraform (IaC).
• Logging, tracing, and monitoring with Application Insights and Log Analytics.

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Docker and container orchestration experience with AKS or Azure Container Apps.
• Knowledge of DevSecOps, including IaC security scanning and secure SDLC.
• Background in MarTech or AdTech platforms and campaign data integration.
• Familiarity with GraphQL federation, schema stitching, or resolver optimization.

Soft Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities with attention to detail.
• Proven ability to work independently and take ownership of deliverables.
• Comfortable with rapid context switching and managing evolving priorities.
• Passion for learning and mentoring others in a collaborative environment.

Beware of Job Scams

We are aware of several scams targeting job seekers and candidates. Please be vigilant. All communication throughout the recruitment process will be from an official member of the dentsu recruitment team, using corporate email addresses (e.g., @dentsu.com or @merkle.com). We will never ask you to send money or vouchers to secure employment. If you suspect you have been a victim of a scam, please report the incident to your bank, local police, or fraud protection authority immediately. Additionally, you can report the scam to us at [e-mail] so we can take appropriate action to request the website is taken down. Please note that Merkle and dentsu are not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of these scams. We advise all individuals to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of any job offers or communications received.