Senior Backend Engineer – Cloud Native & Telecoms

Senior Backend Java Engineer

Zinkworks is a global leader in innovation, headquartered in Athlone, Ireland, with three offices locations worldwide. We utilise the latest cutting-edge technologies to bring industry-leading expertise to our Telecommunication and Financial services clients. We are adept at developing custom innovations that streamline our clients' workflows and improve operational efficiency. With a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction, we have earned a reputation as a trusted partner for businesses seeking reliable software services.

We are looking for a Senior Backend Java Engineer to join our engineering team. This role is critical to designing and building scalable backend services that power AI/ML-driven rApps, KPI management, and large-scale ETL data pipelines. You'll work in an agile team, contributing to architecture decisions, writing high-quality code, and ensuring robust delivery through automation and testing.

Key Responsibilities

• Design & Development: Build, enhance, and maintain scalable microservices in Java (Spring Boot).
• Data Pipelines & APIs: Implement REST APIs and event-driven services (Kafka / PubSub) to support high-throughput CM/PM ETL pipelines and KPI jobs.
• rApp Enablement: Develop backend services to support rApp design, training, deployment, and lifecycle management.
• Performance & Reliability: Optimise services for scalability, latency, and fault tolerance.
• Collaboration: Work closely with frontend engineers, data engineers, and AI/ML specialists to deliver end-to-end features.
• Automation & Quality: Ensure code quality with automated tests, CI/CD pipelines, and static analysis tools.
• Architecture: Contribute to system design, state management, caching, and validation frameworks.
• Mentorship: Guide junior engineers and promote engineering best practices.

Required Skills & Experience

• Strong experience with Java, Spring Boot, and microservices architecture.
• Proven experience with Google Cloud Platform (GCP), including Pub/Sub, GCS, and BigQuery.
• Background in telecommunications / ORAN / KPI systems, familiarity with network data (CM/PM) and performance monitoring.
• Strong understanding of REST APIs, event-driven systems (Kafka / PubSub), and asynchronous communication patterns.
• Hands-on experience with SQL/NoSQL databases (e.g., Spanner, Firestore, PostgreSQL).
• Experience with CI/CD pipelines, automated testing (unit, integration, E2E, Karate).
• Solid knowledge of containerization and orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes).
• Experience with caching frameworks (Redis, Guava, or equivalent).
• Excellent debugging, profiling, and performance optimisation skills.
• Strong problem-solving, communication, and teamwork skills.

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Exposure to AI/ML workflows and model integration.

What We Offer

• A key role in a company that's a trailblazer in the telecom sector, offering significant opportunities for growth and leadership in marketing.
• The chance to work with a team of forward-thinking professionals committed to establishing Zinkworks' position at the forefront of telecom innovations.
• Competitive compensation, including health benefits, retirement plans, and performance incentives.
• An inclusive culture that fosters innovation, collaboration, and excellence.