Backend Software Engineer - (Java) - AI Media

Join the team redefining how the world experiences design.

Hey, g'day, mabuhay, kia ora, 你好, hallo, vítejte!

Thanks for stopping by. We know job hunting can be a little time-consuming and you're probably keen to find out what's on offer, so we'll get straight to the point. 

Where and how you can work

Our flagship campus is in Sydney. We also have a campus in Melbourne and co-working spaces in Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. But you have a choice in where and how you work. That means if you want to do your thing in the office (if you're near one), at home or a bit of both, it's up to you.

What you’d be doing in this role

As Canva scales change continues to be part of our DNA. But we like to think that's all part of the fun. So this will give you the flavour of the type of things you'll be working on when you start, but this will likely evolve.

About the Group/Team

We allow users to use the latest AI technologies to generate the perfect elements for their design. Our flagship products Magic Media, Dream Lab, and Canva AI already have millions of monthly active users and are at the forefront of delivering Canva's mission of "Empower the world to design". We are driving media generation in Canva AI as a cutting-edge flagship product that pushes the boundaries of artificial intelligence. As we build out our platform to expose new generative AI models to hundreds of millions of users, we need your help to scale it across more use cases while ensuring greater robustness and reliability.

About the Role/Specialty

This role is all about development of a platform that underpins a number of Canva features and is used by millions of users. We build solid foundations so that the product teams can iterate quickly, bringing the latest Gen AI models and techniques to the masses.

What you’ll do (responsibilities)

• Develop and deploy high-quality backend systems: Translate product requirements into designs, write clean and testable code, collaborate with other engineers, and deploy to production.

• Drive platform improvement: Proactively identify areas for improvement, take ownership of feature implementation, and follow best practices.

• Collaborate effectively with other teams: Understand the needs of teams relying on the platform, design and build APIs and integrations to support them, and provide technical guidance.

• Ensure platform health: Write comprehensive tests, implement monitoring and alerting, analyse performance data, and participate in on-call rotations.

What we're looking for

• Experience in a software development environment, building and operating backend systems.

• Most of our code is in Java, so ideally you will be comfortable using Java (or another similar object-oriented programming language, such as Python) experience in both would be a plus.

• Firmly grounded computer science and engineering fundamentals including concurrency, multithreading, data structures, solution design, architecture, and design patterns.

• Working collaboratively with team members and communicating optimally.

• Good writing and verbal communication skills.

What you'll learn

• Be at the forefront of Generative AI: Contribute to cutting-edge AI innovations that are transforming the way people design and communicate visually.

• Build for massive scale: Develop and operate high-performance systems that power creative experiences for millions of users worldwide.

• Immerse yourself in a culture of learning: Benefit from continuous learning opportunities, including technical deep dives, knowledge sharing sessions, and mentorship from senior leaders in Generative AI.

• Make a real-world impact: See your work directly impact millions of users as you contribute to a product that empowers individuals and teams to achieve their creative goals.

What's in it for you?

Achieving our crazy big goals motivates us to work hard - and we do - but you'll experience lots of moments of magic, connectivity and fun woven throughout life at Canva, too. We also offer a range of benefits to set you up for every success in and outside of work.

Here's a taste of what's on offer:

• Equity packages - we want our success to be yours too
• Inclusive parental leave policy that supports all parents & carers
• An annual Vibe & Thrive allowance to support your wellbeing, social connection, office setup & more
• Flexible leave options that empower you to be a force for good, take time to recharge and supports you personally

Check out lifeatcanva.com for more info.

Other stuff to know

We see AI as a powerful amplifier of creativity and technology at Canva.We’re evolving how we assess AI skills in our Technology hiring experience - you’ll tackle interactive, real-time challenges that reflect the kind of work we do. In some interviews, you may also be asked to solve a problem using an AI tool to show how you approach challenges with tech by your side. Your recruitment partner will walk you through what to expect. We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills and passion, as well as how you can enhance Canva and our culture. When you apply, please tell us the pronouns you use and any reasonable adjustments you may need during the interview process. We celebrate all types of skills and backgrounds at Canva so even if you don’t feel like your skills quite match what’s listed above - we still want to hear from you!

We make hiring decisions based on your experience, skills and passion, as well as how you can enhance Canva and our culture. When you apply, please tell us the pronouns you use and any reasonable adjustments you may need during the interview process.

We celebrate all types of skills and backgrounds at Canva so even if you don’t feel like your skills quite match what’s listed above - we still want to hear from you!

Please note that interviews are conducted virtually.